Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-03-05
made of mud. getting married don't turn
her into gold."
well, Polly. what about htm?' asked
the lady, smiling.

the lady, smiling.
"Oh. yes, was getting off the track il
my zeal for the honor o old maids. Well
Jake Won Valer, that lives over the creek
had got his father, somehow. to give hin
the deed o'the old homestead; and then 4
was the old story over again! His wifi
got mighty sot up. and used to 90 down t.
New York for her bonnets and dresses, as
II Albany things wasn't good enough fo,
her, and so got to knowin' city folks ant
havin' 'em up here in summer. Then vol
must know, she found out for the first
time that her father. in.law wasn't genLee
I-pshaw!-He ate with his knife-as if ht
hadn't right to eat with what suited hin
best-and he came to the table in his shir
sleeves like other farmers. Well, sht
made him feel that he didn't do any rich
thing, and was hindrance and burden
He was always a wonderful peaceful old
man, and carried his troubles about in his
heart-a hard place to carry 'em if there
aint no outlet of words or tears.
Late one afternoon, Miss Nathan Hem
menway sent for me to come and stay al
night, as her baby seemed croupy. anc
she was poor nuss. AS l was cuttn
over the grave yard for short, got scared
out O. my wits by seein' man walkin
among the graves with his head hangin
down.
La goodness! how YOU scared me, Mr.
Van Valer,' says I. II thought you was
a ghost!"
II wish was," he said, cor I'm tired
of this lonesome life, without mortal to
care whether live or die." And then he
out and told me how Jake's wife treated
him, 10 even forbiddin' the little boy to sit
on his lap and play with his watch chain
She was trying to drive him off to Ken
lucky, where his daughter lived. Well
ladies, ] was took that blessed minute
right in the heart with the feein' I'd
always heard tell on, but never expert.
enced afore. fell in love with the dear
man. and l felt that I'd be willing to work
my fingers ends off to give him home
the rest of his days.
II asked him to come to my house next
day, and tell me all his troubles, and that
I'd be his friend He walked to Miss
Hemmenway's door with me, and alore
we parted he asked me if l wouldn't fl
up his clothes little for him afore cold
weather set in; and l said would and
welcome. "Little Jim wasn't a bit
croupy, and had my night for sleep; but
| couldn't sleep for thinkin' O. poor Jacob.
Afore daylight forgot him and begun to
worry about myself-a poor lone woman,
CROWN old, with no company and nobody
to split stick of kindln' nor anything
else! I walked home through the grave
yard feeln' that should never be happy
no more. Even the risin' sun looked
mournful.
"When I got to my gate there stood
Jacob waitin' for me; and as soon as he
went in, says he-and them was the bless.
eldest words ever heard in all my days
said he:
"Polly, can't stay at Jake's no longer! I!
l Can get work among the farmers. Them
kind words you spoke to me aside O. my
wife's grave has made new man O me-
It's put new life into me. A mans heart
is tenderest,' says he, aside of his wife's
grave
"Well. so we talked on, till finally he
said he'd come to ask me to take him
altogether and you may depend l didn't
simper much, nor make believe l was
going TO refuse him-as girls do. No,
indeed! Not L!
"Well, we went up next week 10 the
minister's, and got this written in our
Bible; and two happier folks the town
don't hold!
"Jake's wife first scolded, and then she
made sport of us; but it was like the
winds whistle to US. Jake's been to beg
his father not to work for other men, when
there's enough to do at home. But he
told him this farm was home to him
now, and that the Lord had had mercy on
him in his old age. and made him once
more a happy man. 4 forgive you and
your wife, says he, but don't want any
favors of you. If ever you are sick, or in
trouble, come to me, as you always did,
and me and my dear wife will do all we
can for you. I'm a forgiven sinner,
myself. Jake says he, and l can forgive
them that has sinned agin me, and can
never hold hardness against your mothers
SON.
Jake asked him if he wouldn't take
some money, but he said, No, not unless
should come to want, and I've had
token from the Lord that shan't do that
ave all shook hands; and now Jake
drops in of a Sunday to see us, very pleas
ant, for he'sa good-natured fellow himself,
if he hadn't such wife. My husband
says it's all worked out for good to him,
for if she'd treated him as she ought to,
he shouldn't no more thought of marryn'
than of goin' up in baloonl And Pm
sure it's worked out good to me; for
happier woman this town don't hold than
be! lie makes the fires and splits the
wood, and keeps up the garden at home.
and works all the time besides for other
folks. knit and sew for the neighbors,
and when anybody's sick that needs me
go out missing. as always did before
if it's near enough home for me to look
after him. If it isn't, don't 60, for love
nor money. God sent me protector and
a comforter in my old age, and I'll look
out for him first. I've loved tho Lord and
everybody else more since I've had him to
love, and do believe, with all my short
comin's that I'm better Christian than
was before !"