St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-08-06
Posy, or the Sins of the Fathers.
BY JULIA A. SABINE.

y
ually, at last they rested on a little
figure standing in the open doorway
Such little figure, all in solid pink
calico, with IA mass of tangled yellow
curls hanging low upon the forehead
from underneath which a pair of great
black eyes looked out at me fearlessly.
"She's POsy Rhinehart," repeated
the child, ''she wants to come in. It's
nice in here"
"COme in, Posy," | said, "and make
Yourself at home
Quite an unnecessary invitation, that
last, for Miss POsy was very much at
home at once. Crossing the room with
out particle of shyueSs, she stood by
my side and looked around approx
ingly.
otis nice in here" she said again,
"POsy likes it, She'll stay with you
and be Your little lady"
"Where do you live, POsy ?" | asked.
"She don't know" was the answer.
Only too sadly true learned subse-
quehtly, for poor little Posy had no
home, scarcely a place to lay her head.
Glow old are you 2" l went on ques-
tioning.
''She don't know. She's Posy Rhine
hart"
go the pretties! She wants to see
them" and attracted 10y some toys be
longing to my own children, the little
creature ran across the room. | fol-
lowed, and allowed her to choose those
which pleased her best, settled her in
Il corner near II window, where she sat
throughout the whole long afternoon,
perfectly quiet and cOntented, Groom
ing little bits of songs to herself and
handling the playthings lovingly, and
with pleasure that was touching.
Late in the afternoon boy came to
the door. sis POsy Rhinehart here ?"
he asked.
Posy came forward ut once. "She
must go now, her mother wants her.
She'll come again. It's nice in here"
After this PoSy was a frequent visit
or. had not lived long in the little
Western town which ] called home,
and had not CHANGED to see the child
before but / soon learned her little his
tory. Three years before, her mother
came to the place, bringing POsy, a
baby only two weeks old i'll her arms,
fleeing from drunken husband. The
poor woman s, THg df itfTRal e88 fbRP Nafa
kInd to her and as she gained in
strength work was found for her and
she had earned "A scauty living for her
self and Posy.
She was then employed in one of the |
restaurants AS cook. The wages paid |
were large, but the labor was hard and |
She had no time to look |
after the child, and P0sy wandered |
about the streets neglected and for
Torn.
There were those who were ready to
censnre Mrs. RhinehaTt. Good women |
are sometimes cruel. Those who live
I'D sheltered Christian homes, protected
10y strong arms of worthy, upright men,
can have but little understanding of
lie woes and suffering of their less
fortunate sisters. who find their worst
enemies the men who have sworn to
always protect them. TO such women
YRS. khlnehart was a woman who had
eft her husband. That stigma was al
ways upon her. But | could see no
easOu to think her other than long
utterIng, much abused woman, who
lad borne with her husband until the
INIT OF human endurance was passed
l grew much Interested in Posy. She
vas a remarkably intelligent child, e
WITH winning ways and lovable dispO-
itI"h. Her quaint way of expressing
erself had charm of its own. and S
'hen, as came to know her better, |
entured to battle the hot, dusty face 5
nj hands, comb out the tangled, gold Y
II hair and replace the soiled clothing l.
With fresh, | wondered at her great a
eauty. 5
We all loved her dearly. She spent +
ioSt Of her time with us: becoming
at home, but never trouble II
)me OF disObedient Ii
One day she came in much excited. Il
he talked rapidly and loudly. Her Il
leeks were crimson, her eyes glitter b
When she came to kiss me the 81
mes of beer were in her breath. |
Posy," exclaimed, Mortified.
w hat have you been drinking 2"
itft1rr Tes1irfrtttitfffe: it, she answered
But where did you get beerqn II
Up at Wolcott's." This was the |
rgest saloon IN the place, and boast nj
oi oelhg the most respectable. Peo- Ia
{ said II we must have saloons it WAS NJ
PITY az could not be as well mauag- to
as W colts. If pc
But, Posy," / asked, Chow did Won ga
I Deer you have no money to pay dc
A man gave it to her. He gave her tn
nickel for drinking it. And all the DO
IN laughed and said she was a smart
tie girl ''"'''' ha
'Posy, you must not drink bee, ,, me
Il l. IL is very wrong. "Promise ma
you viii not drink any more" no
NO, she won't promise, she likes il - ist
eNpressibly shocked and grieyed 7 say
nj at once to the child's mother To doc
her OF my discovery and asked gre
at could be done. gra
All, said Mrs. Rhinehart bitterly er
at Is her Inheritance from Lsr one
Ter. She has shown this annette Ind
since she was "A baby, and the mei
D, THANK God am not a mani call N
inIo the saloons and treat her for not
ian OF seeing sHch a little tbing WI,
iik- / call 1T DEVILS work. She BAY
3een so happy at your house lately ellis
she mas Kept away from the sa ton,
Is, but If she's begun again there's Gild
moving how long it will last" Tvs
Is There nothing can do ~ | asked said
don't know what you can do cult
en- you have. You've kent her ~
oi 1t good while. If / could do tain
rent work aud keep her with me Gn;c
Z, ! should be glad but look here. y dor,
he held up her right hand, disfig- nvei
;, missilapeh, bearing the scars of he
y wounds. o