News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1882-11-23

" ''There John, just set them down there
4, by the table, and go out and assis
g James," cries Bella Leland, as she
crosses over to the astonished Mrs. Bar
N ton, who stands dazed by the suddennes.
of the angelic apparition, unable to say
II a word.
''You must forgive me, Mrs. Barton,
) cries Bella, with outstretched hands. 81
heard that Mr.. Barton was seriously i'll
! and 1 knew you had no one to assist you
so took the liberty of bringing over g
e few things. Oh, yes" as the rattle o.
wood being unloaded fell upon their ears,
> Il thought possibly your supply of wood
might run short, so just had one of the
e farm-hands bring over enough to last
until this period of bad weather is over. y
As she says this, Bella lays aside her
, cloak and bustles around, touching here
and there the different things in the room,
while James busies himself with the stove.
so that a grateful heat now radiates
through the room, under cover of which
Bella automatically forgets to mention
what part James's visit in the morning
has played in the little surprise.
Under the cover of gossipy chatter,
Miss Leland, with the assistance of the
child, unpacks the generous hampers,
and it is not long before the little red
farm house glistens with life and Joy,
bidding brave defiance to the old wind
god, who blows and whistles outside.
=" Heaven bless you, my dear!'' cries
Mrs. Barton, reverently kissing the little
soft hands, as they are rested for an in
slant on her shoulders. 81 was too
proud to say anything before, but we
were slowly starving to DEATH"
"Never mind now, my dear madam
says Bella, gently. cit is Thanksgiving
Day, you know, and let us now forget the
past and think only of the present"
Such jolly time as the little room sees
the rest of that November day Even
the sick father grows stronger, and the
gasping breaths die away under the gen.
erous diet prescribed by the heiress, and
which she herself administers.
How the old elasticity returns to the
mothers step and joy to her heart, as she
sees the healthful glow once more creep
into Amy's cheeks and the merry heart
song comes bubbling up to her lips
From the depths of despair they have,
by the kind thoughtfulness of another,
risen to the heights of the keenest pleas
ure.
elf Philip were only here p is the sin
gle thought that comes to the mothers
heart as she sits at the head of the modest
table, while the all-pervading warmth
makes each homely chair and each article
in the room, from the little chintz-covered
lounge in the corner, take on a cheerful
home look.
To Amy, child-ike, the beautiful Miss
Leland, with her bright, loving ways and
delicate generosity, seems the incarna-
ton of all that is good. Never in all her |
conquests did Bella Leland receive such |
adoring homage as comes this afternoon |
from the grateful heart of this child.
Gradually the deepening shades of
the evening twilight show that the short
day is drawing to a close, and across the
lowland, just from the edge of the village,
the comfortable pony phaeton, Miss Lee
lands especial property, is discovered
coming for its pretty mistress.
As that young lady is wrapping her
graceful form in the warm jacket, pre-
paratory to start, the door suddenly
opens and a stalwart, bearded figure
dashes into the room, pausing suddenly
as he observes Miss Leland standing
there; only for an instant, however, for
with glad cry Mrs. Barton springs into
the outstretched arms, exclaiming ''My
boy, my boy I'' while Amy clings closely
to the skirts of the rough jacket, crying
Brother Philip, you amt dead; you
didn't go down with the vessel. Oh, Tn
SO glad I'm so glad ~
Seeing the shape matters have taken,
Miss Leland, with gentle tact, slips
quietly out, and, jumping into the phae- t
ton, is soon lodged in the handsome little {
boudoir at the manor, haunted, however, {
with the remembrance of a sturdy form 5
in a rough jacket, which bears a strong
to Philip Barton. $
In the meantime Philip had been made /
acquainted with the history of the sum-
mer, winding up with the incidents of f
the day drawing to a close. ]
81 am sure I hardly know what we
would have done," adds Mrs. Barton. {
had Miss Leland not arrived Just as she
did" f
''And she was so kind, too, brother
Phil, cries Amy. ''She's an angel ]
that's what she is"
CANCEL or not, am deeply in her debt S
for what she has done for you all this
day" cried Philip, heartily; ''but here t
after you shall not want for anything
while live. have enough for all" t
Philips story, briefly told, is that, 9
when the vessel was supposed to be sink
ing, all deserted her but himself and G
one other. After the abatement of the {
storm they managed to rig a jury mast
and sail, when, being not far from land. G
they brought the vessel and cargo intact
INTO port. heavy salvage had been i
awarded them, which, divided between v
The two, gave each a small fortune, which, V
together with the liberal praise bestowed,
was enough to have turned the head of i
less sensible young man. Not being +
1t port where he could mail a letter to b
he folks at home, announcing his safety. C
Philip waited until he should come him
elf which he expected would be very
Don. He was delayed, however and in
he meantime the report of the ships g
and the loss of himself and W
had been set afoat by the 81
ortion of the crew who took the boats. it
But now we are all right once more. p
lother, he cries, as he finishes the mar cC
atom, "and hereafter / will try and re- h
lain ashore" pl
Strangely enough, several wee ks pat
efore Miss Leland can muster up cour- W
&c enough to visit the red farmhouse IL
1d its inmates, but one bright, pleasant
forming the jaunty phaeton draws up ST
etore the low-lying house, where its oc- IN
1pant is welcomed at the door with open
rms. M
A presentation to "my son Philip
blows, and the young lady finds it nj
ard to recognize in the quiet, taste Sc
gentleman the rough-look-
lCr FOL Orr rrrrl,x