Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-06-20
THE TELL TALE FILE.
An Interesting Little Domestic Story.
From an unidentified exchanged


"And they do say she'll have to go t,
the poor house"
"To the poor house How dreadful
And her children too ?" and Miss Ben
nett shuddered
"Yes unless somebody1l adopt them
and that's not very likely
"Well, l must go" the visitor went on
rising. 81 wish l could do something fol
her, but with my houseful of children
I've got use for every penny can rake
and scrape."
I'm sure have with only myself,
said Miss Bennett, as she closed the door.
Pm sure have" she repeated to her.
self as she resumed her knitting ''it's
as much as can do to make ends meet,
scrimplng as I do, not to speak of laying
up a cent for sickness and old age"
"But the poor house ~ she said again.
81 wish I could help her !" and the
needles flew in and out, in and out, faster
than ever, as she turned this over in her
mind. 81 might give up something, u
she said at last, Though / don't know
what, unless-unless, she said slowly.
thinking of her one luxury, "unless
give up my tea, and it don't seem as if |
could do that"
Some time the thought worked in her
mind and finally she resolved to make
the sacrifice of her only indulgence for
SIX months and send the money to her
suffering neighbor-Mrs. StanleyEthough
she had never seen her and only heard
she was in want.
How much of a sacrifice that was YOU
can hardly guess, you young people who
have so many luxuries.
That evening Mrs. Stanley was sur
prised by small gift of money "From
friend, said the envelope containing it.
"Who sent it p she asked, from the
bed where she WAS lying.
"Miss Bennett told me not to tell" said
the boy, unconscious that he had already
told.
The next day Miss Bennett sat at the
window knitting as usual-for her con-
slant contribution to the poor fund of the
church was certain number OF stockings
and mittens-when she saw q Young girl
coming up to the door of her cottage.
WHO can that be p she said to her.
self. 81 never saw her before. Come
I'M" she called, in answer to knock.
The girl entered and walked up to Miss
Bennett.
care you Miss Bennett?" she asked.
"Yes," said Miss Bennett, with an
amused smile.
well, I'm Hetty Stanley"
Miss Bennett started and her color grew
little brighter.
I'm glad to see you, Hetty," she said ;
won't you sit down %
Yes, iyou please" said Hetty, taking
chair near her.
II came to tell you" she began simply,
chow much we love you for"
"Oh, don't say any more p interrupted
Miss Bennett ''never mind that Tell
me about your mother and your baby
brother
This was an interesting subject, and
anG Hetty talked earnestly about it. md
the time passed so quickly that, before
she knew it, she had been in the house
an hour. When she went away Miss
Bennett asked her to come again. a thing
she was never known to do before, for she
was not fond of young people in general.
But then Hetty's different" she said
to herself, when wondering herself at her
own interest.
"Did you thank kind Miss Bennett ?"
was her mothers question as Hetty open
ed the door.
Hetty stopped as if struck. "Why.
no don't believe did,"
And stayed 80 long, too? What ever
did you do? I've heard she isn't fond of
people generally ?"
"We talked, and think she's ever 40
NICE. She asked me to come again NAV
II" -'"'
"Of course you may, if she cares to
have you. shoald be glad to do some
thing to please her."
That visit of Hetty's was the first of
long series. Almost every day she,found
her way to the lonely cottage, where
visitor rarely came, and strange intima-
cy grew up between the old and the
young. Hetty learned of her friend to
Knit, and many an hour they spent knit
ting while Miss Bennett ransacked her
memory for stories to tell. And then,
one day, she brought down from bio
chest In the garnet two of the books she
used to have when she was young. and
let Hetty look at them.
One was ''Thaddeus of Warsaw" and
the other Scottish Chiefs" Poor Hetty
had not the dozen of books you have. and
these were treasures indeed. She read
them to herself, and she read them aloud
to Miss Bennett, who, much to her own
surprise, found her interest almost as
eager as Hetty's.
New Years was drawing near, and
strange, unusual feelings began to stir in
Miss Benefits heart, though generally
she did not think much about that happy
time. She wanted to make Hetty hap
Ply day.. Money she had none, 80 she
went into the garrett where her youthful
treasures had long been hidden. From
the chest where she had taken the books.
rhe now took a small box OF light colored