Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-06-08

AHt thouodluuo, Sdlu Decay.
"But these men-the police-they
may know"
And out went Nick and Becky to
question the guardians of the night,
until, l,at last, despairing of an answer,
they were turning homeward, when
blaze of light from an open door fell
over them, and they saw on the steps
a weeping woman and tall, hand
some man.
"Hush! we will find her if she is
alive" said the man.
"My precious child p cried the
woman.
Then Nick and Becky gave sort
of little cheer in unison.
''It's them," said Becky; "them,
certain sure. Oh, mum, if your name
is Smith, and you've lost little girl,
we've found her."
And then the cobbler and his wife
were pounced upon and the story
told.
In half an hour the six poor little
children were aroused from their
slumbers by an arrival, and the odd
baby in their midst was taken out, to
their distress and CONSERVATION, for
they counted on keeping her.
And Nick and Becky forgot their
own trouble in the parents joy. And
Nick said it was like poetry, and
Becky that it was like play.
And so it was, one with happy
ending, for what should the lady do
but beg and pray Becky to tell her
what she would like best, and Becky
confessed that to have her wedding
ring back was the hope of her life !;
and this led to the cause of its pawn
ing and all the story of poverty and
sorrow. Then the dark hours ended
and the day broke; and there was
food in the house and fire; and as it
happened that baby Minnie's father
needed just such work as poor Nick
could do, he gave the place to the
cobbler; and from that day there was
enough and to spare in the little home,
because of the simple kindness shown
to baby Minnie.
$50 it's never thrown away to do
kindness to any one" says Becky,
often, "for somehow you are always
rewarded for it. If I'd left the lit
tie lost beggar's child, as l thought,
in the street, and never stopped to
care for it,-as / might have done in
such trouble-where wonld Nick
have been, and the children, and me,
this night? Not that l did anything
but what Christian ought, but see
how we were paid for it,
TROTTING AGAINST THE
DEVIL.
The Rev. Mr., now member of
the California Conference, began his
ministerial career in Iowa. He there
preached in three different places
each Sunday, which gave him twen-
ty odd miles travelling. He rode on
horseback at first, but finding his
mare too light to easily carry his
weight he purchased a road sulky,
and, much to his comfort, found that
his horse possessed considerable
speed One Sunday, while going
from one church to another, he over
took a man, also in a sulky, driving
a fine animal. AS our friend was in
a hurry he passed the stranger, who
kept close behind him until stretch
of good road was reached; then he
| heard his fellow traveller urging his
horse, and before he knew it he was
taking a part in a spirited heat, in
which the stranger came off second
best. On reaching a bit of rough
road both slowed up and the strang-
er sung out:
"That's good mare you've got, my
friend. Does she belong to you?"
''No," replied Mr.; "she be-
longs to my master"
'Who's he?''
''The Lord" was the response.
'Then l guess you don't trot hel
very much"
ooh, yes, do"
''What do you trot her against p
Mr.-replied, very solemnly. ''the
devil"
"Um !-um! I guess you get beat
pretty often, then"
"Well," said Mr.. i rather think
I am ahead of him now.'
Mr.. - afterwards ascertained that
his adversary was the most violent
infidel in the neighborhood.