The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-02-24


and Frank stop whistling to give him
hug.
II took considerable will to pack the
bundle he intended to take, after
grandma's goodnight kiss and his
tea for his headache.
Fathers afraid you've been sick all
day." she said. Harry buried his head
in the bed-clothes and cried, and it was
positive relief when he heard low
whistle and little roll of paper came
flying through the open window to
read upon it these words: Martins
mother is awful sick-postponed till
next week." He had been reading of
murderer with a reprieve, and he
imagined he felt just like him. When
he awoke, next morning, the sun was
shining brightly. What did it mean?
Was he in his old room? Where was
Frank2 He went down stairs and
found the men, who had just come in to
breakfast, talking of several cases of
fever in another part of the town, and
wondered why they seemed so glad to
see him. Before breakfast was over
his father received telegram. 1t said:
"Tell mother Nellie and feel sure of
a welcome tonight"
Frank and Harry fairly hurrahed in
grandma's room, and when they found
that Nellie would stay all summer, if
agreeable, they hardly knew how to ex-
press themselves. 1t wasn't easy to lend
her for so many months, the parents
thought, but somehow it was arranged
to the satisfaction of all-even Nellie,
for she had been brought up to believe
in making others happy. When she
understood that with these boys, her
cousins, there was chance for the
work she loved, she felt willing to pay
a long visit to the dear grandma, who
continually reminded her of her father
They received her very kindly, for
though call work and no play" had
degenerated them, even Aunt Maria
was hospitable. Before her father left
the keys of grandma's old organ once
more responded to the touch of the
dear fingers that had so often pressed
them in days gone by, and beautiful
upright piano stood in little recess in
the large hall that separated the new
part of the house that was occupied by
the son from the dear old rooms, so
many years the home of the family and
where the mother still held sway. Tears
stood in the eyes of grandma, and even
Mr. Horace Grandson, when, Sunday
evening, in honor of his brother and
Nellie, they all gathered in her room
and sang the old hymns, while she
played as of yore, feeling specially
pleased when Nellie's sweet voice
sounded clear above all others, and she
knew that the verses she taught her
own little children were perfectly ia
miliar to her.
Their Uncle Frank went north with
Nellie with an object in view, and
though his stay was necessarily short he
did not leave till he accomplished it, or
rather he set the ball in motion that LED
to the desired result. He did not wish
Nellie, who was fine musician for 6
girl of sixteen, to miss her own prac
tice, but he had the boys in mind wher
he engaged an old school friend, who
had devoted years to the study of music
to drive out each week, away from hi
city pupils, and do his best for any one
who would be instructed.
Before he left them considerable ex
element was caused by the report tina
Jake Thomson and Henry Martin hat
been arrested in Boston. They were
in part of the city where sailors con
, gregated, and Jake's uncle, who proved
to be wasteful and reckless man wht
spent his money for drink, was having
carousal just previous to starting OF
: what, to the boys, was to be their initia
voyage. 1t was pretty hard for Henry
who grew homesick for the mother, who
only partially recovered from her late
sickness, was terribly distressed at hi
unexplained absence and perhaps TO
the first time in her life fell on he
knees to thank God for even the terri
BILE story the telegram told her. Jak
did not care; he called it seeing tn
world" and the station-house, wher
: they were kept for several hours, wa
! as comfortable as the only home he ha,
known.
Little Harry turned very white whel
: he heard about it, and when hi
father happened to say "come wit
me" the poor child was so frightened
he burst out crying and said, didn'
, go, father"
Mr.. Grandson, who had been too bus
to even suspect what Harry had had il
his mind, stood aghast. He loved hi
: boys when he had time to think abou
| tuCll, anu WHCh uC odlu tCll LiC a.
about it," he actually put his arm aroun
. Harry's neck, else he might not hav
had the courage.
4 When the father and mother knew
that the coming of Nellie and Uncl
2 Frank, and the piano, too-the plan
4 that their uncle said should be theirs
1 was what had kept their boy from tn
: fate that had overtaken the Others
y they began to realize that there might b
: something worth living for beside
!, work and money.
AS the months went by and the boys
. with their regular hours for music an
u study, which the father could well affor
: were becoming what God intended
u instead of being transformed into tn
> machines that they babe fair to be ha
y not nature and circumstances rebelleC
n the mother began to see the beauty {
Nellie's character. 1t touched tende
s spot-her pride as well as heart-whe
she thought what might have becom
3 of her baby Harry.
- Before Nellie left for her own HON
!, her aunt wished she might never leay
them and sent most cordial messages
a the sister-in-law, whom, through he
u daughter, she had learned to admire