The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-30

her new path very pleasant to her feet,
and was encouraged to persevere by the
artless comments made by her children on
the improvement of her temper.
"You're so good, now, MOTHER" they
would ssy, when, instead of the sharp re-
buke they had expected on the commits.
sion of some childish folly, came very
kind words of regret and gentle reproof.
You are 80 different from what you used
to be. If father could only come home
and live with us now how happy we would
all be-"
But Amos did not come. Year after
year passed, and he sent no word or sign;
and at length both wife and children grew
to think of him as dead.
Seven years Seven years to day had
passed since Amos Derby had left his
home, and up the street and past the mill
came a tall man, with cap of sealskin
pulled low over his eyes, and handsome
overcost trimmed with the same costly
fur over his arm. He whistled as he
walked, and seemed in great good humor,
for occasionally he would break out into
loud laugh.
But as he came near the cottage where
Jane Derby lived, he became more quiet,
and an anxious expression stole into his
face.
al wonder if she'll know me-" he NUT
tered.
Going up to the window of the kitchen,
he shaded his eyes with one hand and
| looked in.
Jane was sitting at supper, her five
children about her. The room looked
warm and comfortable. A bright fire
burned in the stove, the kettle sang mer-
rily, and big maltese cat dozed among
some plants on the broad window seat
Fred, the eldest son, muscular young
man of twenty-one now, was speaking,
and his words came distinctly to the ears
of the watcher outside.
b" Brooks goes tomorrow" he said, "and
we are to have new superintendent
from -. hope he'll have better
temper than Brooks, and l wish -
Who's that 7" as sudden knock came
upon the door.
"The new superintendent" said the tall
man, as he walked into the room and
threw his overcoat on chair.
"Jane, don't you know me ?"
With glad cry that was almost sob
Jane sprang forward, and was folded in
the strangers arms.
Children" she said, when she could
speak, "this is your father, come back tc
us at last"
"And to stay, please God," said Amos
Derby, fervently, as in turn he embraced
his children affectionately. "Jape, you
shall have no room to complain of me in
the future. mean to make up to you
for all | made you suffer before found
out what a fool | was to think more of my
appetite than of my wife and children
Do you know what taught me my lesson
-Sillbrook's overcoat; and I've got one
just like it. 1t will be reminder, you
know. And I've something better still
the place of superintendent at the mill:
here. I've worked hard, Jane, but my
reward has come at last When l lief,
here 1 resolved never to come back unit
l could make myself worthy of you and
the children. I found place in the mills
at -, and worked my way up to be gu
perintendent. Where there's will, there's
always way, you know. 1 learned tina
you didn't need my help, 80 l waited OF
year after year, and now"
"We are together, never to part agar
this side the grave" fin shed Jane
Amos, God rules us all for the best
Let US thank him for the blessings he ha!
bestowed upon US; and then-suppos
you let us see how you look in the over
coat you've come by so justly"
The news that Amos Derby was tn
new superintendent soon flew about tn,
town, and great was the surprise thereat
No one was more astonished, perhaps, a
the turn affairs had taken than Jason Sill
brook, and he wondered greatly at tn
good fortune of the man he had once so de
spised; but he never knew that it wa
largely due to the lesson Amos ha'
learned from the saloon-keeper's overcoat
FLORENCE B. HaAoveH, in Christian q
Work.