The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-11-18
Seletteo Storp.
Three Hundred Dollars.

"Three hundred dollars" unused
Mrs. Weston; how much can that be
made to do, l wonder? OF one thing 1
am certain, it must buy a home, al
though it be only one-roomed hut,
with Just sufficient ground on which to
stand. | will go and ask Mrs. Clark,
the tailor's wife, if she will look after
the children for an hour, and l will go
and see Mr.. Wentworth, our pastor at
the mission chapel. am sure he will
help me if it is in his power, and must
have some advice. | haven't any bet
ter idea of where to look for such
place as l am able to buy than-than-
anything"
Mrs. Clark said she would gladly keep
the children with her for two or three
hours, if their mother would let them
stay. So Mrs. Weston returned and
prepared for her visit to the home of
Mr.. Wentworth.
81 dread to CO." she thought, while
tying the strings of her plain straw
bonnet, q" but both he and his wife APP
peared so kind the few times that
have met them, and know of no one
else to whom l can 60"
A few minutes walk brought her to
the door of a small, neat house on
quiet street. Her knock was answered
by little girl with bright, sweet face,
who swung the door wide open. Come
right this way" she said, and led Mrs.
Weston into a pleasant sitting-room,
placed chair, and politely asked her if
she would not lay aside her bonnet.
" called to see Mr.. Wentworth, if
he is not too busy" Mrs. Weston said.
"Oh, no! OF course papa will see
you, 1 will tell him." and away she
went, leaving Mrs. Weston smiling
over her impulsiveness, and the odd
mingling of childshness and dignified
hospitality. "Surely if the daughter,
a mere child, treats strangers in that
way, have nothing to dread in meet
ing the father"
The door opened behind her and
pleasant voice said, Good morning
Mrs. Weston. Alice told me that
lady wished to see me, but l did not
know it was you. How do you do and
how are your children? Mrs. Went
worth and l were intending to stop
there yesterday, but we were detained
at several places, and the clouds looked
so threatening that I thought it best to
bring my wife home by the nearest
way, as she has not been feeling quite
well this week"
% am very sorry to hear that Mrs.
Wentworth is not feeling well, and
sorry to have lost your visit, but hope
you will come soon. My children and
are in good health, thank you," re-
piled Mrs. Weston, who had been grow
ing wonderfully at ease during the
kindly speech.
A few minutes were spent in talking
on various subjects, and then Mrs.
Weston said, with little hesitation:
=" l am sorry to trouble you, but know
of no one else to whom l could 90 for
advice. l think you know that only
short time before my husband died he
insured his life in the Accidental In
surance Company for five hundred dol
lars, which the company paid couple
of weeks after his death" A choking
stopped her for moment, and then she
went on: "The necessary expenses at
the time of his death, and some small
debts to various tradesmen, have used
about two hundred dollars. and out of
the remaining three hundred | want to
buy little home and leave a little for
rainy day. / know it is small sum,
but do not care how small the house
may be if it will only be roof over our
heads, and | thought in some little
country village perhaps little home
could be found for little less than the
three hundred. I want, too, to get the
children away from the city. The
children in such houses as l can afford
to rent rooms in are not what l want
mine to associate with Am / wild in
thinking that two hundred dollars
might buy little home, that would be
our own, and that would stop this rent
paying that tells so frightfully on our
slender purses?"
Mr.. Wentworth had listened quietly
and now said: I" am glad you came
here. l think, though, my wife will
be able to give some better ideas than
l can. She was a country girl, you
know, and has relatives living in the
country: will call her."
He left the room, returning in few
minutes with Mrs. Wentworth, who
greeted Mrs. Weston cordially, and
then Mr.. Wentworth spoke of Mrs.
Weston's plans and wishes. " Now,
DEAR" he concluded, " what can you
say that will help us?''
g say that | think Mrs. Weston's
plan good one, and have no doubt
that very comfortable little house
could be obtained in many small coun-
try villages for two hundred dollars, per-
haps for less; the trouble will be to find
in just phat village we could find such
house, for of course Mrs. Weston does
not care to spend all her money in visit
ing number of villages at random,
and in such case advertising would be
of little use, l think. Mrs. Wentworth
spoke somewhat incoherently, as if she
was thinking of something else besides
the words she spoke. Then looking up,
with bright smile, she said: The
very thing. Uncle John and Aunt
Mary are coming next week on short
visit, and they live in a very pleasant
little village. / shouldn't wonder if
they would be able to tell us of just
such place as you would want. If not,
they will at least be able to give some
information that cannot help but be
valuable. / will talk to them about it,
and will send and let you know when
thew are here so Won can talk To then,