Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1883-03-19

Presently, when the boy had fin
lshed repast, he laid his knife across
his plate with methodical precision
which it pleased Miss Abigail to see !;
and then he glanced from Prudence,
standing near with her arms akimbo,-
to Miss Abigail.
s'Thank you for my SUPPER said
he. "Maybe I'd best be getting
along. You don't want a boy to
work, do your"
"a boy-to work p echoed Piu-
dence. "Did / ever p
mo, we DON'T" said Miss Abi-
gail, shortly. And then-it was
strange enough that she could not
help thinking again of that frail little
life which had blighted in the bud so
long before!
''How far are you going?' she
asked.
81 don't know, ma'am.''
sAnd where have you come from 2"
proceeded Miss Abigail.
"Trescott, ma am. Mother died
there three months ago. There
was a pathetic quaver in his voice.
And then, with little questioning,
he told his simple story. His name was
Barry Olmstead, and he was twelve
years old. He had lived in Trescott
a long time, he and his mother; they
were very poor, but they had kept a
little home together. His mother
had taken in sewing, and he had
worked for the neighboring farmers,
summers, and gone to school winters.
And he had been happy for all they
were so poor, until-mother died.
"Then l stopped with Deacon Sta
plies a spell he said he wanted to
try me. But they were going to bind
me out to him, and so l run away"
"None to blame, nuther," inter-
posed Prudence, with great deal of
emphasis. ''I've seen old Staples,
down to Trescott. He's that mean.
he'd skin mouse for the hide and
taller -
''Ive been trying along for a
chance to work." continued the boy,
smiling family. He was very near
to tears now, but he held them back
sturdily. "But there don't anybody
seem to want me-"
Miss Abigail was moved more than
she would have cared to own, by this
recital. Even to her, who had lived
for self so long, there was something
indcscribably pitiful in the thought
of this little wanderer battling alone
with the world, buffeted by fortune,
drifting here or there, as chance
might dictate.
1t had grown dark now,-the lamps
had long since been lighted; and
there were mutterings of distant
thunder in the air.
"It's going to rain said Miss
Abigail. "You needn't go tonight
you may sleep in the stable-loft.'
Barry thanked her.
The storm broke with great vio-
lence. Aud while Miss Abigail lis
tened to the sharp peals of thunder
and the pouring of the rain against
the windows, she thought of the lone
ly little wayfarer in the stable-loft
with a new, strange throb of pity.
Morning came, merry with bird
song, and glistening with myriads O
rain-drops. Prudence was up be
times, but early as it was, she heart
the sound of an ak in the wood-shed
and when she opened the door Barr,
smiled at her from his post by th
chopping-block.
'sI don't think l paid enough 70
my SUPPER eat such lot" h
said $50 I've split some kindlings
and I'll milk for you this morning i
you want me to-
Prudence brought the milk-pai
without word. But when she ha
prepared Miss Abigail's mornin
meal, she made ready a good sub
stantial breakfast for Barry, also.
| When he had eaten it he took u
his hat-crown.
$50 out the way you came in,
said Prudence, '.r'else you'll brin
bad luck
Barry gave little incredulou
laugh, but he went out to the porcl
Miss Abigail was there, taking dee
breaths of the fresh air; and ST
bade him kind 'sGood morning,
as he went off the step and down tt
path again between the Glacs, ex1
berant in growth but meager
bloom.
81 wonder why my lilacs do nj
flower more freely This Miss A
igail said to Prudence, who had fo
lowed to the door.
81 Dunno" answered Prudence.
; Barry heard and turned. 81 que
it's because you leave the old bio
SONS on" he said, hesitatingl
"Mother used to say that / must pi,
t the blossoms off one year, if l war
ed any the next.
/ And then he went out of the gat
e closing 1t carefully behind him, al
= along the moist, brown highway.
n ssThat is very uncommon boy
y said Miss Abigail, looking after h
with serious eyes.
S YES assented Prudence, ssh'
!