Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-06-14

were interested and they came to sit with
her and cheer her way One pale lad in
the seat in front turned to look at her now
and then and TO answer her smile. He was
going to the new country for health and
wealth, poor lad, only 10 find eternal rest
in the sunny land, but his last days were
frightened bv the reward for an act Of
kindness.
"She probably brought those boys up"
he thought, "and denied her life for them.
Is she to die unrewarded, wonder There
can not be any good in the world il that be
So" He thought Of her and took out his
poor purse there was little money in it,
too every cent made big hole in his store
but the consciousness of good deed was
worth something. "I mAyn't have the
chance to do many more" thought the lad,
huttoning his worn overcoat. He slipped
off at a station and sent a telegram to Dem
yer
''To Samuel Blair"-for he had caught
the name from her talk-"Your Aunt Han
nah from Maine, is on the w. & W. train
coming TO you"
1t was only a straw, but kindly wind
might blow it to the right one after all.
When he was sitting there after his mes
sage had gone on its way, she leaned over
and handed him peppermint drop.
"You don't look strong dearie, she said /;
"haint ye no folks with ye 2"
'None on earth"
"We're both lone ones, she smiled "an'
how sad it be there amt no one to fuss over
ye. An be keertul Of the drafts, and keep
flannel allus on your chist that is good for
the lungs"
"You are very kind to take an interest
in me" he smiled "but | am afraid it is
too late"
Another night Of weary slumber in the
cramped seats, and then the plain began to
be dotted with villages, and soon appeared
the struggling outskirts of city, the Platte
river and network of iron rails.
"This is Denver" said the lad to her,
land I'll look after you as we'll as | can"
81 won't be no burden, she said brightly
'I've 500 yet an that's sight of money.
The train halted to let the eastward bound
express pass there was an air of excite
ment in the car, passengers getting ready
to depart, gathering up luggage and wraps,
and some watching the newcomers and the
rows of strange faces ON the outward bound
The door of the car slammed suddenly, and
big bearded man with eager blue eyes
came down the aisle, looking sharply from
right to left. He had left Denver on the
express to meet this train His glance fell
on the tiny black figure.
"Why, Aunt Hannah :" he cried with a
break in his voice. and she-she put out her
trembling hands and fell into the big arms,
| tears streaming down the wrnkled face.
~ knowed Providence would let me find
We, Sam," she said, brokenly, and no one
smiled when the big man sat down beside
| her and with gentle hand wiped her tears
away.
"Why, I've sent John 500 month foI
five years for YOU he said angrily, as she
told him why she ran away, "and he said
| you could not write, for you had a stroke
and was helpless, and have written to you
| often and sent you money. It's hard for q
man to call his own brother villain
1--WE won't Sam" she said gently, "bu
Just furgit an won't be burden to We
for can work yit, an fur years TO come
Work, indeed don't owe you every
thing p he cried And my wife has long
ed for you to come There are 50 few dear
old aunts in this country, they're priced,
tell you. Why, it's as good as a coat of
arms to have dear, handsome old woman
like you for a relation"
Then he found out who sent the Telegram
and paid the lad, who bushed and stammer
ed and did not want to take it.
81 suppose you want job, said the big
man. We'll, can give you one I'm IN thu
food commission business. Give you some
thing light. Lots Of your sort, poor lad,
out here All the reference | want is thai
little kindness of yours to Aunt Hannah.
Here's the depot, Aunt Hannah, an'
you won't see bars and Injun's, nor th'
buffaloes you were talking about, but th'
prettiest and sunniest city you ever set eyes
on"
He picked up the old carpet bag, not bi
ashamed of it, though it looked like Noal
might have carried it to the ark. They sai'
good bye, and the last seen of her was hel
happy old face beaming from carriag
window as she rolled away to what all knew
would be pl leasant home for all her wan
ing years.