The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-06-16

Mabel returned.
If you would allow me the priv
ilege of conversing with her a few min
utes myself" ventured Mr.. Jarvis.
Certainly; but you will find us
in very straitened circumstances, she
added, with faint blush.
Before she was half through speak
ing Mr.. Jarvis was out of the carriage
and his wife was following his example.
Mabel showed them up very rickety
stairway and into room extremely
neat and clean, but almost destitute of
furniture. The emaciated mother was
| lying upon the only bed the room con-
tanned. Mabel explained to her that
these were strangers who had been so
kind to Bessie. The sick woman held
out her thin hand in token of welcome,
and then motioned the lady to seat
upon the bed, while Mabel placed the
only whole chair they possessed near
her mother for Mr.. Jarvis. As soon
as he was seated he commenced, alb
ruptly: Madam, your daughters have
told me about your late husbands en-
listment, but are unable to give the
name of the man who employed him as
a substitute"
" His name was Robert Jarvis" re-
piled the invalid.
" Just as 1 thought" gasped the
farmer, "just exactly as l thought l
am Robert Jarvis, and Wilson Pen
broke died in my place. My old bones
ought to be whitening on Chicka-
mauga's bloody field, and Wilson Pen
broke should be at home providing for
his helpless family. That's the wood
with the bark on"
Mrs. Pembroke was quietly weeping,
and made no effort to speak until she
could command her usual cheerful tone
of voice. AT last she said, gently: cit
was no fault of yours, Mr.. Jarvis, for if
he had not gone for you he would have
enlisted in the stead of some other one.
You see he was determined to volun-
teer, but he could not think of leaving
the children and me unprovided for.
He was out of work and much discour-
aged the day he met you and begged to
be permitted to take your place. You
paid him handsome sum, and the next
morning he marched away, never to
return, for in less than year he lay
down to sleep among the slain. His
grave is far away in the land of stran-
gers, unmarked save by plain board
that bears only his name, company and
regiment. Except the little bouquet
that we send each year, no notice is
taken of the lonely tomb. These Me-
mortal days are very sad ones to me,
but know my Fathers hand is in it
all, and he doeth all things we'll"
Here fit of coughing seized her, and
she was compelled to lie down again.
After she had somewhat revived, her
husbands enlistment papers were eX-
amined, and Mr.. Jarvis was satisfied
that this poor woman's husband had
been pierced with the bullet designed
for himself. He insisted that they
should accompany him and his family
to the country. "Why, madam, the
fresh, green hills would put new life
into you, and my old woman here
would soon bring the roses to the cheeks
of these pale-faced lassies of yours.'
1t was finally arranged that he should
return in week for the desolate family.
He did not leave, however, until he had
slipped gold eagle into the poor,
wasted hand that he pressed at parting.
Mr.. Jarvis was very quiet during the
long drive homeward, but he did not
refer to the case until the children had
retired. After the house was still he
turned to his wife and said: "Jane, l
have about decided to give that little
bird's-nest in town to Mrs. Pembroke
and her children. The girl seemed
spirited like, and would not like to be
dependent on anybody"
"She is in the right of it, too, Rob-
ert; / think that house would suit them
exactly" answered Mrs. Jarvis.
| &c II would hp q r,1inhtu thincr RI
haul load of coal now and then, OF
throw in some apples or roll of but
ter when we are going to mill. You
!, know we would never miss such
things"
But we ought to give so we ,cil
miss, Robert" urged his wife. Just
think what would have been your fate
had not that man taken your place. 1t
is no charity, but the paying of an hon
est debt"
81 agree with you, Jane, and Wilson
: Penbroke's children shall never know
want while Robert Jarvis has plenty
was Mr.. Jarvis decision.
So the little cottage was neatly fur
nished, and the next week Mrs. Pen
broke and her children found happy
: home beneath its roof. Mabel had no
difficulty in securing situation in the
village school, for Mr.. Jarvis recon-
mendation was authority in that sec
ton of the country.
: AS this is no make-believe story, /
may as well add that there was quiet
, wedding in the village church few
years later, at which Mabel wore the
} orange blossoms and DIR. Roger Jarvis
placed the marriage ring upon her fin
. ger. They are going to follow Horace
i Greeley's advice and try their fortunes
in western city; but they have NJ
: fears that the widowed mother ant
: young sister will want for a protector
as long as Robert Jarvis lives.
In the quiet corner of the village
church-yard there is solitary grave
t marked by a plain monument, and
3 underneath it lies the moldering dust
of William Pembroke. Each Decora-
: ton day it is strewn with more flowers
3 and wet with more tears than those Of
3 Elsie and her mother.-Belle Y. CHS.
holm, in PRESBYTERIAN Observer,