News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-01-22
An | Investment.


s'S radiant pennons over the velvet
s-oPes of the Fairhaven farm-the river,
murmuring softly over its pebbly bot
t"n1, flashed up like a sheet of silver
and the purple fields of clover, nodding
ready for the scythe, filed the warm air
with slumbrous scents.
Fine weather for the hayin'," said
E.lakim FairhaYen. To his material
nature, Gods sunshine and the grand
glitter CT earth and sky, were but the in
strameax xssHgTl his pockets with sordid
gaia-mere aceessions to ''a good cropr'
Alas ! is not this world full of Eliakim
FaiThavens, in one shape or another?
Miss Comfort Fairhaven sat beside
him knitting and watching the cumber-
81 me frolics of pair of twin lambs, de-
serted by their heartless mother, whom
she was bringing up by hand"
Yes, " she said, with mechanical
glance in the direction of the beamy
West. Who's that a comm up the
path I wonder? ?"
"One Of the new hands, I calculate"
said Eiakim, screwing up his eyes. 81
didn't gree to give 'em their supper
ard board into the bargain, night afore
the job begirs-and I'm blessed if there
amt little gal along with him 70
''Ttin't no hayin' hand" said Miss
C,mfort, rising and going down the steps
to meet a slender child of nine years old,
who was leading a pale, bowed-down
man, who walked with difficulty, lean
ing on crutch.
'Heart alive, child" sail Miss Com
fort, whose kindly nature involuntarilv
mpathize6with all who were suffering
or in distress; ''what ails you and what
10 you want here q
please ma'am," began the child.
eagerly, ''if you could give rs a nights
Iodging-poor papa is so sick and tired,
aHd-"
"No, I can'tr' abruptly broke in
Eiakim Fairhaven. ''This amt no
aimshouse, nor yet charity place. If
ye can pay your way, well and good
if ye can't, the sooner you go about your
business the better -
I'VE have no money" timidly began
the child, while the man as if stunned
and bewildered by the heartless fuency
of the old farmers speech, leaned up
against the fence, pressing his hand on
his forehead, "but-"
Then clear out and be done with
Ii i said Ehakim, resumiug his seat,
with dogged composure.
Miss Comfort looked appealingly at
her brother.
eff I could just get 'em bowl Of milk,
Eliakim, and -"
''Stuf and nonsense" sonorously
calculated the farmer, 81 amt a goin' to
give in to this sort of thing. Once be-
gin, and you'll never leave OF, you soft
headed womanfo'k ~
Slowly and wearily the two travellers
turned and plodded their way adown
the broad, dusty road-the languid foot
steps Of the invalid scarce keeping up
with the tripping pace of the child.
''Ob, papa, papa !" sobbed the little
girl, turning her blue, wistful eyes to
the white, worn face, show cruel people
are l''
He placed his hand upon her curly,
uncovered head.
Never mind, Es lie" he said, with
monrI 81, teHder pathos in his voice;
sit will soon end. It cannot be for long,
as far as I am concerned, poor child.
But for you" he stopped, his voice
husky with emotion.
They had walked what seemed to little
Either Bell a weary way, when there
was a rustic among the wild rose bushes
that overhung esione wall at their side,
ard voice called hurriedly to them to
"stop,"
'Ifs me-" said Miss Comfort Fair
haven, reckless of her grammar. Ella
kim-that's my brother-he's gone over
to the class meetin' at Squire Duldas,
and / cut down through lots to overtake
you. tell you I can't somehow get
your fathers face out o my mind.
You're sick. amt you. mister ?"
'I shall soon be quite well, he an
swered calmIy-and Comfort Fairhaven's
more experienced eye detected the hid
den meaning which the little girl never
once suspected. Yes, he would soon be
well, but that it would be in that conn
try where the.inhabitants never say, 81
IN sick p
''Where are you going?" asked kind
Mice COro fOrt bar x-Ciaa orvOUTTcy huclyv in
spite nj herself.
W. are going to nv grandpa" said
little Essie. "Grandpa was vexed with
nv mamma for marrying papa and going
to England, but papa thinks he'll take
care of me now. But I won't stay with
him unless papa stays too -
And she rpsoIufeIy frightened her
grasp upon the thin, fever-burning
hand.
81 s'pose Won want to get to Lons-
dade ?" said Miss Comfort.
The man nodded.
''Tz # far ?"
"Eieven good miles vet" said Mss
Comfort; "but TIL tell We what-TT
make Joah get ont the wa2on, and with
rood bufalo-robe over the seats. you'Il
r'le cosy enonph. They'll be back afore
Eliakim gets through, and while you're
a-waifin' I'll bring down smack
o'hread and meat. and a hottie of nv
cnFrnnt wire. 'Tain't good to travel on
a7 emptv stomach. y
And five Minutes later Miss Comfort
was carrviag her hospifable intentions
mo effect. greatly 70 the delight and
appreciation Of the hungry child.
vow, see here" said Miss Comfort
craving the child aside. when Joab
Grove up with the comfortab,e s,ru,
wagon and stout old horse ssT don,,
,ps. yo,.Ve y, got more money than Won
"e nave only enough for onr 49,,
road tickets" said Fssie bor Oul r,''-
nance falling, 'but-p Her eounte-
II thought so" said Miss G.,
"and here's fve-dollar hin 1,o oLpIort;
aside ont of my butter money fho. % ia. ,ald
kim don't know nothin' about ~, Eha-
ont 10 have new mouse colored ra.l: = la'a
dress this fail, but guess Won ,,,el,n ~. . .
raore'n do; so here 'tis, and mine nseo m i
don't lose IT," 'ua you