The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-12-31

uOeS sue llNeG
"She's an old, ugly, wicked woman,
and | hate her. She's got red rims
around her eyes, and red nose; and
she's muttering, and scolding and
swearing all the time. Sometimes
when l beg for her she'll let me sleep
on bed of rags in her dirty room, but
it amt often, for | don't like to beg,
and unless it's awful cold I'd rather
sleep in box out of doors than in her
awful-smelling room it most chokes me
there"
A CHEEKY whistle was heard, and
Frank Mount came stamping in to
shake the snow from his boots. His
mother met him at the doors.
Don't take your coat off, Frank,
my boy" she said; q" I suppose you're
about tired out, but just one more call;
one to please Daisy"
Yes, sir, to please me-" laughed
Daisy, running up to her brother with
greeting kiss.
"You want Master Paul Clifton to
come over and taste the good things
is that il?' Frank asked, teasingly.
Daisy's cheeks flushed, but she an
swered good-naturedly, "No, l haven't
L
We want you to 90 to Brick street. -
"Now, Brick street is lovely place
for young man like me to go to
make New Years calls, isn't it?'' he
asked, with grim ce.
1t will be lovely in you to go, any
way" Daisy said.
And then Mrs. Mount gave her son a
message, which he listened to in mys-
titled manner, and then hurried off.
In half hour he was back again with
red eyes and hoarse, choking voice.
"The poor little thing told the truth
mother" he said; "only what she said
was as a drop in the bucket Why,
there's whole ocean of iniquity over
in that old house on Brick street. That
old woman is a regular bag. It's lucky
for her that didn't have my bootjack
with me. Such an old, wrinkled, cruel
face and such viXenish eyes l have
never beheld befoIe. She is a ragged
woman, and her filthy room is the
understanding place | ever was in.
She called that poor little Dolly all the
foul names her vile mind could think
of, and | left her with unutterable
loathng. AS walked down the dark,
decayed hallway after leaving her room,
heard gentle voice call, Young man,
young man, will you stop here mo-
ment?' Istopped, of course, and CROPPED
my way into another room, where an old
LADY, call her lady because she is
One-lay on low, but clean bed. It's a
poor place to receive a young gentleman,
but l want to make it all right about
the little girl you're inquiring about.
couldn't help hearing what Nanny
Warden said' And did she tell the
truth?' l asked. No. she said, she's
a wicked, cruel, low creature, and will
ruin the child if she ever gets hold of
her again. Dolly's father was once a
good man, but he died a drunkard two
years ago. Her mother was gentle,
patient suffering woman who died in
this old house one year ago, leaving
poor Dolly wanderer upon the face of
the earth. If | wasn't poor old bed
ridden creature, with only my little
ten-year-o grandson to support me,
| I'd do something for the child. But
you see | can't; it doesn't seem to be
Gods will That's what the poor old
creature said, mother; and l do de-
clare | never was so touched before in
all my life"
Franks eyes were full of tears,
and so were the eyes of his listeners
his mothers, Carries and Daisy's.
" Perhaps it is Gods will that we do
something for poor Dolly" Daisy sug-
gested, pleadingly.
"Of course, it's Gods will It's as
plain as the nose on my face, and that's
plain enough, goodness knows" Frank
said. Didn't he lead her to our very
door? OF course he did; and Daisy,
while you are telling Dolly that she's
somebody's child, | want mother in the
pantry a minute. Come, mother"
Frank produced a basket, and his
mother followed him into the pantry.
What do you want, Frank?"
I" | want this basket filled for that
precious old woman and her little
grandson. Didn't she teach us to re-
member the least of these?' And /
want her to know it's happy New
| Year,
While Frank took his journey to
Brick street and back transformation
scene went on in the laundry of the
Mount house. When he returned he
could scarcely recognize Dolly washed,
Daisy's outgrown, pretty clothes. |
can not mention all the scenes of
the delightful evening that followed.
To all in the Mount house it
was an evening never to be forgotten
for its joy and merriment, but to Dolly
| it was happiness unutterable and all
most overwhelming, During the happy
hours one thought stood prominent in
her mind, the same thought seemed to
drop asleep with her when she closed
her eyes in her pure, fragrant bed, and
even in her dreams it haunted her like
a sweet spirit. 1t was this: 81 am
somebody's child. "-RelgiouS Tele-
| ScOnp