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


this the fittings she had made. Besides
this, Miss Bennett knit pair of mittens
for each of Hetty's brothers and sisters.
The happiest girl in town on Christmas
morning was Hetty Stanley. To begin
with, she had the delight Of giving the
mittens to the children, and when she ran
over to tell Miss Bennett how pleased
they we're, she was surprised by the pres
emit of the odd little work-box and its
pretty contents.
Christmas was over all to soon, and
New Years, and it was about the middle
of January that the time came which, all
her life, Miss Bennett had dreaded-when
she should be helpless. She had not
money enough to hire help, and 30 the
only thing she could imagine when that
should come was her special horror-the
poorhouse.
But that one good deed of hers had al
ready borne fruit, and was still bearing
When Hetty came over one day, and
found her dear friend lying helpless on
the floor as If dead, she was dreadfully
frightened, of course, but she ran after
the neigh bors and the doctor, and hustled
about the house as if she belonged to it.
Miss Bennett was not dead-she had a
slight stroke of paralysis; and though
she was soon better, and would be able
to talk, and probably to knit, and possibly
to get about the house, she would never
be able to live alone and do everything
for herself, as she had done.
So the doctor told the neighbors who
came in to help, and so Hetty heard, as
she listened eagerly for news.
"Of course she can't live here any
longer; she'll have to go to hospital"
said one woman.
"Or to the pooThouse, more likely"
said another.
"Shell hate shat said the first speaker.
Give seen her shudder over the poor
house."
She shall never go there 7" declared
Hetty. with blazing eyes.
Hoity-toity who's to prevent ?" asked
the second speaker, turning look of dis.
dain on Hetty.
al am" was the fearless answer. al
know all Miss Benefits ways, and can
take care of her, and 1 wrll," went on
Hetty, Indignantly; and, turning sud.
denly, she was surprised to see Miss
Benefits eyes fixed on her with an
| eager, questioning look.
"There she understands she's bet.
ter - cried Hetty. Mayn't l stay and
take care of you, dear Miss Bennett p
she asked, running up to the bed.
eyes, you may" interrupted the doc.
tor, seeing the look in his patients face
"but you mustn't agitate her now. Aud
now, my good women Turning to the
others-"I think she can get along with
her young friend here, whom happen to
know is womanly young girl, and will
be attentive and careful"
They took the hint and went away, and
the doctor gave directions to Hetty what
to do, telling her she must not leave Miss
Bennett. So she was now regularly in
stalled as nurse and housekeeper.
Days and weeks rolled by. Miss Ben.
nett was able to be up in her chair, to
talk aud knit, and to walk about the
house, but was not able to be left alone
Indeed, she had horror of being left
alone; she could not bear Hetty out OF
her sight, and Hetty's mother was very
willing to spare her, for the mouths she
had to fill were many.
To provide food for two out of what
had been scrimping for one was a prob.
lem; but Miss Bennett ate very little,
and she did not resume her tea, 80 they
managed to get along and not really suffer.
One day Hetty sat by the fire with her
precious box on her knee, which she was
putting to rights for the twentieth time
The box was empty, and her sharp young
eyes noticed little dust on the silk
lining.
:" | think I'll take this out and dust it, u
she said to Miss Bennett, if you don't
mind"
Do as you like with it," answered
Miss Bennett; 1T is yours"
So she carefully lifted the silk, which
stuck little.
"Why, here's something under it," she
said" an old paper, and it has writing
on it,"
Bring it to me-" said Miss Bennett
"perhaps it's letter / have forgotten"
Hetty brought it.
"Why, it's fathers writing |" said she
looking closely at the faded writing; "and
what can it mean? l never saw it be-
fore. 1t says: Look, and ye shall find
that's Bible text. And what is this
under it "A word to the wise is suffi
Gent don't understandable must have
put it there himself, for never took that
lining out thought it was fastened
What can it mean :" and she pondered
over 1. long, and all day seemed absent
minded.
After tea, when they sat before the
kitchen fire, as they always did, with only
the freight Pickering and dancing On the
walls, while they knitted, or told stories
or talked, she told Hetty about her father
that they had lived comfortably in thi'
house, which he built, and that everybody
supposed that he had plenty of money
and would leave enough to take care o.
his only child, but that when he died sud
denly nothing had been found, and moth
ing ever had, from that day to this.
"Part of the place let to John Thomp
son, Hetty, and that rent is all have t.
live on. don't know what makes mi
think of old times 30 tonight"
al know" said Hetty "it's that paper
and know what it reminds me off, sh,
suddenly shouted, in way very unusua
with her. "It's that tile over there" ant
she jumped up and ran to the side of tn
fireplace, and put her hand on the til
she meant.
Ga each side of the fireplace was row
of tiles. They were Bible subjects, ant
Miss Bennett had often told Hetty tn
story of each one, and also the stories sh
A 4