The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-06-18
Selected Storp.
The Angel of Poverty Gate.

neurable disease flushing her thin
cheek. She was so small as to seem
fitted to the name which had been be-
slowed on her in babyhood by one who
had gone to the war and never come
back. Perhaps it was for this reason
that " Dolly-baby had chung to her so
long, or perhaps it was just because
lydia Jane was to heavy for the small
shoulders to carry gracefully.
She lived at the toll-gate and kept the
gate when Daddy or Tom Qor Dolly
had Tom) went to town, which they
frequently did, seeing that the dram
shop lay on their way. And it was
during one of these excursions that |
dropped in to see little Dolly.
Morning." said she, briskly, painting
from her exertion in pulling the
pole " on an obstinate traveller. Bet
teri in an answer to my query. " La!
yes. Told Tom this morning the cool
weather would soon set me straight
Why, Pm heaps better than | was last
week. Just seemed as if them hot,
dusty days would choke the life out of
me. I'm getting strong now"
There was piteOus note of inquiry
in her voice and such pleading in her
bright eyes that | had to turn my head
to avoid betraying my thought.
Why, deary me, don't you think
look better?" she persisted, when | did
not reply.
There was little offended culver in
her voice that died away into a sigh, so
l fastened to assure her that she in
deed looked much stronger. And as
the morning wore on Dolly's shyness
gradually disappeared, till she had I'M
folded her common, uneventful story
how she had married Tom at twenty,
and the good start they had, which,
somehow, had melted away; how her
mother had died and Daddy had come
to make his home with them. And
then, with slow step and trembling
hands, she went to the bureau and
drew forth some little garments, pass
ing her hands reverently over them AS
she told how short time they were
worn, and how the great heart hunger
even yet stayed with her.
mot that I'd have it back" said
Dolly. 1.-The world amt any too easy
on poor folks, but, oh! if only some
times ! could Just hold it in my arms
one minute, But I've got Daddy and
Tom" she ended, brightly, land
IuC1 lC luC bMO DCSb Ill lllC WOIlu.
'ceptin'-well, sometimes when they
amt quite themselves, you know"
AS passed them on my way home,
twisting from one side of the road to
the other, understood how 1.-The two
best in the world " sometimes became
not quite themselves, and, thinking of
that slender, bent figure standing at
the gate all day sn the sun or wind,
my heart grew hot with anger against
mans selfishness and weakness.
As the country road stretched farther
and farther behind could hear Daddy
huskily shouting, Whur, oh, whur is
all our loved ones?" and with faint
echo TOMS drunken answer hoated
back, Safe, safe, over Jordan" Over
and over Daddy repeated his plaintive
maudlin query, till the whole air seemed
ringing and sob bling and wailing with
the tones of it. And as the two un.
steady figures became mere black
specks on the road, the answer still
quivered drearily above the croaking
of frogs and chirping of crickets, " Safe,
safe over Jordan!"
l knew that Dolly, poor little Dolly
with Immortality already at her feet
would spread the table and feign not to
see their drunken disgrace, the while
she crept into the shadowy corners tc
dry her eyes. She would press an ex.
ira cup of tea on Daddy, whose thick
tongue would utter no denial. She
would linger near Tom, ready to obey
his slightest request; flushed with
shame to think that he, her own deal
Tom, should be red-lidded and uncer
tain of speech and hand. And all the
while she would be beating in upon
her suffering heart the old story OF
woman's misery and fidelity and divine
patience.
AS Dolly became more communica
tive she entrusted me with her one
great wish. {" thought if Tom could
get something to do" she said, "paint
ing or such, might keep the gate now
that Daddy is gone to Missoury, ant
Pm SO much stronger, and-and
might do something to kind of helE
along little. Toms mighty gooC
hand at paintin'," she added, proudly
turning to smile at him as he looked W
from his hoeing.
ell the way home that evening tina
phrase, I" to help along a little" KEEP
repeating itself to sort of mournfu
air that trembled forth from some for
gotten recess of memory. "To hell
along little!" And thought of til,
philosopher preaching contentment t.
the poor, and of the rich bidding tn,
poor to be glad of their poverty, sine
riches bring only veXation of spirit
and l wished that philosophy an
wealth might sit in that humble toll
room for awhile and watch the patienc
and meekness of Dolly's WORKOUT face
that they might hear forever the plant
i've, anxious tones drowning their soph
istry and hypocrisy, that they nigh
sit at the table and have Dolly befor
them, flushed with the heat of cooking
sickened with the odor of coarse food
weak with the many steps, yet con
PEELED to endure it all day after day
even unto the dreary end.
God forgive him who dwelleth nc
with poverty, yet pretends to spea
knowingly of its sharp prods aud bite
drafts; who from blooming paradis
nrafpa Of tho Eathsamane of otbar