The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-26
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA, DECEMBER 26 1882

/
iah Roxbury stepped from the Mayfower
in 1920, and the last representative Of the
race would not falter now, although seized
with dire apprehension whenever her
eyes rested on the verbena bed. eass2
It was with grim determination to
brave the worst that she awaited the train
that afternoon, but when the locomotive
appeared on the bridge below the village,
the thought of the dreadful boy who was
coming to invade her peaceful domain
nearly overcame her, and her impulse was
to order the hired man to drive home as
quickly as possible She could appreciate
the emotions Of Roman dame at the ap-
proach of the Vandals.
As the train stopped at the station the
people crowded forward to welcome their
guests. Miss Roxbury peered anxiously
from the rockaway. 1t was not very
appalling sight. A group Of pale little
children, tired, dusty and bewildered.
Many eyes overfowed as the train moved
on and. left those wistful faces, pinched
by want and misfortune, in the midst Of
the kindly villagers.
Here, Miss Roxbury, is . wee lamb
for you," said Mr.. Alder.
Miss Roxbury had not observed his ap-
proach in the crowd, and gave a start OF
surprise as he stood before her. AS she
looked, there was a curious sensation un-
der the left side of her Grape shawl, and
her cold grey eyes grew misty.
The dreadful boy" had changed into
a tiny girl Of six years, as frail as a snow
drop, whose coarse attire could not mar
the lovliness of her dark violet eyes and
hair of tangled sunbeams. The little
creature stretched out her arms to Miss
Roxbury, who reached forward and took
her into the rockaway, the ancient springs
of which creaked with astonishment.
"What is your name ?" said Miss Rox-
bury, feeling strangely awkward as they
drove along
"Dot," said the child. "You hasn't
kissed me yet, has your"
Miss Roxbury bent and kissed the child.
The rockaway creaked louder than before.
The touch of the child's mouth thrilled
through the iron nerves of the woman
with sensation inexpressibly delightful.
Miss Roxbury had imagined her life to
be happy one. She now discovered
that she had mistaken selfish isolation
for happiness. She was beginning to be
happy for the first time in fifty years, Dot
was too tired to be very talkative, but
she leaned against Miss Roxbury with a
look of quiet wonder and content in her
eyes.
Is going to stay here? ?" she asked,
as the rockaway stopped at the Roxbury
gate, and she surveyed the old stone house
with woodbine clambering over its gray
walls.
eyes, child"
Dots face grew luminous. A bath, a
bountiful supper of bread and milk, and a
walk in the garden kept her joyful until
twilight, but with bedtime came the long
ing for her mother.
want my mamma-my own man.
ma," she said.
Then Miss Roxbury gave full vent to
the instinct that can never be utterly de-
stroyed in woman. Taking the child on
her lap, she caressed the white face and
sunny curls in restful, soothing way, and
talked so cheerfully that the shadows fell
from the violet eyes, and Dot, nesting
close, said: "I love you"
Miss Roxbury had not only began to be
happy she had begun to live. With the
coming of this sweet child heaven was
changing the dull prose of her existence
into celestial rythm. Her cold, loveless
nature in the presence of this tiny girl
was already becoming Christ-like in its
tender ministry.
Dot offered her evening prayer and was
put in Miss Roxbury's own stately bed.
"Good night, DEAR" said Miss Rox-
bury, with kiss.
"Dood night" said Dot, burying her
face in the great bunch of white roses she
had brought to bed with her. 81 feel zif
died and gone to heaven"
Miss Roxbury passed wakeful night
but not a restless one Her mind was
filled with plans, and then it was such a
pleasure to lie and listen to the soft breath
ing at her side, and occasionally to touch
the little head on the counterpane, still
holding the treasured roses. \
The next day Dot ran nearly wild with
delight. She reveled among the daises
in the deep soft grass, and it was pitiful
to see how small an object could charm
her hungry mind. Gods commonest
| gifts were unknown to her in their bounty
and purity. Sunshine, sweet air, flowers
and bird songs were enough to make her
happy, and when she found the brook
that danced across the meadow her de-
light was unbounded. After a day or
two Miss Roxbury took the morning train
down to Bradleyville to do some shopping.
She was gone until night, and all the way
home she thought of the glad voice that
would welcome her, and her face grew SO
radiant with the new JOY in her soul that
when she alighted laden with parcels at
the Lynford station, old Deacon Bennett
failed to recognize her until she had
passed him.
"Wall, DECLARE" he said, "Reliance
looks as if she'd disAivered gold mine. -
Miss Roxbury reached home and soon
had the gold mine IN her arms.
After tea the parcels had to be opened.
There were paper patterns, rolls of mus
lin, embroidery and blue flannel, pair Of
child's slippers, dainty hose, bright rib
bons and large doll.
"Oh, oh, oh!" was all that Dot could
say, but her tone expressed more than
the most extensive volume on philan.
| throphy that ever was written. The vii
lage dressmaker was installed in the
house for week. The Rocky Mountain
patchwork was consigned to the seclusion
Of the spare room closet, and Miss Rox.
bury developed taste in Mother Hub
bard dresses and rufied aprons that was