St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-02-19
An Angel in Disguise.

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A happier, prouder little woman than
Mrs. Rose, when at last the deed of a
given her by Tom, you never SAW. TO
be sure, it had been bought subject to
mortgage held by wealthy up
country stock raiser. who let out his
money that way that, together with
the fact that it was liable to foreclosure
now at any time, was the only drop of
bitterness in the cup; and when that
was paid off bliss would he running
over. But. meanwhile, what Il model
house and home it was to be outside,
a blessing to the eye of the passer-by !;
and inside. paradise to the dweller /;
aud all it's work to run on a perfect
system, and the servants to adore her !!
Then as for the neighbOrhood, in what
hospitality Blossombank was to glory
always IA fork laid at table for an
otherwise unexpected guest, always a
welcome ready. the house a refuge for
all the human race who should claim
it. And if "a baby should be hung in Il
basket on the handle, oh. heavens !
what JOY! Aud if traveller should
break his leg in the street, and he
brought in for weeks of healing. then
Joy again. might he an angel in dis
guise And. in truth, nuch of her pur-
pose was fulfilled the place abounded
in hospitality; the neighhors did love
to run in the servants did adore her.
The sisters and brothers and husband
chnlfed Mrs. Rose little, but on the
whole. Blossomhank for all it's mort
gage was n nest of happiness. Yet
when tue traveller did come, he did
not look at all like an angel in dis
guiSe.
They were ut tea-one OF their Ordi-
nary teas, at which. when the table
was full. the rest sat about where they
could. and all was gay aud happy as if
there was not a mortgage In the world
when Mandy, the table girl. whis-
pcred IN Mrs Roses ear some words
that made that laughing lady's face
look grave a moment, and then irradi
ate with inetfable happiness.
"Oh. what is it now. Rose ~ cried
Belle. Il know you've just heard of
some horrible case OF distress by your
face
awful - said Rose, rising lawful
A poor man strucl, with paralysis in
his wagon out here by the gate"
Paralysis in his wagon ~ said Sarah,
who was always amused b, Roses
aeonies.
paralysis - said Belle.
II suppose So. Mandy says his horse
stopped at the brow of the hill
THAT he did, mem, and won't bulge.
and there's dozen men and boys out
there, and two OF them has elm bed the
wagon and shook him, and he's as
sound as log The Seven Slcepers
couldn't wake him
The poor, poor fellow said Mrs. .
Rose. "Just think how dreadful /.
Away from home, nobody knowing
who he is or where he belongs. struck /
down in the dark oh. it makes my
blood run cold And we mustn't stand /
talking about it, and lie perhaps dy- +,
ing And Rose was hnrryiug to the /.
door and out into the May night chill /.
aud dusk. without hat. or shawl. aud .
crybody was fiockiug after her.
ooh. lac has certainly had stroke" !
said Rose. as she clambcred down from /
the wagon where the figure sat bolt
upright. iron. immutable, the head fail (
en- on the breast, the only sign of life .
being the heavy Gtertorous breathing
Not all the shaking and hauling of
Stout Parsons, who had jumped up on
che other side, produced the slightest
effect upon the sleeper. Lift him out,
Stout" said Mrs. Rose, you and the
rest of you, AS gently As yen can. and
bring him ia, and then lead the horse
into the yard, and call William TO take
care of him. / know Mr.. Evans will
wish il. Indeed" she added to the
flock behind her, II don't see that
there's anything else To do;r and she
tripped in, light footed, and in what
under other circumstances, would have
passed for state Of ecstasy, to have a