Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-08-04

interrupted the girl. w e can let
| these two poor little creatures perish
of cold this bitter March night be-
cause he hasn't any heart As for
getting to the tavern before the stage
starts again, they are not able to do
it. And, after all what would be-
come of at the other end of the route !
No, Mrs. Black, we'll give them a
good supper of warm bread and milk,
and fix them a bed in nv room for
tonight. And if your husband finds
it out and scolds you, why you may
just tell him it was my fault. I'm
not afraid of him, if you are. And
tomorrow we'll consider what is best
to do next"
Thus relieved, to a certain extent,
of the responsibility, old Mrs. Black
set to work with glad and plying
heart to warm aud feed the two poor
little children. and did not rest until
she had seen them snugly asleep on
a foor-bed in the corner of Regina's
small apartment.
ut don't seem as if | could let
them go again, Miss Whelpley,' said
the old woman wiping her spectacle
glasses. ssBut you don't know what
it is to be married"
"No, DON'T" said Regina, laugh
ing. "But, never mind, Mrs. Black,
two sweet children like these will be
sure to find home somewhere"
Old Decimus came home at the
usual hour from his chat at the vii
lage store.
Mrs. Black looked at him guiltily
as he entered.
"It's snowin'," said he "snowin
hard"
"Is it father?''
eyes. Where's the lantern ?''
What do you want the lantern for?"
Decimus writhed uneasily.
81 stopped at the tavern, an they
told me the stage went back empty"
''Did it, father?'' in low voice.
can 1 feel sort of uneasy to think
what can have become O them chill
1ren," unwillingly admitted the old
man. 81 dare say fort't, I can't get
the look of that boy outen my head.
It's jes the way John James used to
Iook at me.-John James had dread |
full pleasant eyes. Help me to s'arch
for the lantern, mother. [ must go |
out and hunt the children up. [ wish
TO goodness I'd never sent 'em away"
At that moment the door at the
loot of the stairs opened. Regina
Whelpley stood there with flushed |
cheeks and shining eyes.
eff you really mean that Mr..
Black" said she, "Providence has
been kinder to you than you had any
light to expect. Light the candle,
Mrs. Black. Show him where the
Door creatures are. l found them
covering under a stone fence, Mr..
Black, and l brought them here on
ny own responsibility. Look! '
She held the candle high above her
lead. Old Decimus leaned forward,
md for the first time in her life, Mrs.
Black saw a big tear plash down
rom his dim eyes on the blue plaid
overlet.
81 am glad ont" said he, "Pm
lad ont! It's a bitter March night,
nd the snow is falling as 1 never
moved it to fall afore in March and
f them little ones had perished-"
His voice broke down; he turned
lis face away.
"Father,' pleaded the old woman,
oming close to him and putting one
hand appealing on his arm
they may stay here mayn't they?"
eyes," he answered, in a husky
dice; "they may stay here
SO the little wanderers found a
ONE after all, and, to judge by pop
lar report, not an unpleasant one.
"For l do Declare" said Miss
Vhelpley, the village schoolmistress,
those children rule the whole house,
My think of old Decimus Black, who
sed to think that children had no
usiness to exist, building a play {
pom for them in the barn and buy l
lg little pony for 'em to ride, and
liking 'em whenever he goes. His
cart had been frozen up tight these s
lany years, but it has thawed out at i
lst.''
SO it had In the sunshine of l
lildren's smiles, the magic influence |
{ which the Great Teacher spoke {
hen He said: '
"And little child shall lead them" l
-FIreSide COmpdnin7. {