Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-07-06

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sual malignity, had stunted in growth until il
was the merest dwarf.
'Nubbins"
The tawny head lifted, and pair of dark
eyes, wearing the look Of gentle wistfulness
one often sees in meek dumb animals, met
Raohel's very shyly.
"NuJ5ins?' Why, how did you ever get
such name as that p laughed Rachel, laying
her hand upon the child's shoulder, and draw
ing him back to the stove.
"Its the on'y one as I'D do. l asked Joan
bout it onot, an she said Don't quarrel wild
yo name chile, emmy mo- than wild yo' po'
ugly body. Natur' give em bofe to yo
Amt you never seen no nubbins? Little an
crooked an no count, like me-"
Something softer than a smile dimmed
Hachel's eyes as she stroked the rough curls
What did you want with a crayon pencil,
Nubbins?"
crimson flush dyed his pale cheeks, as he
said, shamefacedly: ~ never stole-never in
my life, but I've wanted to a. many times
The pencil was a.gettn' traded for You
see, found plovers nest over in the swamp
yonder, aud Jack Walters said eff I'd show It
to him he'd give me a crayon pencil. 1
showed him the nest, but he never brung the
pencil, an KEEP teasin' him, till to-day he
said might come an get one myself, an he'd
make it all right with you. He said you
NOuihh httl AhI OLb llltlt Outt Nueu you
he'd 80 many. 1t was mighty near stealn'; l
didn't feel right about it here, he went on
laying his hand on his breast. 'But wanted
it 50 bad"
"No, it was not right, said Rachel, grave
ly: 'if you slip in here and take my property
without my knowledge, of course that is
stealing. But you have not told me yet what
you were going to do with the pencil. Can
you draw Z"
~ NJ. i.
There wuz fire out at Scott's farm, an
everythings burnt up but the smoke-house
The side o that is all black like the board
there he said, with loving glance at the
| blackboard.
Its a splendid place to draw, an SO fur
thet amt afraid o anybody a follerin'. The
| boys 'ud never tramp over there ter torment
Nubbins," and he chuckled gleefully.
How far is it p
-Four miles, an right through the swamp"
Have you ever tried pencil like this 2"
asked Rachel, taking a fue drawing pencil
from her pocket. Nubbins eyes glistened
Not zactly. l found little end O. one
sorler like in the road, onct, an the man at
| the store let me run errahtB for a sheet o pa
| per. / went right ter the Knobs !"-Nubbins
! paused for a rapturous sigh while his cheeks
began to glow, and the dusky eyes beamed
| with feverish lustre--"an' staid till every
bit O. the sheet wuz full. l slept under the
leaves that night, an heard the wind playing
| wonderful music among the pines. Oh, it
wuz grand A heap better than the planners
on the boats. While listened there wuz
somethin' in here, tapping his breast myste-
rously, "a singin' sweet an low, like an echo.
| | hear it sometimes when I'm of in the
swamp, an can make the boards an charcoal
show me the beautiful things / dream o.
nights. soft radiance had been gradually
breaking over the worn little face and now,
as he lifted it, flushed and transfgured, it
| shone like a star.
Rachels long.sealed heart was being very
strangely stirred, and with sudden impulse
Of tenderness she bent and touched her lips
to the child's forehead.
You shall have pencil, and paper
plenty of it" she said, clasping her arms
around him with a new, delicious thrill of sat
isfaction.
| Now tell me what you will draw Z"
"Oh, please let me wait an show it to you,
cried Nubbins, trembling with delight. "Tn
bring it Friday"
'Yes, that will do, and bring the sheet of
paper you carried with you to the Knobs.
want to see what you can do. Now Nub-
bins, do you know where l live ?"
"Yes'm. At Mis- Bascom's. 1 see you
every day"
"Well, l want you to come and make me a
| visit there. Oh Nubbins, I'll tell you what
we'll do! On Saturday, if it is clear, we
will go to the swamp; you shall take your pa
per and pencils my books and two or three
biscuits in my pocket for luncheon. Well
come back by the Knobs Won't it be splen-
did"
''Yes'm, ony don't let emmy O. the boys
know, they'd spile it all Rachel laughed
merrily.
'Of course l will remember. Now here is
something to make you happy, dear"-taking
! half a dozen sheets of foolscap from her desk,
and wrapping several crayons and the draw
ing pencil in them. Nubbns was speechess
with joyful surprise, and Rachel ratified on,
Now, don't forget-Fridsy, at ,, you are to
come and show me how your dream looks on
paper"
but this ain't dream, l seen it," cried
Nubbins, hugging his precious bundle close to
his heart.
did your So much the better. But see
how dark it is, Nubbins; we must go home"
They hurried out together, and at the road,
where they separated, Eubbins pointed to a
miserable hut over6anging the river, and said
that was his home.
Il amt got nobody" he explained, in an
swer to Racheps questions, My father wuz a
roustabout on the Blut city, an got drowned
afore l could remember him
Never heer n nothin' bout her. Joan said
my farther brung me to her house an lef me-
Here's my path. Good-by, I'll come Friday.
Rachel went home with new hope rustling
its wings in her heart, new gadness shed
ding its warmth and light all about her, and
vocing itself in the bursts of song that broke
ever and anon from her lips. That night she
knet at her bedside, and sobbed out prayer
of thankfulness that at last q responsive heart
| L. -, g -, ha
nature and brought new purpose into her life.
Promptly at O'Clock on Friday, Nubbins
presented himself with roll of paper care
fully hidden under his sheepskin. Rachel
stuffed the old stove with pine knots, then
drew Nubbns to her side.
"Here it is !" he cried with bright, kind
ling smile, as he produced his roll. I've
worked on it night an day, an its most
right"
Rachel seized the sheet with an involuntary
cry of delight Nubbinss dream" was her
own face, to which his pencil had lent the
grace aud charm of life A rapid survey OF
the work convinced Rachel that the little ar
tst possessed talent of no mean order.
Though tine execution was often faulty, there
was every proof of a correct eye and skill
full hand. Peculiarities of feature and ex-
preston which none but true artist could
have reproduced, evinced especial care. The
proud poiso of the head, the curve Of the del
icate nostril, and the peculiarly airy tracery oil
the brows were details that Rachel noted with
increasing wonder.
"Nubbins, it is beautiful! But why mS
face, dear child p
because love you'-the tiny brown hand
twined around her own, and Nubbns crep
into her arms with a sigh of utter content,
The other sketch was taken evidently from
the Knobs-a group of pines overhanging {
gray lehen covered ledge of rock, from be
meath which rushed little mountain streau
that broadened at the base of the Knob iutC
o shallow pool. In the tangle of reeds anc
ferns that friuged the pool stood graceful
blue heron with its mate circling in the al
above it.
This picture was better work than the head
t but lacked the vigor of execution which char
acterzed the former. Rachel studied it care
fully, then asked
''Did any one ever teach you to draw p
( Nom. l used to beg whitewash in Tia
spring an whiten one side of the cabin, so
| could make picters wild bits of coal Once
' had a slate, but it got broke, l learnt all