The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-07-18
Two Mothers.

PART Iv.-sEEPs AND STAIRS.

PART Iy-sEEPs AND STAIRS.
Although | am writing in the interests
of abstinence, l must not leave my read
ers to think that Mrs Beamish could only
talk about that. The thing that was
most active in her was a deep we'll OF
motherly feeling. That brimmed over
more than anything else: and before my
comnanioh aud had left the house. we
had heard the history of every member
of her family, from the mayor down.
of the eight, all were still living except |
one. And the story of the death of that
one-f' My Emily was as touching de-
scrintdon of a beautiful young life cut
down in its bloom, as | ever listened TO.
The dear old lady She cried all the time
she was recounting the tender passages
of conversation between Emily and her.
self in the closing days. " Yiss, yiss,"
shep said. "they had all left me by then,
except Ronal and herself. Ronal was the
vnnngest, she was mkt. And it was like
to break Ronal's heart when she died"
At this point, partly to rest the old
sady, partly to turn her thoughts away
from her grief, II. said: But it is plain,
= Mrs. Beamish, that you have been very
happy in your children"
"Yiss." she replied, her face kindling
I'D. "No mother was liver happier. They
niver said an i'll word to rue, niver, not
one of them. And they hat all turned
out we'll And since Mr. Beamish died,
they hat kept me like queen. When
they wer' young, just childer, Mr.. Lake
he was the Earl's factor-when he would
he comm to Culossie to do business with
MIR. Beamish-Mr. Beamish was law
agent under him Cd that part of the Earl's
estate-well Mr.. Lake always came to
call on me- and always he would say, for
\ he was q fine man, Mr.. Lake; always he
would say Mrs. Beamish, your childer
archie, finest childer | see, and they are
lust like steps and stairs Then he would
say Gould l see the childer = And
sent out and got them all brought in, and
he would take them one by one, begin
ming with Ronal, and goin' up to Benja.
min-that's the mayor-and when he had
put them all in row, one head rising
above another, he would look over to me
and smile, and say: just as l said, Mrs.
Beamish, steps and stairs. An may they
be steps an stairs to lead their mother up
into the house of the happv.' Then he
would lift up Ronal an Emily, and give
them a kiss. And when he went away,
they would always find half-a-crown in
their dress, behind their neck. He was
such kind, funny man, MIR. Lake"
By this time, however, it was very late,
and as we had to 60 by an early train, we
babe our interesting hostess goodnight,
and went off to bed.
PART V.-"MY RoNAL."
As our train was to leave at nine next
morning, and we had two-miles' drive
to the station, it was necessary that we
should be early at the breakfast table
Our good hostess was in her place before
us. II. at once took up the thread of the
previous nights conversation, and said
"You did not tell us the story OF youl
youngest son, Mrs. Beamish."
"No," replied the old lady, " and | feal
there is not time to tell it this morning
but since you are so kind to be interested
in it, will try. We never thought Roma
clever, but only good. And when Mr.
Beamish died, there was no chance of hin
getting into anybody else's office at Cul
lossie. So he and other two lads said
Let US go away and try our fortunes a
Australia They had been at school to
gether, and they were all three decen
lads. There was Archie McGillivrey, an,
Neil MacTavish, and my Ronal. 1t wa
in the time of the gold digging near Me-
bourne. So the three lads got cradl
made for washing the gold, and they go
picks and shovels, aud rough clothes, an,
they went away to Australia.
I" 1t was sore day for some when tn
steamer came in for the lads. Their
were many friends to see them away
And think they were all very sorry. TIL
minister gave them his blessing. Mis-
Black-tbat was the bankers daughter
she and Ronal had always been yer
friendly-she said DO not be long i
making your fortunes And Mary MAJ
Tavsh-that was Neil's sister-she said
Do not forget that you are the Cullossi
abstainers.' And with that they got ava.
"And they got to Melbourne all RICH
and by and by to the diggings. But
was slow work. They did not make Ii
borer's wages at it. And at the end of th
year the three lads said they would ne
try any longer there; but they would 6
to new diggings two hundred miles ava,
So they gathered up their shovels, an
their picks and the cradle, and they s,
out to walk to the new diggings. Abol
half way to the place they had to cro
the road TO Melbourne. And when the
came to the crossing, Ronal said, 6 / thin
will not 60 farther this way; will IL
Melbourne you are welcome 10 my sha
in the cradle And so it was settle
The other two went on, and he, with h
pick and his shovel, turned down to wa
to Melbourne. 1t was long walk, mo
than four days it took. And when
last he entered the city, he had just sevt
shillings and six pence in his pocket, al
his pick and shovel to sell. Well, he fir
of all sold his pick, that brought hi
other five shillings and then, with h
shovel over mis- shoulder, he walked dov
the main street to look for job or
place. And to his surprise, as he W
walking along ha heard his mama call