Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-09-29
WHAT THE TRAIN BROUGHT.

With roar and rattle the 6 o'clock
the narrow river on the Derwent farm, near
Concord aud Alice Dorwent, the farmers
pretty, dark-eyed daughter, stood on the vine
shaded porch, looking after it with an uncon-
scious sigh.
80 many come by you, SO many go by
you out into the great, wide, beautiful world"
she thought as she gazed over the fertile val.
ley farm and out through break in the cir
cling blue mountains, from whence a trail of
white smoke came floating back. II wonder
If you will ever bring me anything? or carry
me away or must live my life out to the
end shut in by these quiet hills p
Supper ready. mother z" called out 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 the living,
breathing Image of his SIRE"
ITO be sure it is replied his bustling lit
tie wife, who had just such eyes-and hair as
bonny Alice, and just the same sweet smile.
Isn't it always ready when the train goss
byI Come, Alice"
alice is out looking for her fortune, moth.
err said Tom. 1T is coming by that train
/ know all about it,"
Alice smiled aud shook her head at her
saucy brother, she took her seat at her
fathers side.
Little did any of them think how many a
true word is spoken in jest, or that the for
tune which the evening express was to bring
the daughter of tue house was even then near
ing their hospitable door
I've worked like a 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 comfort
xppu11 Ia. harl 10
anter 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, gancing thankfully at the blazing
fire, the table laid so neatly, the tempting
meal of batter cakes and maple syrup, wheat
en- bread and golden butter and large plat
ter of cold cornsd beef and vegetables that
was placed before the two hungry men.
Mrs Derwent poured out the tea strong,
hot and fragrant
esquire Seaton, up in the big house yon-
der, don't often get such a 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 Il
do pity him. 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, aud that he had been
seen lately in Leadville, intoxicated and poor
ly dressed in a gambling saloon. Yet when
he wrote there to him-and wrote kindly
he had disappeared. If it was our Tom,
Elihu, should just break my heart Tom,
if you ever do grow unsteady aud run away
like Philip Seaton, you will give your mother
her death blow. Remember thatw
"Thank God, it isn'nt Tom, Martha. I'm
sorry, too. for the man and for the boy. Mr..
Sraton owns that he turned him out of his
house in New York in a fit of anger and that
the boy swore he would never enter his
doors again. Bad temper on both sides, you
see aud so-why, Martha, what on earth is
that 2"
Farmer Derwent might well ask the ques.
tion aud rush from the tea-table to the door,
followed by his wondering wife and chill
dren
procession of four of his neighbors was
coming up from his garden gate. At the gate
stood horse and light express wagon, and
four men had lifted an inanimate body and
were bearing it toward the house.
1.-The G O'Clock express has run off the
track mile or two up the valley" said Dea-
con Jones, as he and his two sons and his
brothsr-iu-a law reached the porch with their
senseless burden. Ever so many people
hurt, but able to go on as soon as they got
righted. But this poor fellow is so nearly
dead that we thought we had better bring
him here, being as it was the nearest house,
and send for the doctor We knew that your
wife could nurse him back into health again if
any one could, Mr. Derwent"
you're right, there, neighbors, bring him
right in, " said the farmer.
His wife led the way to her best bedroom,
next the parlor Tom sprang on the back of
his swift sorrel colt and set of for the doc
tor.
Half an hour later the supper table was
cleared, the supper dishes were washed and
put away, and Alice Derwent sat pensively
by the kitchen fire, while her father and
mother were busy with the doctor in ths
spare room and Tom, hurrying to aud fro
on their .errands stopped once or twice to in-
form her that the stranger was young and
handsome, but dressed like a hboror aud
that the doctor said lit WAS II mar chance
whether he lived or died"
Two weeks passed on aud the doctor came
and went each day the neighbOrs far aud
near volunteered their servoos-all except
Squire Seatou, who lived his usual secluded
life in his great mansion, buried in his books,
and knew nothing Of tue stranger who lay ut
deaths door.
"Poor boy Alice wish you would 90 in
and sit beside him awhile, said Mrs. Derwent
on the frst evening of the third week OF his
illness he is asleep now. If he wakes,
you can Call me. If we only knew his peo-
pie l would send for them. l fear he will not
last long"
Alice crept in and took her place in the
nurse d chair. Tears of pity dimmed her eyes
as she looked at the wasted figure in bed