The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1883-05-24


10 ths crown OF your bead. ~ body
might sayl Well II ever I beard the
like! When you hare got the roof on
from oves our own heads. perhaps yon u
be happy We shall have 70 come 70
want thrcsgh your doings! Nov. you
Just mark my vordsl"
The speaker Vas little, tnick'ses so'
man, with . hard wrinkled face. thin.
tightly shut lips, and two fierce Little
light blue eyes that glared with all the
lSAArpness Of an angry hawks glance. first
usaa the stout. comfortable-iooking
white beaded farmer who Vas shifting
uneasiIy from ono foot TO the other 10
his own door. and then Il the pale. scared
countenancs Of delicate woman and
child Who sst in ths wagon from which
hs hsd juss dismountsd.
Such pleasant looking hous IL had
been 70 those weary wsyfsrers before its
mistress sprasrsd. A square. oId.fash.
iousd farm houss. gray With the storms Of
sixty years or more. but With broad.
hx door stone and snAeea doos ovssAusg
With lilsc blossoms door the. led
straight into tbs nssta4 n kitchsns,
where losS rows Of slistsning Hps 10 .
corner cupboard. shone like silver ~ the
evening fire biAxed upward from the cpep
hearth.
But Mrs. Morton spoiled it obi. Her
soured, withered. missrly vissgs, sad bar
sharp, hard voice made the poor woman
who had como to sesk har charity shud-
der and grow sick at heart.
Don't mind us. sir. We will 60 back
and sit beside the road where yos took
us up" she said family, TO the farmer. y
! am not bsggsr. aud my child must
never he ons. Let US 60. cir. We would
both rather starye than stay where we are
not welcome."
She reached forward to touch the farm.
or on ths shOuldsr. but even that effort
was too much for her wasted strength.
She sank forward, and would have fsl.
len under the Asrses feet il the farmer,
warned by cry from the Little girl, had
not turned and cssglf har in his aims.
"Well. I'm surel' beesa AaA Morton.
spitsfnlly to the child, whose grss9 6lne
eyes we're fixed upon her with a look Of
fear and dislike. "Your ma makes quite
free for stranger."
For shame. Sarah," said her husband.
severely. "At least We have enough to
spare for the kresent, and the future must
take care Of itseG Folks are not going
to perish 10 death night hero at my door
when can prevent T."
There's the poor hssss for such ~
her." said Mrs. Morton. xieiously.
A look from her hasbanA Ailenced her
at last He bore the fainting woman 10
doors, and laid her down in the spare
room. "On my best bed" Mrs.. Norton
used to say Indignantly. for many panths
thereafter. With his own hands the.kind
old man carried in plentiful supper ard
breakfast to the wanderers. And ,wbspl
'tss thst next mornings meal, the rpoor|
bads him sdieu. and with CRATE
IONA. -aysd that God might bless
NJ tear. :. her on the shoulder en-
i'm. he pattea ''uped 6Ee'dolar bill
and g..
ito her hand. ~oa Ans "no
"Iake that. my dear, for "'sssi'
tile one 70 live On an var s., ny
said. Nov don't cry oyer it,
ear. but keep good heart, and heave.
Ill send you friends Is you journey in
ong. Good-by. my. little one. Will 4,
~ give an old man kiss?"
Yes. will, )" said the child, spriuRing T.;
TO his outstretohed arms. and pressing A.
y lips upon bis withercd choek; "snd nj
zen am great large woman. I'll pay on
u back for being SO kind to my mother. re,
ny. she would have died il you hadn't yo
zen her in last night. And then l yo
ould have died. tool' l..
Tears were in the farmers eyes as lie .
'od looking after his late guests; but ths
heart Was warm with the conscious. no
's OF q good action performed, and +.
,eft conferred. You might As well nm,
,g sign out. aud say that We keep fon
ern for every straggler that comes e
ng," remarked Mrs. Morton, from the VIII
'r II do wish. Caleb, you'd stop do. hor
no. You won't end till We are both lose
the poor house, and then you'll be not
yw sue
IL am going TO the poor house for to I
ping starving woman and child, 20 old
ust. Sarah. /" said her husband, quiet. and
ano
And 60 you will. mark nv word" 70. me,
d Mrs Morton in fury. shutting the NOR
se.door with bang that made every II n
k pan and cup aud saucer ring aud mus
lie again. "
. sno
en- years passed on. Anc II began " was
Is il Mrs. Morton hsd only bscn too his
A. prophet vhep Sbe foretold ruin ofth
Der husband and tie alma. house for Il
OF them. that
an evil day Caleb Morton signed . Dor
for poor and struggling neishbor gsth
died just - the time Of payment man,
} near. was
'thing vas left. except . seanty pro- stead
q for tho widow and orphans. Caleb bette
d have starved before claiming that voul
them. even II he could do % legally. cent.
eir homestead, already mortgagsd, Lord
go 10 pay the debt. and be vas ten iortu
older. broken down by hard work. vas