Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-10-03
NO. 40.

~ uhHAth7hutl1s III ltlhph sue WIS lhli NilNl
angular, and pair of piercing black eyes
that shone out in vivid contrast to her gray
hair gave her remarkable appearance Her
caps were always high and her dresses short
er than any body's else and she made no
change for fashion or favor.
Now this old lady was Mr.. Tom Crayen's
godm1tber. Aud on the very cold, dull win
ter morning, OF which | have now to speak
she had risen from her high backed chair in
front of the bright steel fender at sound Of
the postmans knock and advanced to m5et
the elderly servant who brought in the letters
on silver salver
None from him, " said the old lady, when
she was alone again, turning over four letters
eagerly in search of hand writing that was
not there. Poor and proud, like his father
Well, I've seen much folly in my time, but if he
refuses my offer, question II there is a com
pauion IDIOT for such a man !"
1t was three weeks since she had written
to Tom Craven, addressing her letter to the
Office Of Brown q Co., by whom she thought
he was still employed and Offering to over
look the hideou5 mistake he Lad made in
marrying penniless orphan girl, aud to de-
vote substantial sum to further his pros
poets in life. Ga the very morning that sh
was bewailing openly her godson's pride, aud
secretly her own, our friend Ton received
AbBlg " tue lgAAtA At ItA h'uN " lltBWu ~
Co., politely regretting that they could do
nothing further to help hin, aud inclosing
Miss Greybrook's letter, which had been ly-
ing three weeks at their Office
Clara, with the sadness Of the nights
struggle still upon her, ran down the rickety
old stairs at the sound of the pogtmani
knock, aud received the letter for her hus-
band. When she arrived brsathess at the
top floor again, she watched his face as he
opened it. The few polite lines from the
business men fell unread to the ground, while
the envelope they inclosad was torn eagerly
open. Clara looked over his shoulder and
read, too, and then with one glance at the re-
newed light and vigor in his worn, anxious
face, she reinquished her role Of bravery,
and cried out the months nf misery in his
arms. Robbie walked and B rite cravled to
the scene of action, and seeing their mother
in tears lent a shrl aid to the cnorus. Upon
which they were kissed, blessed and cried
over till they thought the world (represented
to them by their father and mother had
gone mad. When ,..riial calclness had re-
turned, Tom spoke joyously
Nov wife, sell something of your small
store aud send a telegram from me to the
dear old girl"
"Tom - cried Clara, laughing through her
tears, "how disrespectful
But the telegram was sent and brought in
solemn wondermeut to Miss Greybrook be-
fore 10 o'clock by the postmaster himself.
When once she had the opened paper in
front of her eyes, and devoured the informa-
ton that her godson was in London, and de-
sirous of seeing her Immediately, she gave
orders for a fly to be in readiness to catch the
next up train, and that her fur travelling cloak
and boots should be put on the fire immedi-
ately. In the anxiety that all the dOmestic5
felt to take share in the general excitement,
Miss Grey brooks cloak threatened to be torn
in pisces, and when wanted, one fur boot
was found warming in front of the kitchen
fire, the other reposng on the sheep skin rug
beside the drawing room steel fender. How
ever vouchsafng never a word of explana-
ton, but, happily for the sanity Of those she
left behind dropping the telegram in the
hall as she walked out to the fly, Miss Grey
brook started alone on her travels.
The dull foggy shades of London winter
evening had gathered and two big aud two
little faces were pressed tight against the
| grimy top window of q house in Wes.min-
ster street, as a cab drove mp.
go and bring her up stairs, Clara said
Tom. 81 can't go in my slippers"
"Yes-but I'm so afraid of her p
All fears were obliged to disappear, how
ever, for the object of them had not waited
to be brought up. She had intimidated the
landlady by the commanding voice in which
she had desired TO be shown to the apart
ments of Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Greybrook
Craven and that fat and lazy person had
preceded the strange lady rapidly up so many
| flights that on reaching the top landing
Miss Greybrook stood silent and stately, foI
she could not speak. She waved the landla-
| dy down again, Just as the latter wanted to
look in and see what would happen next.
Then Tom advanced and his godmother
kissed him first, then his wife Then, Oh
serving Robby and Bsrtie, she grimy smiled
and remarked aloud, but to herself, evident.
| ly:
"Children, of course being as poor al
church mice"
Looking round the wretched room aud
shaking the three chairs, she chose the leNs
rickety and sat down.
'Pack up-hayen't got much to pack thai
l can see. You must all come back with me
tonight"
Tom Craven andhis wife exchanged gances
and at last Tom deferentially ventured tc
speak
"You see, dear godmother, We've need {
few things to make us pr9sentabe at you
house."
"Eh what? My house is my own. Com,
as you are"
1ub WOEbL must bc bdlNl, lutu DuL-
please excuse such state of matters, but
I've got no boots -
Miss Greybrook gasped and stared from
one to the other.
Boots my godson without boots Here
Clara-thats your name, | believe-run out
child, and buy all you need for everybody
and let us get out of this place, for l can
breathe"
Away ran poor Clara, holding the fat purs
Miss Greybrook pushed into her hand ant
all unconscious what she carried in it. |
felt so full, however, that she took o cab AM
drove first to a boot shop, where she pur
chased for her husband, her children and her
self.
Then came a big oVercoat for Tom au(
wraps for the little ones-and she told tn
csbman to drive home fast She had pait
for her purchase with gold, and bank note
cracked as she closed the purse.
Miss Greybrook carried out her intention
and hustled them all of TO the station. Th
children slept all the way in the first elias
carriage. II was IL o'clock when they drov
up to the door of the old lady's house, an
she grimly counted five heads in night cap
thrust out into the night air from her neigh
bors windows-among them the rector's wit
a flannel rolled round as an extra protection
Inside the house all was done in the Tigl
way as soon as the word was given.
"My godson and his wife and children
have come to live with me. Light large fire
in the two best rooms and get supper"
III.
Three years had passed. Tom was aoul
ishing in large firm in a seaport town wher
his godmother's money had bought him
partnership. 1t was only a short daily rail
way journey TO his work, and he and his fan
lily were still happy inmates of Miss Grey
brooks house. One day Clara accompanie
her husband to this seaport town, and befor
taking leave of him at his office door, an
proceeding to make the purchase which wa
her ostensible reason for bringing her bonni
face and fresh winter costume through th
grimy streets, she waited while he went
for book he wanted her to change.
While she was standing outside, gret
crowds of poor, respectable looking peopl
came in and passed on to a large room b.
yond. She was told they were emigrant
Just about TO start for New Zealand. 81
watched their faces with kindly interest 4
young and old passed by, and presently
woman who seemed old 10 be thinking
such a journey dropped her purse just
front of Clara, who stopped to pick it up.
returning it she saw what made her stop I'll
woman and eagerly question her. Yes
was her fellow lodger In the old Westminst,
= street, and with face of quiet happine
she told the lady that a young son who ha
gone to New Zealand three years ago bad sci