The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-10-19


I farm, near ooaccri, Ai,ce Der"eps the
farmers pretty slAIk~yea dsnghier sseod
on the vine SHADED porch, looking after 1t
with an unconscious sigh.
So many come by you, 10 many SO by
von. ont into the great, wide, beautiini
world. abe thought as she gazed over the
fertile valley farm aud on, through break
IN tile circling blue monntains' from
hence trail Of white smoke came fioat-
inn back. wonder H. yon will ever bring
me any,hing2 or carry me away or must
/ | live nv life out 10 the end, shut in by
these quiet hilisf
supper ready, mother1 called ont the
hearty looking farmer. halting in the glow
OF the bright freight on the open hearth
as he came in from foddering the stock,
followed by his son Thomas. who was
living, breathing image OF his sire
To be sure It is, replied his bus,iing
wife, who had Just such eyes and hair as
bonuv Alice. and just the same sweet
smile. Is II not always ready when the
train goes by? Come Alieel
Alice is looking for her fortune, mother.
said Tom, II is coming by that train.
know all about il.
Alice smiled and shook her head at her
saucy brother, as she took her seat by her
| fathers side.
Little did any Of them think how many
a true word had been spoken in Jest, or
that the fortune which the evening expr ess
was TO bring the daughter OF the house
was even then nearing their hospitable
door
I've worked like beaver all day long,
Martha, and Tom has kept pace with me,
and we both said as we came home that
we were too tired to eat But this is COM
fort 1t would be hard to see anything
much pleasanter than this nice, tidy
kitchen, and just as hard to find any OF
their French cooks that can beat you and
Alice, my dear, said Elihu Derwent. glane'
ing thankfully at the blazing fire, the
table laid so neatly, the tempting meal oi
batter, cakes and maple syrup, wheaton
bread and golden butter, and large plat
ter of cold corned beef, and vegetables
that was placed before the hungry men.
Mrs. Derwent poured out the tea--strong,
hot and fragrant
Squire Seaton, up in the big house yon.
der. don't often get such tea as this, with
all his staff of servants, said Tom, looking
across the valley to the brick and freestone
palace of the one millionaire Of the village
Poor man! sighed Mrs. Derwent. | dc
pity himl His wife and daughter dead
and his only son so wild and wilful and
wanderer all over the world. Only last
week he told me, with tears in his eyes
that he had heard of his boy, he was seer
lately in Leadville. intoxicated and poorly
dressed, in gambling saloon Yet wher
he wrote there to him-and wrote kindly
-he had disappeared. If it were ou
Tom, Elihu, should just break my heart
Tom, if you ever grow unsteady and rui
away like Philip Seatop, you viii CIV
your mother her death blow. Remembe
that.
Thank God, it isn't Tom, Martha, In
sorry, too, for the man and for the boy
Mr.. Seaton owns that he turned him on
Of OF his house in fit of anger, and tn
boy swore he would never enter his door
a again. Bad temper on both sides, yo'
9 see; and so-why Martha, what on eartl
is that?
Farmer Derwent might well ask tn
: question and rush from the tea table to tn
door, followed by his wondering wife am
children.
A procession OF four of his neighbor
was coming mp fIom the garden gate a
the gate stood horse and light expires
wagon, and had lifted an inanimate bod
and were bearing it toward the house.
The Go'clock express has run OIL the trac
a mile or two up the valley, said Deac
Jones, as he and his two sons and hi
brother.in.law reached the porch wit
their senseless burden. Ever so man
people hurt, but able togo as soon as the
got riehted. But this poor fellow is $
.. nearly dead that we thought we had bette
y bring him here, being the nearest house
and send for the doctor. We knew you
wife could nurse him back into healt
again If any one could, Mr.. Derwent
;, You're right, there. neighbors, brin
him right in, said the farmer
. His wife led the way to her best bed
room, next to the parlor. Tom sprang o
the back Of his swift sorrel colt and set @
Z. for the doctor.
Half an hour later the supper table wa
~ cleared. the dishes were washed and pu
II away, aud Alice Derwent sat pensively b
the kitchen fire, while her father an
mother we're busy with the doctor in th
spare room; and Tom. hnrrying to and II
on their errands, stopping once or twic
K 10 inform her that the stranger was youn
: and handsome, but dressed like a laborel
: and the doctor said il was near chanc
n whether he lived or died.
dl Two weeks passed on and the doctd
!. . came and wen, each day; the neighbol
Or far and near offered their seryices-ail ei
= cept Squire Seaion, who lived his nsu'
p secluded life in his mansion. buried IN b
b books. ali knew nothing OF the strang'
s q who lar a. deaths door.
q, Poor boyl Alice ! wish you would 8
- - and 81, beside him while, said Mrs DE
"a gent on tho iirst evening Of the third wee
~ Of bis ILLNESS. lie is asleep now. III
wakes you call me. 1--we only knew b