The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1888-12-13


msmnA can't vss said she.
y, And pick up puis where they gre
- amongst the leaves and eat spplss viii
~ oat payi1g tso cents spiecc Tor then
y eh lined Lille. q. mamma, Why don
E every one live 10 shs ccuniryf Msmmi
70 doo't you love eossin Elssf IL she lit
o sirIs viii shs PLY With usi
q doul know, san Mrs. Robblns. with
qpiver In her voioA No, she is no. chill
she is woman, liks me. Bot ! think sh
+ aus, be an angel il heart.
i For Elsa Robips' bed been the first heI
ing hand which had stretched out to III
the poor little widos out OF the abyss 0
trouble which had almost overwhelme,
. her since her husband died 10 the far ava,
: Mexican land, whittier be had gone I,
9 make bis fortune, which. alas was neve
made.
She hyd become sadly used TO shsrF
words and cold. glanoes, but kindness
sympathy. sepdsr recognition Of her claim.
10 kinship, were new aud precious to her.
Just then came a heavy, creaking foot
step on the floor "A tap st the door.
Little Lille jumped up aud scsmperea
back to bed Bessie drew her curly head
under the sheets.
Its mistake. said Mrs. Robbins, spirit
lessly. Nobody ever comes here.
But she arose and opened the door,
There stood stout, middle aged man, with
cheerful blue eyes, ruddy complexion,
and leg OF mutton top whiskers. slightly
spriuked with gray.
Does Mrs. Walter Robbins live here2 he
asked.
Miss Elsa made wsfiles for supper, and
had fried some fresh crullers brown aud
light as bu,terays wings. She had brought
in the parlor lamp and hunted up two lit,
tie china mugs, handleless and with the
gilt inscription faded of, which bad been
hers and her dear sisters as children, long
ago.
They'll please the little ones, she
thought.
And Mrs. Robbins, in be clean new car,
sat smiling at the hearth stone, when Wal
ter's widow came 10, her black dress pow
dered with snow, which had begun to fall
at the gathering OF dusk. with two little
girls clinging to her hand.
My dear, said Mrs. Robbins. you are
welcome kindly welcome-you and the
dear little girls,
And Elsa came in, her face softened for
the moment, and led them Hospitality to
the fire.
It's a poor place. said she, but mother
is right-you are welcome,
The children looked timidly around at
the black beams that trsversed the Roof
overhead the deep set windows, with
their broad lodges filed with musk plants
and fish geraniums -tbe strings Of red pep
pers above the mantle. and the brass can
dlesticks, which gil tered as II made OF
gold and the great open chimney place,
the funny shaped sndirons with round
heads, and the great Maltese cat, asleep
on the gaudy rag-rug. Was it all true, or
we're they dreaming?
But when II came to the wsfiles and ma
a. l., -, a1aaaaa aonL;aa NTH f.onalsaada in |
them, and milk - just as much as they
could drink, out Of those dear, little an
tique mugs the children decided the mat
ter in their own minds that they were not
dreaming at all. And after they had gone
10 sleep,in bed room just of the kitchen.
" here the sheets smelled Of sweet clover,
and the walls were covered with punches
Of CT bbage roses, with impossible green
leaves and blue ribbons filed around the
stems, Mrs. Walter Robbins found courage
10 thank the friends who had been SO good
10 her in her necessity.
But there's something haven't told you
yet, she said timidly. couldn't write it,
because didn't know 1t myself when l
appealed to you. am not SO poor as ev
ny one thought. Poor, dear Walters '
mining adventures have turned out better q
han was expected. A lawyer from the :
outh came to see me last night. and told a
ne am to have at least $1,000 year.
Ehl said Elsa, almost incredulously. &
1t aiut possibltl chirped Mp. Robbins L
And. went on Mrs. Walter, II you will p
llow me to live here and share it with Z
'ou- u
No, sad Elsa We have no right TO
|.
But, pleaded the widow. you we're will
ng to share ali that you had with me2
That is quite another thing. said
slss.
No, il isn't, said Mira Robbins. It's the t.
ame thing eYactly. And | hsve always a
,nged for home 10 the country, and II 10
0 lovely here: aud feel that | love You .
lready, and l should be miserable any q
here else. Please please lei me stay. o
And what could Mrs Robbins and Miss IL
lisa say but "yesl' ?
And when ths gentle widow retired 10 y
er room, Miss Elsa looked at the old lady D
ith tears in her eyes. y
Mother. said she, you we're right. Prov N
ence has provided. The moment made SC
p my mind to leave of caring and plan a
,g. and trusted ia God. He lad laid . .
lessipg at my feet Think will never u
Cub, or despair again. "
- - IA
Criticising . Picture.
iaf