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

hadn't eaten much breakfast either, and
had hurried from one place to another as
swift as his feet could carry him till noon,
when he was ordered to Mr.. Bentley's, a
beautiful suburban residence several miles
away. The tired boy reached and entered
the warm, bright kitchen. Grace Bent.
ley, an uncommonly lovely child, with
great eyes of deepest blue and lovely
golden curls, was laying with her kitten
for a moment he gazed at the beautiful
child and the kind face of Mrs. Bentley
for moment stretched his numbed
fingers to the fire, and without delivering
his errand, overcome by exhaustion and
the sudden heat, tainted quite away.
"Dear boy exclaimed Mrs. Bentley,
as she lif ed him to the sofa. Why is
he not at home with bis mother Thanks
giving day 2" and bathed his head, sp.
piled restorstives, and soon the brown
eyes opened, gazing first at her, then at
Grace.
al thought" he said slowly, " thought
was in heaven" as Mrs. Bentley placed
q bowl of warm broth before him.
sit up now, my boy, and eat this, and
parents live"
AS he supped the refreshing soup his
strength revived and he gave his name,
Joe Ashton, and said that both par ,nts
were dead. He told the kind lady his his
tory, she seemed 80 interested, and in such
straightforward, earnest manner that she
believed every word. She also told him
his employers home was next door to
hers. That she would notify him, and
he should remain with them that day
their Thanksgiving guest.
Poor Joe could not believe his senses.
Everywhere was so beautiful he scarcely
dared step. He had never seen such
costly surroundings before. "Walking
on roses" he afterwards said, was what
the carpets reminded him of.
BY and by the dinner came. The sto.
ries of fary.land he had read in his moth
er's books were before his charmed eyes.
After, when Grace was showing him her
treasures, her books and endless play
things, Mrs. Bentley and her husband
were having serious talk about the boy
They had long intended to take one rs
their own-a companion and playmate for
Grace and son for themselves. Thi.
boy there was none to claim. That he
was of refined parentage was plain, even
though his clothing was coarse, and Mr.
Harris, that shsrpest of men, gave him a
clear record. The boy was thoroughly
honest. Thus, all unconsciously to Joe
matters we're approaching climax
whereby the tenor of his life was entirely
changed and the Thanksgiving twilight
drew on.
The sleet and rain had ceased now, and
the wind, sharp and cold, whistled at the
window easements, and shook the great
trees near. He remembered how fa'
away his dismal lodgings were, and shud
dered at the thought If leaving. But ht
must go, nevertheless, and looked abou
for his old cap, when Mrs. B-ntley's' sof
hand was laid on his shoulder, and he
sweet voice was saying, as she looked hin
directly in the face:
"And how would you like to live here
always aud be my own boy and brother t.
Grace, yonder? Mr.. Bentley aud myself
have decided to give you home with us
send you to school, buy you books anc
clothes, give you every advantage that VI
should our own son had he lived, if you
would like to do so.'
"Mrs. Bent" but great sob choke'
him 80 he could get no farther. Hs GOV
cred his face with both hands, while tear
fell like rain.
"Thst will do" said Mrs. Bentley. " Yo1
needn't say anything more; we under
stand you are our boy now" and Jo
stayed.
Next morning Mr.. Bentley took Joe t
a. Il -, 80
the store of Harris & Brothers, not one Q
the clerks recogn sd him. But his lane
lady, when he called there for the littl
trunk that held all his worlds possessions
few books of his mothers, one dress,
lock of hair and her wedding.ring, te
gether with an old jacket of his she ha
patched aud mend-d, and few other cd
thiDgs-he said, "However fne Marser 10
might be dressed, she should know ths
face anywhere, bright and shining as th
morning, and he allus paid his bills b,
sides, bless his heart |" and so Joe out {
the very slums of the city had found
home.
A year has rolled by, aud it is Thank
giving eve again. Tomorrow is Joe
fourteenth birthday. What year it hs
been for him How tall and manly
has grown, and what fine developmer
of chest he has.
He is deep in his Latin grammar, owe
. J which he is porting, leaving it every no
aud then, however, with much patienc
to help Grace with tangled questions. NJ
and Mrs. Bentley have looked upon hi
for year as their own son, and he hs
not disappointed them, and tonight,
! they glance across to the table whel
J their children are sitting, it is with prio
: and affection, and with prayer of thanl
fulness in their hearts. just at this IN
ment the door-bell rings a loud, startlin
! peel, and deep, strange voice is hear
in the hall asking if Joseph Ashton
home is here.
His erraud is quickly made know
, Joe's mothers father-his grandfather,
i, \ y -. IL