The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-19
The Tell-Tale Tile.


sand they do say she'll have to go to
the poorhouse."
ITO the poorhouse how dreadful
Aud the children, too 2" and Miss Ben
net shuddered.
"Yes; unless somebody'll adopt them,
and that's not very likely"
"Well, must CO." the visitor went on,
rising. al wish l could do something for
her, but, with my houseful of children,
I've got use for every penny l can rake
and scrape."
"Pm sure l have, with only myself"
said Miss Bennett, as she closed the door.
"Pm sure l have" she repeated to her.
self, as she resumed her knitting; otis as
much as l can do to make ends meet,
scrimping as l do, not to speak of laying
up a cent for sickness aud old age"
But the poorhouse r. she said again.
sIwish could help her % and the needles
Few in and out, in and out, faster than
ever, as she turned this over in her mind
al might give up something she said at
last, though l don't know what, unless
UNLESS" she said, slowly, thinking of
her one luxury, "unless give up my tea,
and it don't seem as if Lcouid do that"
Some time the thought worked in her
mind, aud finally she resolved to make
the sacrifice of her only indulgence for
six months, and send the money to her
suffering neighbor--Mrs. Stanley-though
she had never seen her, and had only
heard she was in want.
That evening Mrs. Stanley was sur.
prised by a small gift of money " From
friend" said the envelope containing it.
"Who sent it ?" she asked, from the
bed where she was lying.
Miss Bennett told me not to tell" said
the boy, unconscious that he had already
told.
The next day Miss Bennett sat at the
window knitting, as usual-for her con-
slant contribution to the poor fund of
the church was certain number of
stockings and mittens-when she saw
young girl coming up to the door of the
cottage
"Who can that be ?" she said to her.
self. 81 never saw her before. Come
In ]" she called, in answer to knock.
The girl entered, and walked up to Miss
Bennett.
care you Miss Bennett ?" she asked
"Yes,' said Miss Bennett, smiling.
"Well, Pm Hetty Stanley"
Miss Bennett started, and her color
grew little brighter.
I'm glad to see you, Hetty," she said !;
won't you sit down ?"
eyes, if you please" said Hetty, taking
chair near her.
81 came to tell you," she began simply,
show much we love you for"
ooh, don't don't say any more I" in.
terrupted Miss Bennett; "never mind
that Tell me about your mother and
your baby brother"
This was an interesting subject, and
Hetty talked earnestly about it, and the
time passed 30 quickly that, before she
knew 1T, she had been in the house an
hour. When she went away Miss Bennett
asked her to come again, thing she was
never known to do before, for she was not
fond of young people in general.
"But then, Hetty's different" she said
to herself, when wondering herself at her
own interest.
odd you thank kind Miss Bennett ?"
was her mothers question, as Hetty
opened the door.
Hetty stopped as if struck. "Why, no !
don't believe did"
"And stayed so long, too What ever
did you do =? I've heard she isn't fond of
people generally"
awe talked, and | think she's ever so
nice. She asked me to come again /;
may 7"
"of course you may, if she cares to
have you. / should be glad to do some
thing to please her."
That visit of HettyS WAS the first of a long
series. Almost every day she found her
way TO the lonely cottage, where visitor
rarely came, and a strange intimacy grew
up between the old and the young. Hetty
learned Of her friend to knit, and many an
hour they spent knitting while Miss Ben
nett ransacked her memory for stories to
tell. And then, one day, she brought down
from big chest in the garnet two of the
books she used to have when she was
young, and let Hetty look at them.
One was "Thaddeus of Warsaw" and
the other Scottish Chiefs" Poor Hetty
had not the dozens of books you have
and these were treasures indeed. She
read them to herself, and she read them
aloud to Miss Bennett, who, much to her
own surprise, found her interest almost as
eager as Hettys.
All this time Christmas was drawing
near, and strange, unusual feelings began
10 stir in Miss Benefits heart, though
generaly she did not think much about
that happy time. She wanted to make
Hetty happy day. Money she had none
30 she went into the garrett where hel
youthful treasures had long been hidden
From the chest where she had taken the
books she now took a small box of light
colored wood, with transferred engrav
ing on the cover. With a sigh-for the
sight of 1t brought up old memories
Miss Bennett lifted the cover by it's loor
of ribbon, took out package Of old let
ters, and went down stairs with the box
taking also few bits of bright silk from
bundle in the chest.
al can fit it up for work-box," sh,
said, and I'm sure Hetty will like it.
For many days after this Miss Bennett
had her secret work, which she CAREFUL,
hid when she saw Hetty coming. Slowly
in this way, she made pretty needle
book, tiny pin-cushion, and an emer,
bag like big strawberry. Then from
her own scanty stock she added needles
pins, thread, and her only pair of small
SCISSORS, secured to the last extreme O
brightness. One thing only she had Il