Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-16

ington letter we find this story: Perry
was rich planter in the Patuxent valley
with broad vein of humor The broad
deep Patuxent afforded an excellent
cruising ground to the British fleet after il
had landed the British troops. Oae day
while the British ships We're lying in the
river Perry got Il well filled hornets nest,
plugged up its openings, put on his
working clothes and rowed up to the
flagship, In the uncouth local dialect he
offered the gray bail to he young officers
as nest full OF rare singing birds o
remarkable voice, of unusual intelligence
ard warm attachments. The Officer,
clubbed together and offered n guinea 70,
his birds This he gratefully accepted
and then handed the mes, to the unsus
pecting young man. He suggested f.,
them that ii woalo he well not to open
the nest till he got to shore, nasmuch a,
the affectionate little things might follow
their old friend. This was an excellenr
suggestion. 10 make sure the officers
took the nest into the cabin and shuu the
| doors, leaving marine on deck to catcL
Perry's signal. As soon as Perry felt sur
of his letreat on the shore he gave tn,
marine the signal. AT the word tn,
officers opened the nest, and. without an,
unnecessary delay, the cabin door also
| With some what undignified haste, officers,
marines and seamen sWarmed to the
bulwarks, and then over the side, in
| comlcal confusion, closely followed BY
Perrys affeclionate little singing birds
Perry laughed till he cried, as one by one
The Britlshers sought the cool shelter OF
the placid Patuxent.
A PLEASANT INCIDENT --"Sitting in a
station the other day, | had Il little ser
mon preached in the way like; and III
repeat it for your benefit, because it taught
one of the lessons which we all should
learn, and taught it in such Il natural,
simple way that no one could forget it.
sit was u bleak, snowy day; the train
was late; the ladies' room dark and
smoky, and the dozen women. old and
young, who sat waiting impatently, all
look cross, low spirited or sturid. felt
all three: and thought, las / looked around,
that my fellow beings were Il very uuamia-
BILE, uninteresting set.
"Just then a forlorn old woman, shak-
ing with palsy, came in with a basket of
wares and went about muely Offering
them to the silters. Nobody bought any
thing, and the poor old soul stood blink
ing at the door Il minute, as if reluctant to
60 out in the bitter storm again. She
turned presently, and poked around the
room, as if trying to find something; and
then pale lady in black, who lay AS il
asleep on the sofa, opened her eyes, and
instantly asked, in kind tone, "Have you
lost fnythng ma'am?'
"'No, dear, I'm looking for the heatin,
place to have warm fore goes out
again, My eyes Is poor, and don't
seem 70 fiud the furnace nowhercs.'
"'Here it is,' and the lady led her to
the steam radiator, placed a chair and
showed her how to warm her feet.
"Well, now, amt that nice!' said the
old woman, spreading her ragged mittens
to dry. 'Thanky, dear, this is proper
comfortable, amt it? I'm almost frozen
to- day, being lame and wimbly; and not
selling much makes me down hearted
"'The lady smiled, went up to the
counter, bought cup of tea and some
sort OF food, carried it herself to the old
woman, and said, as respectfully and
kindly as if the poor woman had been
dressed in silk and fur: won't you
have cup of tea? It's very comfortable
day like this.
"Sakes alive' do they give tea at this
depot?' cried the old lady. in a tone of
innocent surprise that made Il smile 90
round the room, touching the glummest
face like streak of sunshine. We'll,
now, this is Just lovely added the old
lady, slipping away with a relish. This
does VAIN the cookies of my hearty
"Whle she refreshed herself, telling
her story meanwhile, the lady looked over
the poor little wares in the basket, bought
soap and pins, shoe strings and tape, and
cheered the old soul by paying well for
them.
"As watched her doing this thought
what sweet face she had, though | had
considered her rather plain before. felt
dreadfully ashamed of myself that | had
grimly shaken my head when the basket
was offered me. and as | saw the look of
interest, sympathy and kindness come
into the dismal faces all around me, | did
wish that was the magician to call il
out. 1t was only Il kind word aud Il
friendly act, but somehow it frightened
that dingy room wonderfully. 1t cheered
the faces of dozen women, and think
it touched dozen hearts, for | saw many
eyes follow the plain, pale lady, with
sudden respect; and when the old lady
got up to 60, several persons beckoned to
her and bought something, as if they
wanted 10 repair their iirst negligence
Louisa M. ALcOtt.