Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-10-13

She ordered the horse and rockaway and
drove four miles after wild cherry bark, for
which she had no need, as her garret was al
ready great herbarium
At last the dreary day came to its close, but
was succeeded by an equally uncomfortable
night. Amid frequent tossing and waking,
Miss Roxbury dreamed of thin little hands
stretched out to her in piteous appeal and of
a sad, wonderful voice that said with infinite
reproach
"Ye did it not"
The Rev. Joseph Alder was surprised soon
after breakfast the next morning by the ap-
pearance of Miss Reliance Roxbury in the
parsonage porch. She brought a basket Of
raspberries and said
II wont come in this time, thank you.
just wanted to say I'll take one-one Of those
children"
II.
Mamma, is it mornin' 2"
mo, Dot, go to sleep"
The child turned restlessly on the misera.
BILE straw pallet in a corner Of the small, hot
room. II was after midnight, and in summer,
but there was a fire in the stove, for the wo-
man at the pine table was ironing by the light
of a glimmering tallow candle.
There was no breeze, but in at the one
window came sitting, poisonous odors.
Pale and faint, the mother bent over her
work, and smoothed the dark calico dress as
carefully as if it were the finest muslin and
lace. She had worked from early dawn un-
til dark at her daily task, button holes at 4
cents a dozen. A cup of tea and crust Of
bread bad been her sustenance. For Dot
there was bun and an orange.
The dress was finished and hung. on the on
ly chair in the room. A hat Of coarse white
straw, with blue ribbon twisted around it, a
pair of bright stockings, tiny handkerchief
with a bit of color in the border. All were
pitifully cheap in texture but dear in patient
toll and loving sacrifice. Dot was going to
the country for two long, blissful weeks and
the mother could cover the expense of the
meagre outfit by some extra deprivation dur
ing the childs absence. She turned toward
the pallet. Dots violet eyes had opened.
Her golden curls were tangled by the tossing
of the little head on the pillow. Her thin,
pinched features were flushed with feverish
excitement.
Mamma, is it mornin' ?"
mo, darling"
The woman blew out the light and threw
herself on the pallet. Tiny fingers crept
eagerly into her palm.
Mamma, tell me more about it," pleaded
Dot.
Darling, it is years and years since man.
ma saw the country, but it was just as I've
told you. Wide, clean streets, with big trees
and blue sky and flowers"
ooh, oh (! murmured Dot "Does you
'spose they'll give me one fower, mamma 4?
l found one on the sweet once-a little w'ite
flower. A lady dropped it,"
"Yes, dear, you'll have all the flowers you
want. Don't talk any more tonight"
The sky was already white with the dawn.
The mother did not sleep. As the light OF
another day of misery crept into the room,
she raised herself on one elbow and looked
long at her child, restraining an impulse to
snatch it to her heart, then softly rose and
after bathing her face and hands and kneel-
ing in prayer for endurance, took her work
and sat down by the narrow window. few
hours later she sood amid the hustle of the
Grand Central Depot with Dot clinging to
her dress. A crowd of wondering, expectant
children were being marshalled into line to
take their places on the eastward bound
train.
Come, " said the kind gentleman in charge,
to Dot.
Dot kissed her mother 'good-by," and
laughed even while the tears ran down her
face, as she entered the ranks of the odd pro.
cession.
"Oh, sir !" said the mother as she turned
away, take good care of my baby. I've
nothing else in the world"
III.
There was an unusual stir in the village of
Lynford. The railway station was thronged
with people, and surrounded by vehicles
awaiting the afternoon train.
The Rev. Joseph Alder and the ministers
of sister churches conversed together on the
platform.
"a glorious charity" said the Baptist
minister, raising his hat to wipe the perspira-
ton from his brow.
Il expect that these poor children will be
a great blessing to our people," said the
Methodist minister, ''in broadening the sym
psthies and warming the hearts of some who
have been oblivious to all interests save their
own"
Yes" replied the Rev. Mr.. Alder, II have
a practical illustration of that, not stones
throw from where we are standing"
The practical illustration" consisted of
the Roxbury rockaway drawn up amid the
other conveyances, with Miss Reliance on the
back seat, in state of mind in which newly
Aedged philanthropy struggled with terror
of ragmuffins. She had come to the conclu-
sion that her visit to the parsonage had been
made during an attack of mental alteration
but the word of Roxbury was as immova-
BILE as the historic granite on which Zephani-
ah Roxbury stepped from the Mayhower 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.
1t was with grim determination to brave
the worst that she awaited the train that af-
ternoon, but when the locomotive appeared
on the bridge below the village, the thought
of the dreadful boy who was coming to in
wade 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 Ro-
man dame at the approach of the Vandals.
AS the train stopped at the station the peo-
Pile crowded forward to welcome their guests.
Miss Roxbury peered anxiously from the
rockawsy. 1t was not very appalling sight.
A group of pale little children, tired, dusty
and bewildered. Many eyes overhowed as
the train moved on and left these wistful
faces, pinched by want and misfortune, in
the midst of the kindly villagers.
Here, Miss Roxbury, is a wee lamb fol-
you," said Mr.. Alder.
Miss Roxbury had not observed his ap
proach in the crowd, and gave q start of sur
prise as he stood before her As she looked
there was a curious sensation under the left
side of her Grape shawl, and her cold gray
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 lowell
ness of her dark violet eyes and hair of tan
gled 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 oreaked with aston
ishment.
"Wnat is your name 2" said Miss Roxbury,
telling strangely awkward as they drove
along.
dot" said the child. "You hasn't kissed
me yet, has your"
Miss Roxbury bent aud 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 I
sensation inexpressibly delightful.
Miss Roxbury had imagined her life to b'
a happy ont. She now discovered that sh,
had mistaken selfish isolation for happiness
She was beginning to be happy for the frs