St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-01-16

him about his good fortune. All
they could get out of him, however,
was that it was a new process OF
purifying kerosene which had proved
very valuable. Cousin Parker's luck
had turned; and that very day, be-
mont farm at East Village, he had
returned all the money he had had
from his relatives, with interest at
six per cent.
Several years later, when the Ohio,
Bungton and Chesapike Railway
company defaulted in the payment
of interest on its stock and bonds,
Miss Perkins, whose small income
was entirely dependent upon the
dividends of that important trunk
line, was reduced to the necessity of
applying, through the kind-hearted
annual family gathering. She did
not attend in person at East Village,
but she wrote a pathetic letter of APP
peal Cousin Parker was present
(whose opinion in business matters
was now much valued by the Hon.
EnOs K. Tasker, of Boston, He
said nothing, and although now
worth considerable money" APP
peared unwilling to subscribe. A
week later, however, he turned up in
Newburyport. He went to see Miss
Perkins at her little clearinghouse.
1t was up back street, and in a
dingy neighborhoOd, for Miss Per-
kins, owing to the manipulations of
very powerful railway magnate,
was now exceedingly poor in this
worlds goods. There was still
enough left to support her and her
cat and canary in little room back
in the clearinghouse. When Cous
in Parker called, he looked vacantly
about the close little parlor into
which he was uShered.
''She's used to better'n this" he
whispered to himself. Poor Miss
PerkinsI"
Then he blushed very red, for, 10
and behold she had entered noise
lessly, and was standing opposite
him.
Il am poor, Cousin Parker, it is
true; and | want to say it right here
its taught me a lesson. | guess |
can pity those in misfortune a little
now-I guess | can feel how hard it
is not to have money and not to be
able to earn it."
Cousin Parker moved uneasily in
his seat. He felt embarrassed q
| want YOU to come home with me-"
he said, looking down. Iwant you
to come Mis- Parker wants you to
come The nine children want you,
Miss Perkins, They feel grateful"
The tears came into Miss Perkins
eyes, but she hurriedly brushed them
away.
"They know how you did when l
was in hard luck. You stepped for
ward an loaned, Miss Perkins Oh,
guess we Taskers can stand by one
another in hard luck Now come,
Miss Perkins, get ready"
Miss Perkins was quite overcome.
She fairly sobbed. An hour before,
she felt so friendless, so forlorn, so
hopeless. She wished she was dead!
They are a-expecting you, Miss
Perkins; an know you won't hate
my three boys. No." added Cousin
Parker, proudly. Fine, rosy-cheek-
ed boys, Miss Perkins. AS for my
girls-ther are only four now, Miss
Perkins, for two died-but they are
a-lookin' forward to givin' you a
rousin' welcome up there in N Hamp-
shire, an they don't mean to ever let
you go away again-no! Come get
ready, Miss Perkins-we Taskers
don't fergit kind deeds"
Cousin Parker said the prim
maiden lady, standing up, 81 believe
you have the heart of an angel"
But he only looked down, coughed,
and fumbled with his hat.-[Seymour
Wood, in Harper's Weekly