The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-09-25

away his breath. lie got up from his
chair, and kissing Essie, went to the
door to think it over. The young
widow, warned that it was nearly tea
time by the clock, sped to the kitchen,
aud did not know when her father in
law put on his ovcrcoat and hat and
went down to the village.
lie came back with some great pro
cct in every line Of his rugged, sun
Drowned face.
Tea was success. The toast was
dclicately Drowned, and the ham done
to turn. When the meal was over, the
old man said
"Essic, do you remember the cross
you told me your father gave you for
birthday giftl"
"My diamond cross!'
"You would not like to part with it9
Perhaps it is your only reminder of your
fathcr?"
81 have many other gifts. Nothing
so valuable as that. The gentleman
who took charge of my fathers affairs
told me could keep all his gifts to
me-"
"You-you-would not like to give
me the cross to sell. Essie2 Our money
Is SclliuS very SlOTI-
A kiss, tender and quick, stopped
the words that came so hcsitatingly.
''You are gladly welcome to it. father.
l wonder did not think of it before"
So the dainty bauble lay in the farmers
horny palm, and while Essie cleared the
tea table John Trowbridge went once
more to the village.
DIR. Reynolds, the only physician there,
IIarry's fast friend for years, was in his
office when the farmer entered.
There il is, said the visitor, triumph
antly. "You are sure it is worth the
money!
"perfectly sure. And Mrs Trowbridge
wishcr me to invest the sum | obtain in
piano"
"Blcss you, no! that's my part of it.
You see, the poor little soul tries to do
her best, but she amt fit for her hard
life. If there was any other home for
her I'd send her away, though I'd
rather miss the sunlight. She's as dainty
as butterfly, and yet she has no inc
lady ways, either. But she bankers for
piano. and she shall have one, Ernest, -"
and the old mans eyes filled. "IIer own
father gave her that gimcrack, and I've
seen her Kiss that often, but when |
asked her to give that to me, because |
needed money, she put it in my hand
with a kiss, and told me l was gladly
we come. She's a good girl, if she amt
much of hand at work.
"Shc is not very strong" and Ernest
Reynolds sti1cd sigh as he spoke
Then, with a quick change of voice, he
added: 81 am going to the city to-mor-
row. l will sell the cross and buy the
piano"
But when the farmer was gone Ernest
Reynolds took strange liberties with the
jewel he held in charge. He slipped a
ribbon through its ring and hung it over
his own heart
The next day he had it valued by
jewclcr, and bought piano with the
sum named, but the cross rested still on
his heart as the bill for the swcct-toncd
instrument was paid.
1t would be a vain task to describe Es-
SEES pleasure when the piano was brought
to the sitting room. She cried and
smiled at the same time, and her earnest
thanks brought the moisture to the old
farmers eyes.
But the pressure of poverty was com
ing closer and closer upon the farm
Acre after acre was sold to meet actual
daily needs, and the wolf drew very close
to the door of John TroWbridgc's house.
With stern pride he hid his wants from
his ncighbors, but Essic knew of priva-
tons and self denals that wrung her own
tender heart.
Like burst of sunlight there came to
her two offers. One to be organist at the
Oh, 10 +oI. ~
class of music scholars in the seminary,
five miles from the village. Twice week
a carriage would be sent for her and the
salaries were more than double the in.
come from the farm. Neither John
| Trowbridgc nor Essie knew that DR..
| REYNOLDS by quiet, unsupported influence
| had brought about this happy result. No
one knew that he had driven the princi-
pal OF the seminary over on an evening
when Es,ie was pouring out her whole
soul in music, and held him spell bound
| for two hours on the farm house porch.
But they did know that strong
armed Irish girl could be paid to do the
work of the house out of Essie's income,
and that trustworthy man was found to
! take the farm work on shares.
John Trowbridgc began to realize that
! there were women of some value In the
world who possessed but small share Of
bone and muscle for actual hard work,
for scholars came all the way from L,
the market town seven miles away, to
the farmhouse. Concerts were given for
charitable purposes, and Essie was en-
gagged at goodlv sums to play. Strangers
came to the village church to hear the
wondrous voice and playing of the young
organist.
And while the comforts of the farm
were multiplied by Essie's generous eX-
penditure, while the rooms gradually lost
their bare, dismal look by additions OF
furniture land ornaments while flowers
blossomcd on barren spaces and the farm
itself was more fully stocked, Essie was
ever the same.
The same respectful love for IINrry''
father, the same gentle shy woman, mod
est as a violet. Yet not the same as The
months sped by and the sorrow of wild
own God lost something of its keenes