The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1890-10-01

you please-or the first OF next month";"
he added, catching his wife's meaning
look. "That's good moving time; and
| I'll have the roof mended, and loose
boards nailed on, and the weeds cut,
and so on, to make the place look more
presentable."
"Oh, sir, please, you needn't do
nothin' to the outside things. Gramma
an me III fix all that: We'll love to, if
you'll let us come here"
" All right: you're my tenantl How
will you move?"
"Ohl Mr.. Nolan'll do that early
one mornin.' We amt got more'n
load, an he'll set up the stove, too.
He's an orful good manl'
so he is. Well, goodnight to you.
l hope you will take good deal of COM
fort here"
The boys feet scarcely seemed to
touch the ground as he sped away to
carry the good news to his grandmother.
Mr.. Harding and his wife watched him
out of sight, and then turned to consult
about the rooms.
"They must have thorough clean
ing" said she; and some paint and
paper and whitewash will make a
world of difference.
Now Mary, don't plan how to
spend the entire years income on the
old home before the tenants even move
inl"
No one knows just how much money
and time Mr.. and Mrs. Harding did
spend; but when Grandma Wilson
came to move in she held up her hands
in amazement, and said:
Z" For massy sake it's altogether too
nice for the likes of us, BERTHE. That's
what it isl
The house was as clean and neat as
soap and water, paint and paper, could
make it. The tallest weeds had been
cut away from the windows, but the
rest of the yard was, as BERTHE had
begged, left for them to do as they
pleased with.
The furniture was old and not very
plentiful, but it seemed to settle very
kindly to the new rooms, and soon
gave them a familiar aspect; and it
was wonderful how soon everything
seemed to get to rights. But Mr..
Nolan's strong arms put all the heavy
articles in place, and then took the
boy with him to the mill, so that he
should not lose even one day.
And all day Grandma Wilson put
tered about her tiny place, indoor and
out, talking to herself, half-praying and
balf-praising, and sometimes wiping
away tears of mingled feelings as she
} came upon some old-fashioned flower
or plant unseen for years.
g Bless me! if here amt some balm,
and | amt seen bit in thirty year or
4 more. l mind how it used to grow in
mothers garden, an she used to steep
7 the blows an color my hair ribbins in
it-dreadful pretty color it made, too.
= Law! l don't know when I've been SC
7 pleased as be to see these old-fash-
a toned flowers, an agrowin' where I've
got a right to 'em. What dear
blessed boy that BERTHE is, to hum
t around and find such a comfortable
home for his old grandma! Tain
e many boys of his age-no, nor them
t that's lots older-as would adone it
but he's jest as good as gold, 80 he is
!, bless his precious heartp'
She could hardly wait till he came
e home at night to talk things over
e though the day passed very quickly
4 Mr.. Harding had been up and down the
e lane with a pleasant word each time
and at noon Norah made her appear
D ance, red with heat and smiling with
8 good-nature, and bearing large dish
filled with something hot and savory.
Some checkin' pot-pie for yez, mum
g an the missus'es compliments. She
). knowed in coorse they'd be no chance
! fer yez to cook the day."
J., The old lady gratefully accepted the
a present, and returned thousand thanks
to the missus," and then she made ;
z cup of tea and had grand dinner al
e by herself, and plenty left over fo
7 Bertie's supper.
But when the boy came he was too
v full of excitement to settle down anC
? eat right away. He fairly flew from
n room to room, up and down stairs
to convince himself that he was reall,
y in possession, and not dreaming.
= "And to think, Bert, that we've go
u spring." said his grandma. " 1t doe
seem so good to dip water out of
'. spring, jest as l used to years and year
e ago. / amt felt so to hum in no plac
this thirty year as l do now; nor S,
e kind o. cheerful sence you'n | live
u together. Now, if Il only had nice ca
of my own-what comfort cat coul
, take here!"
!, "An' wouldn't that big tree be
d grand place for swing, gramma? ~
- love to hev swing"
{ So you shall, dearie. An it beat
u all how the birds do sing up here.
y amt worked more'n half the time oil
II account of listenin' to 'em, an lookin
- about"
s. "An' jest think, gramma, if Tor
Bailey comes in drunk tonight W
l. won't hear him. Amt that good?"
y Indeed, tits; nor | amt had t
/ hear Ann wilkins an her mother'r
law quarrel to-day, neither. I tell ye
sonny, Pm one thankful soul for sec
N peaceful place to live, an it's a
~ OWN to you bein' sech good boy
~ look out for me-"
- As soon as supper was over Bel
went up to Mr.. Harding's house to n
i" turn the dish and pay his rent. Bu