The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-10-10
RRTT,YN VERSE.

self a young man doing prosperous
business, and, although not in par ner
ship, still intimately associated with one
who had been his playmate, neighb or
and close friend for thirty years. And
then Mr.. Rogers saw the financial trouble
that had come upon him, and he thought
bitterly, that if the friend had played
the part friend, it might have been
averted.
He saw the 90 years of estrangement,
he felt again the bitterness of that hour
of failure. ....-
Mr.. Rogers rose from his chair, and,
going 10 the safe, drew from it three
notes for five thousand dollars each, due
on the following Monday.
Twenty years is long time to wait
for Justice" said he 10 himself; "but
now, and without lifting finger, these
notes have come into my possession, and
l know, Robert French, that it will be
hard work for you to pay them. |
knew justice would be done at last"
And Mr.. Rogers replaced the notes in
his safe, and, closing his office, went
home to tea. -
Many man will cry out for justice
when it is revenge he desires,
On Monday morning Mr.. Rogers went
to the station to take the eight O'Clock
train from Boston. He had just taken
his seat in the car when he heard his
name spoken and saw Mr.. Palmer, his
neighbor, standing by his seat,
''Are you going to town 2" asked Mr..
Palmer.
EYES," was the reply, Anything !
can do for you?''
Il wish you would take charge of my
little daughter as far as Nj. Her
grandmother will meet her there, l
have promised this visit for week, and
intended to take her down myself, but
just at the last minute have received a
dispatch that must be here to meet
some men who are coming out on the
next train" ---
"Why, of course l will" said Mr..
Rogers, heartily. Where is sheF :.
At these words tiny figure clambered
on the seat, and cheerful voice, an
nounced, "Here is |"
"Thank you," said Mr.. Palmer.
Goodbye, Betty be a good girl, and
papa will come for you tomorrow.
"Good-bye, papa; give my love to the
baa-lammie, and the west of the family"
replied Betty.
People looked around and laughed at
Betty's putting the lamb at the head OF
the family. They saw very little girl
under an immense hat, and with pair
of big blue eyes and rosy cheeks.
Mr. Rogers put her next to the window,
and began to talk to her.
"How old are you, Betty" he asked,
"Im half past four; how old are your"
promptly returned Betty.
"Not quite hundred" laughed Mr..
81, old far tof
SIS that what made the fur all come
off the top of your head ?" she asked
looking thoughtfully at his bald head,
for the heat had caused him to take off
bis hat
Mr.. Rogers said he guessed so.
Betty pointed out various objects OF
interest and made original comments
upon them, not at all abashed by her
companions age and gravity.
; Suddenly, she looked up and said, 81
go to Sunday school,"
do you ?and what do you do thereT'
''Well, sing, and l learn verse.
My teacher give .le knew one about
bears, but l don't know it yet. but
know the first one had; want me to
tell it to you ~ and the big blue eyes
looked confidingly up at Mr.. Rogers,
, ''Why, OF course do Betty" he re
piled. Betty folded her hands, and with
her eyes fixed on her listeners face said:
Love your innymunts,"
Mr.. Rogers flushed and invOluntarily
put bis hand on his pocket-book, but
Betty, all unconscious of his thought
said !:
do you want me 'splain it y
"The listener nodded, and the child
went on:
: do you know what an 'inDymunt
isp" .'... ......
But receiving no answer, she said
when anybody does naughty things
and bweaks your playthings he'sa 'inny-
munt.' .....
Wubbie Fwench was my 'innymunt;
he bweaked my dolly's nose, and he
sticked burrs in my baa lammie's fur,
and he said it wasn't baa- lammle
noffin' but just lammie," and the big
blue eyes grew bigger as they recalled
this last lndignity.
MIR. Rogers looked deeply interested,
and in fact, who could have helped IT.,
looking at the earnest little face. Betty
continued to 'splaiu.
ut doesn't mean" she said, that
: you must let EN- break all your dolls
: noses nor call your baa-lammie names,
cause that's wicked but last week
: Wobbie bweaked his 'locipide, and the
: next day all the boys were going to have
; wace, and when said my prayers |
} told the Lord, was glad Wobbie had
! bweaked his 'locipede. was, but when
l wanted to go to sleep, l feeled bad
: here, and Betty placed tiny hand on
: her chest, and drew long breath. "But
by and by after uucb as an hour.1 guess
: ed thinked how naughty that was, and
then telled the Lord was sorry Wob.
7 bic had bweaked his 'locipede, and l
would lend him mine, part of the time,
} and then feeled good, and l was asleep
} in minute"
"And what about Robbie Z" asked Mr..
/ Rogers.
"Well," replied the child, 81 guess if l
keep on loving him he won't be 'inny-
munt' much longer"
, Il guess not, either" said Mr., Rogers,
! giving his hand to help her down from
/ the seat, as the cars slackened speed at
M--and stopped at the station. He
led the child from the car and gave her
| to her grandmother's care.
: 81 hope she has not troubled you"
said the lady, looking fondly at the
child"
"On the contrary, madam she has
done me would Of good, said he sincere
ly, as he raised his hat; and bidding
Betty goodbye, stepped back into the
car,
Mr.. Rogers resumed his seat, and look
ed out of The window, but he did not see
the trees, nor the green fields, nor even
the peaceful river, with its thousands OF
t,;t hao ofar in ha
midnight sky.
7 Had he told the Lord that he was
glad his "innymunt" had broken his ve-
locipede, and could not join in the race
for wealth and positionl When he came
to put the question straight to bis own
soul 1t certainly did look like it.
1t was no use for him to say that the
notes were honestly due. He knew that
he could afford to wait for the money,
and that il Robert French were forced to
, pay them at once he would probably be
ruined, and he heard the sweet voice OF
the child saying, "Love your 'inny-
, munt;' and he said, in heart, using the
, old familiar name Of his boyhood days,
"Lord, am sorry, Rob has broken bis
velocipede; I'll lend him mine till he
: gets his mended."
Had the sun suddenly come out from
behind dark cloudi Mr.. Rogers
/ thought so; but it had really been shin
ing It's brightest all the morning.
A boy came through the train with
great bunch of water-lilies, calling, Lii
escentspiecesixforfi."
Here, boy, called Mr.. Rogers. Where
: did those come from 2"
"White Pond Lily Cove, !" said the boy,
eyeing Mr. Rogers with some perplex
s.- IIo had haa, train how Ava vpara