The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-08-17

Young giri Who asked this, as heard ID
words. half in . drean, opened ny eys
aud looked np 10 uha, seemed for ms
ment glimpse oi Paradise. There Ser
the dark green leaves Of the los bushes
among which l dimly remembered drss
gpg myself, tired and faint il seemed
rear ago, aud there, thrown on the bach
ground. girls face. with soft, sunny hal
and great earnest eyes Was she handsome
you ask No. | suppose not. ! don
think there was single pretty feature Il
her whole face; still il always seemed love
ly 10 me, and that morning. m looked VI
at IL. her face was au angels.
was as nerly worn out as man could be
and everything looked black and.drear.
enough. even in that bright summer time
was only tramp then-pot raggee
dirty tramp such as you drove from you
yard yesterday. perhaps. but tramp new
ertheless. and kind word and pityinl
face were now strange things TO me. had
been what, thank God, ! am, 10 day, . law
yer. with for young mana good prac
tice back in my eastern home, but love
for drnk--yet not altogether drink, bnl
with ii reckless expenditure, running in
TO debt had brought me down.
remember the day that the final crash
came and how hard tried to avert it, not
waking to realization OF my situation un-
til it was too late. 1t seemed impossible
that /, always vored. should he, could
be penniless, and il not absolutely beg
gar. still certainly in beggar's friendless
position. Unable TO remain where was
known, for fear OF my creditors, l struck
of into new regions, and begged-yes that
is the word begged for work, any honest
work, and begged for II in vain. / did get
odd jobs here and there, but nothing last.
ing. only just enough for me to live along
from hand to mouth-and sometimes 1t was
poorly enough, even at that
The night before, with fever burning in
my veins, had left dgeiield-left with
ont supper or money-and all the long
night had trudged onward, down the great
white country road, Sick, with the hot
fever coursing through my veins and
parehing my tongue; faint and and hun
CRY, foot-sore and weary from long travel,
disheartened, and caring but little wheth-
er lived or died. just as the sun came up
sank into the cool looking bushes by the
roadside aud lost all consciousness.
Are you sick. sir?
The question was repeated with even
more earnestness than before.
fear ] am, ] sand, pressing my hand to
my throbbing temples to still the pain.
Where are your friends, poor man?
There was look of pity in those great,
earnest eyes, that, if should live forever,
l could not forget.
Friends! l echoed; the words sounded
almost like mockery to me- Did you
ever know such men as !, to have friends?
What have you done-are you crimi.
nal2
1t was said with the action OF startled |
fawn, and fastened to answer; A crimi-
nal? Yes, Of the worst kind, some people
seem to think. / am guiltyof being poor.
Oh, is that all? What relief there
was IN her voice; sick as was l noticed
It. We are poor, too, mother and /; but
still we have friends. and will never leave
my one sick at our door without help.
Can you walk at all. sir?
will see, said family, and inspired by
/ new courage, with hold on the thick
bushes, managed to gain my feet and
rather than walked ont into the
.oad but when at last got into the sun
'hine. the old dizzy faintness cone over
ne and in u swoon / fell forward in the
dust.
For days following l was conscious Of
,othing but pain-a throbbing and aching
lead, feeling throughout of hunger
mi suffering had closed my heavy eyes
n the heat and dust, iand even as lay
heer, day after day, seemed to be breath
ng the same dry air, suffering without WA
er to quench my thirst. When at last |
opened them saw cool, white curtain
to aud fro before an open win
low and now and then | could feel o
,reath OF fresh air upon my cheek, and
'ut beyond, could see, where the curtain
vas caugbt up, rain drops dropping and
listening among the leaves. felt as If
n fairyjland as handled the clean, white
overlet laid over me, and l looked at the ,
ew cheap pictures aud the neat simple
OF the room. /,
Where am /! unconsciously Ispoke, in my
urprise and wonder, aloud.
A curtain at the head Of the bed was
uddenly lifted, which gave glimpse of
mother room as neat as my own. Ayoung
'irl entered and came quickly forward TO
he side OF my bed, 1t was the face Of
ay strange friend by the roadside; her
unpy hair aud earnest eyes had been with
&c as something intangible, misty as .
leasant dream. all through my sickness,
nd remembered il now--the promised {
id and swooning in the dust.
So you are at last awake, said she, lay.
ng her cool. moist hands on my temples
awake and the fever all gone. You
aust feel much better.
conld only look Yes with eyes.
Now, don't want you to talk. You !
re my patient and you must ask no ques-
ION. for fear the vision might fade.
You're safe enough in our house-moth-
RS and mine ! told you we were poor.
ut you would faint right before our door. :
I'm very sorry. IsAid. penitently.
Hum That don't help. Do you know I
ov sick yop have beena
Iprotesied my entire ignorance.