The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-06-06

at last TO grove where he could rest
and gather the wild flowers that grew at
his feet. After time he was startled
from his enjoyment by the sound of APP
preaching voices. With sudden fear
of being sent back to the farm he hid
behind growth of bushes. The grove
seemed a favorite resting-place for two
women, who, on their way home from
an afternoon meeting, stopped in the
pleasant shadow and sat down on
messy log so near to Billy that he could
hear them talk. He cared nothing for
that, however, and was just impatiently
wishing they would go on when one
sentence attracted him.
Yes, he never forgets to pray for
the poor and for the orphan-such a
feeling prayer, tool ] always liked
Dea Cole"
Please, maam, where does he
live?" questioned an eager voice be-
hind them.
Oh-hw
The two women started to their feet
in alarm, but there was nothing very
terrifying in Billy's head of tangled
curls when once they turned to look at
it, and they sat down again with a gasp
and laugh. Billy hardly waited for
that.
Where does that man-Mr. Cole
live? He's-he's the one Pm looking
for.n
"In that big white house, where you
can just see the roof through the trees.
Bless me, child, how you did brighten
mel 3"
But Billy was speeding away as fast
as his bare feet would carry him. A
man must want an orphan pretty badly
when he prayed for one, he reasoned;
so of course Dea. Cole must be the
one he was looking for. In blissful
confidence he presented himself before
the open doorway where a man sat
reading, and said, simply:
"I've comel "
$50 | see," said Mr.. Cole, somewhat
astonished. who are you and what
did you come for?''
"Oh, I've come to live with you,n
said Billy, with an assuring smile.
Pm the orphan you prayed for, but /
guess you didn't think I'd get here to-
night. don't like the poor-house."
" You don't, eh? Well" Mr.. Cole
dropped his paper and slowly rose to
his feet, as if he could only express his
surprise by standing at full height. A
longer look at the little waif and a few
questions solved the small mystery.
But, my little lad,'' he said, not I'M
kindly but very positively, you have
made a mistake. l haven't thought of
such a thing as taking boy to live
here. We don't want one"
Billy's face had been gradually cloud
ing under the unexpected examination,
and now there swept over it a wave of
bewilderment, CONSERVATION and dread {.
The blue eyes filled and the child
dropped hopelessly down on the porch.
"Oh, l was so sure-so sure" he
sobbed. "They said you'd prayed to
take care of the orphan"
Back from the depths of comforta-
BILE kitchen, where tempting supper
was preparing, came old Aunt Dinah.
Laws, honey, dat amt muffin; don't
fret! Don't we know folks prays de
Lord to do lots of tings dey don't want
de trouble OBJ dom derselves? OATS
de mistake We made: don't cry, POI
lamb"
Dinah was apparently intent only
upon soothing the child, but Dea.
Cole started as if he had been pierced
with an arrow. He glanced out over
his broad fields, at his full barns, and
then down at the little morsel of hui
manity at his feet. Was Dinah right?
"Well, well, don't cry! Come in
and stay tonight, anyway, and - well,
we will see what Mary says about it,"
So it happened that the next day
Billy-washed, brushed and arrayed in
garments that bore the trace of taste
full, loving fngers-rode back to the
poor-house in Dea. Coles carriage
to be duly transferred to his new home
and parents. He found chance to
whisper joyfully to Granny Larkins:
$50, you see, it did come true what
you said, and maybe your part of it
will, too" Some day maybe you'll get
that letter yet"
" Oh, yes" said granny, cheerfully,
"I'm eXpectin' that tea-set to-mor-
rer, n-Kdte W. Hamilton.