Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-18

roply as tho doctor rapidly wrote prescrip.
ton aud handed to Jean. "Your wife was
always very delicate woman, aud should
never have married farmer-least Of all
poor one, he added in a low voice, yet not
so low but that the husband caught his
words.
"No one knows that better than 1 do" the
farmer mentally said, while aloud he asked
"You will call again, this evening" sir?"
eyes" answered the other man ~ he soft
ly closed the bedroom door, and walked along
the cold, carpetless hall, followed by Mr.
Willette ''yes, / will But, Mr. Willette,
to be frank with you, your wife has some
trouble on her mind over which she is con
stantly worrying; and indeed, believe that
this trouble has partly caused the illness
and" be stood STILL and the better to en-
phasizo his words, he laid hand on the far
mors shoulder, land until that trouble is
cleared away can give you no hopes Of her
recovery. / did not tell your daughter of
this, because l wished first to make it known
to you"
"You are quite sure of this, DR.. Barow2"
the farmer asked, ia hoarse voice.
81 am, sir. Mr.. Willette, your wife was
very fond of Tom, wasn't sheH DIR. Bar
low asked, significantly; and without waiting
for an answer he sprang into the buggy and
was soon out Of sight, leaving the farmer to
awake to the astonishing truth that his wife's
life was despaired of, chiefly because he re-
fused to allow the boy whom ho had dis
owned to return to his home and his affec-
tions.
Slowly he donned his hat and returned to
his work. feeling weaker and more unman-
ned than he had ever felt before.
(Which MEANS" he said, angriy, but to
himself, giving the old horse a sharp cut
with the whip, that l am to send for that
boy. Pshaw the doctor is a fool he don't
know what he is talking about. Send for
Tom, indeed No he has made his bed,
80 let him lie." Thus for a time he dismiss
ed the subject from his mind.
That night Hannah Briggs came to the
farm house to attend to the housework that
Jeanie might give all her time and thoughts
to her mother.
Oh how wearily the days and weeks crept
by, with no change for the better in the inva-
lid whose never ceasing cry was for Tom
Then she would imagine herself conversing
with her husband
"Oh, John ~ she cried, piteously, 'you
don't know perhaps he was tempted to go
forgive him for my sake, dear - and yet for
the sake of his stubborn pride her husband
turned deaf ear to her cry.
There came a time, however, when it was
almost too late. Grouped about her bed that
night were Jean, the doctor, and the farmer,
all waiting for life or DEATH they knew not
which.
Without the night was most beautiful, so
calm and so solemn. The gentle breeze
moved lazily through the leaves upon the fall
trees near the farm house with a sound like
the rustling of angels wings, while near by
lay soul battling with death.
As the watchers sat there in tho dim light
the old clock in the hall below struck -. A
few minutes later and a sound of hushed
footsteps was heard ascending the stairs and
coming toward the sick room. The door was
pushed stealthily open and the figure of a
young man appeared in the moonlight. Un-
mindful OF the other occupants of the room,
he moved toward the bed and bent over the
PROSTATE form.
Mother, voice said low and brokenly,
mother, speak to me it is Tom"
That simple word had an effect that all the
doctors medical skill had failed to compass.
| A smile faint but almost heavenly, curved
the mothers lips.
My Tom-John, forgive him :" The
weak hand relaxed its hold upon the large
brown one, and with little sigh Mrs. Will
ette fen into refreshing sleep.
''She is saved" DIR. Barlow whispered,
| thankfully, and involuntsrily his eyes rested
| upon the farmer kneeling beside the bed with
his face buried in his hands, while deep sobs
| shook his heavy frame
Gods mercy had overwhelmed him. At
| last he arose and with bowed head and quiet
footstep he stole from the room and after a
| few moments hesitation Tom followed him.
No one ever knew what passed in that in.
eerview-no one but God and the two men
concerned in it. Suffice it to say that Tom
never returned to the city, but worked hum
bly, and thankfully upon the Willette farm,
for Tom became more patient, more subdued
than it had ever seemed possible for him to
be- And gradually there arose a better un-
derstsnding between his father and himself,
for in the bitter lesson that they had learned
they found that above and beyond all else
there is to be desired that love that is beyond
all price - christian at Work.