The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-10-20
Selected Storm.
Uncle PhilO's Will.


Young Mr.. Lawrence had not been es-
tablshed in the principalship of the
new Crawton Academy, and in the
large "front west" chamber at the
Howes', without the previous occur
renee of several events more or less
startling and interesting
In the first place, Philo Crawton, an
old man who had lived most frugally,
alone for many years, had been found
dead i'm his bed: then it had been dis
covered that he had left the bulk of his
property for the establishment of an
academy at Enderly, the old homestead
to his widowed niece; then the niece,
Mrs. Folger, had come from the West
with her daughter, a young lady of
twenty, and under the rule of its new
owners, the old house had awakened
from its long sleep, opened its green
blinds, and become again acquainted
with the world. After this, Philip
Crawton, Mrs. Folger's poetcal and
unsuccessful brother, had come to End
erly and made his home with her. And
then, at the town-meeting in which va
rious questions connected with the
Crawton fund were discussed, Justin
Howe, substantial farmer of Enderly,
and Philip Crawton took opposite sides,
and Mr.. Crawton chose to feel insulted
at some remark of Mr.. Howe's. After
that town meeting, Mr.. Crawton re-
fused to speak to his old friend and
schoolmate: which course, together
with his presumption in seeking to in
huence town affairs, so soon after his
long absence, caused much indignant
feeling in the village, and led Mrs.
Smalley to try to bring it about that the
new principal should board at the
Howes', where she felt that his pres
ence would be continual rebuke to
the faction which supported Philip
Crawton. She accomplished her pur-
pose with some difficulty, and by so do
ing added the last link to the chain of
events before mentioned, which ac-
counted for the presence of this ath-
letic, blue-eyed young man, with fine
head and thoughtful face, in this
particular "front west " room, on this
Saturday morning, and many Saturday
mornings before and after.
Mr.. Lawrence had been absorbed in
his reading at first but the joyfulness
of the day flew in through the open
window in such alluring fashion that
he soon laid the book down and started
for walk, going out of the back door,
whistling. Mrs. Howe's back yard
was a picture and a sermon, and her
only boarder went through it whenever
he could find an excuse. If once he
had found Miss FOlger-who, in spite
OF the disagreement between her uncle
and Mr.. Howe. was very fond of Jul
dith Howe and the rest of the family
on the porch, playing with the black
kittens, and again, helping Judith pick
over raisins, he had seemed rather
pleased than troubled by these meet
ings. Really Mr.. Lawrence was get
ting over his embarrassment in the
presence of young ladies.
But this morning all was quiet about
the door, except for the cackling of 6
hen and the slow squeak of the wooden
pump, whose long handle was moved
up and down by neighbours boy The
young man went through the gate into
the orchard, now gladdened and whit.
ened by the falling petals of the apple
blossoms, and across some plowed
land, into little used road, where
among the young trees on either side
the birds were fairly tipping them
selves over with joy-and so on tC
the river. Here he got into the ole
boat of which he had the key, and be
gan to pull slowly to the other side
singing softly little German song t
the effect that May had come, and he
was going to wander in his thoughts
through the wide, wide world as freel,
as the clouds wandered through tn,
sky; that no one knew where his blessed
ness might be-and much more of thu
same sort, which had all the happ,
questioning of the new year and hi
strong young manhood in it, and wa
much more poetical in the German
with the splash of the oars, and tn
birds darting across the sky in searcl
of their blessedness.
A little while after, this enthusias
tic botanist stood looking down at
single, swaying, pink Lady's Slipper
He had crossed the river for some speci
mems of this species, for he knew tina
it was found in these woods, and h
wished a few plants in blossom for hi
botany class on Monday. He ha
searched carefully, in vain. And whe
he had given up, and was thinking G
other things, he had glanced down t
find this solitary flower at his feet.
The best then was not sought for O
earned; it was put in our path. An6
as he stopped, the thought of Mol
Folger came over him like food. II
knelt and picked the blossoms revel
emily. But the botany class never ha
lesson on the cypripedium, and froi
that day all was changed to Royal Law
renee.
One evening, about two weeks b'
fore school closed, Molly had bee
playing on the piano. Some mus
always excited her, and she was sayin!
with bright eyes and cheeks a lit
flushed, what this piece seemed to h,
to mean, when her mother came
with letter she had just received.
was a business letter, and brought new
of pretty certain loss, which she e,
planned to Mr.. Lawrence because !
had known what had gone before.
Well, mother, don't you mind!
said Molly. THAT money has bee
ever so much worry to us. | am gli
it is gone. | can wear out my o
dresses now" And she came and sat
her mothers feet, looked up at he
and talked until she made her smi
away the troubled look. Royal thong
she was never so lovely.
Just then, Mr. Crawton coming j
Mrs. Folger shook her head quickl
SAVING g. Hush - and thew stOnnpd tal