News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1889-02-21

blood beet, boiled to bright red, the
root laying obiquely along the rim of
the structure, while the stem, branching
into many upright leaves, lowered above
the head, counter balanced by a carrot
or some other rank growth of millinery
| on the other side.
/ surmised at glance that the "top-
notify" affair had been bestowed by some
wealthy lady for it was evidently o
costly adjunct to female attire) upon one
who was not posted as to the caprices of
| tickle "Dame Fashion" and believed
that what was good once was good al
ways, if in good order.
| But before had reduced my thoughts
to spec Ii suited to the occasion, the
woman dropped an old style low ''cour-
| tesy" her knees almost touching the
floor, and broke the silence with that
cheerily accenuated voicet which marks
q native of the emerald isle, and IN the
query, perhaps, sorr, you do not
know who am
NO." said I, "there is no doubt about
that I"
'tSure, 1 am the widow of Mister
Michael Phelan; but perhaps, sorr, you
have not hs ard of him beforei"
"No, I would hardly be able to iden-
tify him with certainty" replied.
Sand it is pity said she, "becluse
he was most worthy man-as good q
husband as ever lived, and good father
to these little girls, peace to his mem
ory." just there and then q genuine
tear of affection glistened in the widows
eye, and she proceeded, ''and he started
to come to America with us on vessel
bound to Quebec. But we had a
stormy, long passage, during which he
sickened and died, and despite all could
say or do the Captain had his body
dropped overheard in the wide ocean,
and had to come along without him.
We landed in Quebec and thence came to
Montreal, where tired to make living
by keeping boarders, but did not succeed
MS well as I could wish, and when I
heard that great public work was COM
mencing here. and before it was done
great deal of money would be paid out
for boarding of the men, | determined
to come here, and by inquiry have found
the way, but on arrival find that the COM
pany employing the men boards them
itself, and that, as you are the head man,
/ must come to you or will have come
in vain, and won't know what to do for
myself and these little ones. What /
want is chance to keep one of your
boarding houses"
"My good woman, replied, "I con-
troll only those where fifty rough men
are housed together and family is paid
to cook for them, of which the husband
is the main element to keep order. You,
surely, as an unprotected woman, and
the mother of these nice girls, would not
wish to go into such quarters as that"
''Oh," said she, eff You will give me
q chance with my own countrymen, they
will not harm me, or mine, | am sure,
and you need not pay me wages till you
see how we'll l can merit them, and |
will meanwhile be earning the bread
which we will honestly eat of your
stores, and that is what need to do
without delay"
"But," said /, "these children will
require more or less of your time and
attention, and for you to care for them
and attend TO providing food aud clean
berths for fifty mon, is simply impossi-
bio. Even if you were willing to under
take it, | would not consent to have
yeu, ont of respect for your sex in gen
eT"l, and for your welfare aud that OF
these bright children in particular.
ooh" said the widow, "these children
can and will work and help, instead of
hinder me, rs you will see if you only
give us chance"
But shook my head moro and more
decidedly. and rs the widow saw the
tide turning against her with increasing
force, bright thought lit up her face;
and she made motions to bring forth
something slowed away III the bosom
of her dress. Exclaiming: 'f you
had only known Mr.. Phelan, and what a
good character he had; and how high he
was respected by the great men in his
own country, you would not deny the
cry of his widow for honest work
wherewith to feed herself and his chill
dren! Did ye ever hear of Lord John
Russell, now in the government in the
ould counthry?"
Nv reply was: Certainly, he is one
of England's foremost statesmen of this
day. but did he know your husband e.
"Ye may be sure of it," the widow ex-
claimed. sias have n certificate from his
lordship recommending Mr.. Phelan on
account of his good character, which |
/ keep near me all the while that / may
never LOSE it. Would You like to see
| itF'
/ "Oh, yes" replied, "the signature
I of such noted man as Lord Russell, /.
well worth examining as a matter of Gu
riosity.'
In due time the widow drew forth hel
/ guarded treasure in the shape of a pack
age having many wraps from which
when unfoldel, dropped sheet of letter
paper with printed heading, which she
picked up and handed me as reverent
] ly as one would hand q prayerb book to
worshiper in church.
CHANGING my eye over it, found it tC
read substantially as follows:
Estates OF Lord J. Russell
...... County, Ireland
.......... 1852