The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-14

went down to the village.
He came back with some great project |
in every line of his rugged, sun-browned
face.
Tea was success The toast was
delicately Drowned, and the ham done
to turn. When the meal was over,
the old man said:
Essie, do you remember the cross
you told me your father gave you for
birthday gift?"
My diamond crossl"
You would not like to part with it?
Perhaps it is your only reminder of
your father"
have many other gifts of his.
Nothing so valuable as that. The gen.
tleman who took charge of my fathers
affairs told me l could keep all his gifts
to me-"
You-you would not like to give
me the cross to sell, Essie? Our money
is getting very short"
A kiss, tender and quick, stopped the
words that came so hesitatingly.
You are gladly welcome to it,
father l wonder | did not think of it
before"
So the dainty bauble lay in the farm
er's horny palm, and while Essie
cleared the tea-table John Trowbrdge
went once more to the village.
DR.. Reynolds, the only physician
there, Harry's fast friend for years, was
in his office when the farmer entered.
@ There it is" said the visitor, tri-
umphantly. " You are sure it is worth
the money!"
" Perfectly sure. And Mrs. Trow-
| 1,,l hoe it,xy hn /
obtain in a piano?''
" Bless you, no! that's my part of it.
You see the poor little soul tries to do
her best, but she hain't fit for her hard
life. If there was any other home for
her l would send her away, though I'd
rather miss the sunlight. She's as
dainty as a butterfly, and she has no
fine lady ways either. But she bankers
for a piano, and she shall have one,
Ernest" and the old mans eyes filled.
&C Her own father gave her that gim-
crack, and I've seen her kiss that often,
but when l asked her to give that to
me because needed money she put it
in my hand with kiss, and told me
1 was gladly welcome. She's a good
girl if she amt much of hand at work"
She is not very strong" and Ernest
Reynolds stifled sigh as he spoke.
Then, with quick change of voice, he
added: 81 am going to the city to-
morrow. will sell the cross and buy
a piano"
But when the farmer had gone Ernest
Reynolds took strange liberties with
the Jewel he held in charge. He
slipped ribbon through its ring and
hung it over his own heart. More than
once he touched his lips to the hard
glittering stones, whispering:
Essie, little Essie"
The next day he had it valued by
jeweler, and bought piano with the
sum named; but the cross rested still
upon his heart; as the bill for the sweet
toned instrument was paid.
1t would be vain task to describe
Essie's 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.
He knew nothing of the wonderful
power imprisoned in the slender fingers,
SCARED by rough work. He had no true
appreciation of the genius of that ten
der young soul. But he did know that
Essie could sway him as she pleased by
the sounds she drew from the wondrous
keys; could bring tears to his eyes or
smiles to his lips; could lift him to
alteration by her stirring hymns, or
carry his heart to the foot of the cross
by the pleading power of her voice in
prayerful song.
She knew soon and well that her de-
sire was no pain to the kind old man, but
that, while it was rest and JOY to her, il
: was comforter to him.
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 Trowbridge's
house. With stern pride he hid his
wants from his neighbors, but Essie
, knew of privations and self-denials thai
wrung her own tender heart.
: Like burst of sunlight there came
t to her two Offers-One to be Organis
! at the village church, one to take elias:
S of music scholars in the seminary, five
miles away from the village. Twice .
l week a carriage would be sent for he
D and the salaries were twice the income
\ of the farm.
Neither John Trowbridge nor Essi'
knew that DR.. Reynolds, by quiet, un
: suspected influence, had brought abou
r this happy result. No one knew tina
a he had driven the principal of the sem
4 mary over on an evening when Essi
was pouring out her whole soul in mu
y sic, and held him spell-bound for tw'
r hours on the farmhouse porch.
t But they did know that strong-arme,
e servant girl could be paid to do tn
!, work of the house out of Essie's income
9 and trustworthy man could be foun,
to take the framework on shares.
o John Trowbridge began to realiz
e that there were women of some valu
= in the world who possessed but small
d share of bone and muscle for actua
e hard work, for scholars came all tn
s way from L, the market town, sevel
d miles away, to the farmhouse. Con
e certs were given for charitable pun
st poses and Essie was engaged at goodl
sums to play. Strangers came to tn
W village church to hear the wondrou
IS voice and playing of the young organist
Re And while the comforts of the farr
v were multiplied by Essie's generou
Is expenditure, while the rooms gradual
y lost their bare, dismal look by add
tiuns of furniture and ornaments, Will
A