Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-08

Just W nted to say I'll take one-one of
those children"
Mamma, is it mornin'?"
mo, Dot, 60 TO sleep"
The child turned restlessly on the miser-
able straw pallet in the corner of small
hot room. 1t was after midnight, and in
summer, but there was fire in the stove,
for the woman at the pine table was IRON
ing by the light of glimmerng tallow
candle.
There was no breeze, but in 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 or lace. She had worked from
early dawn until dark at her daily task,
buttonholcs at four cents Il dozen. A cup
of tea and crust of bread had been her
sustonance For Dot there was bun and
an orange.
The dress was finish and hung on the
only chair in the room. A hat of course
white straw, with blue ribbon twisted
around it, Il pair of bright stockings, a
tiny handkerchief with u bit of color in
the border. All were pitfuly cheap in
texture but dear in patient toll and loving
sacrifice. Dot was going to the country
for two long, blissful weeks, and the moth
er could cover the expense Of the meager
outfit by some extra deprivation during
the child's absence. She turned toward
the pallet. Dots violet eyes had opened.
fIer golden curs We're tangled by the
tossing of the little head on the pillow.
Her thin, pinched features were flushed
with fevcri,h excitement
"Mamma, is it mornin'?"
'No, darling"
The w,mtn blew out the light and
threw herself on the pallet, Tiny fingers
crcpt eagerly into her palm,
Mamma, tell ME more about it, Dot
pleaded.
Darling, it is years and years since
mamma saw the country, but it was Just
as I've told you. Wide, clean streets,
with big trees and blue sky and flowers"
"Oh, OH" murmured Dot. "Does
you s'pose they'll give me one fower,
mammal fond one on the stweet once
IL little ite flower. A lady dropped it,"
"Yes, d ar, you'll have all the flowers
you want. ID MT 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 oom, 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 kLecing In prayer for endur-
ance. took her work and sat down by the
narrow window. A few hours later she
stood 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, us he entered the ranks of the
odd procession.
''Oh, sir?' said the mother, as she turn.
ed away, take good care of my baby.
I've nothing else in the world"
There was au 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
o sister churches convGrsed together on
the platform.
"a glorious charityw said the Baptist
minister, raising his hat 10 wipe the per-
spiration from his brow.
II expect that these poor children will
be a great blessing to our people," said
the Methodist minister, sin broadening
the sympatbics and warning the hearts of
some who had been obivious to all inter-
ests save their own"
yes" replied the Rev. Mr.. Alder, 81
have Il practical illustration Of that not q
stones throw from where we are standing" "
The ''pracical illustration" consisted OF
the RoXbury rockaway drawn mp amid
the other conveyanccs, Miss Reliance on
The back seat, in u state of mind in which
newly ncdgcd philanthropy struggled
with II terror of ragmullins. She had
come TO the conclusion that her visit to the
parsonage had been made during an
attack of mental alteration; but The word
Of a RoXbury was rs immovabe rs the
historic granite on which Iephaniah RoX-
bury stepped from tho "Maylower' in
lG2O, and the last representative of the
race would not lalter now though seized
with dire apprehension whenever her
eyes rested on The verbena bed.
1t was with grim determination to
brave lhn worst that she awaited the
train tlat afternoon, but when the loco
motive 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 homah
dame at the approach of the Vandals.
AS the train stopped at the station the
people crowded forward to welcome their
9uests. Miss Roxbury peered anxiousy
from the rockaway. It was not n very
appalling sight, A group OF pale little