The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-07-10


Friend, had been very Kind. snd bad
got up small subscription among them.
selves. which bad been Of material nse.
Bot there Was no rich people lived near
them. and for the mosi part. poor Mrs
Fordham had had TO get on Is bsst she
could.
As she vas about TO close the window,
she called to the group belo~.
b. good children while am gone; and
you can have yonr tes early. and start TO
meet me directly after, And don't forget
to lock the door before you come away. as
you did last time.
oace away from the house. and fsirly
started on the lonely road along by the
beach, Fordhsm felt her tears beginning
to come Her children were not near to
ask. "Whst is the matter. mother?" No
one was near. no one saw her. save the
Crest Father above. who could and would
help her when The time came; she felt sure
OF that, amid all her troubles.
She soon dried her eyes. for John must
not see that she had been cry. aud walked
on. her gszs rowing. half anxionsly. half
sadly. over the few late sea pinks and yel.
low poppes that we're scattered on the
one hand. and the dsndelions and seeding
grasses that grew on the other, when sud
denly she became aware that syoung wo
man was approaching, and then, almost
Immediately. voice said:
Why. Dorothy, was coming to see
you'll
We're you, dear? Well, why not go on?
You will fnd the children. and shall be
back quite early. am going to the hos
pital to see poor John. | expect we shall
soon lave him home again now. And in
her hea, / the little oman added; Though
what We shall do then don't know. The
children will worry hin TO death, poor fell
owl Aud how shall be able to get him
half the nice aud strengthening things be
ought TO have, | eau not ImagInel
But she mad observed by this time that
her young cousin who had frequently
been to see her before. aud whose home
was FIVE or six miles beyond E4stbridge-
bad eyes as fearful AS her own; aud, after
they bad talked for a minute or two. she
Mrs. Fordham) said suddenly:
l hope that there is nothing the matter,
Fanny? and that you. and
But poor Fanny Gay was young -on!y
eighteen and unused to trouble; and at
ber cousins 6rst words, she dropped down
among the sfa piuks and poppies, and bo.
gan TO cry bitterly.
Oh, she exclaimed, AZ soon as she could
get her voice again, poor Arthur is so i'll.
They don't think be wii get over i'll And
you know we were to have been married
10 week. Everything was ready and :
and -ohl with fresh burst OF bitter grief,
nov perhaps ! shall never see him again
aud he is so far away and they won't let
me go TO see biml
Mother and can't help feeling dull and
lonely aud miserable. she said, the tears
over again; and we thought that
we might have Hilda and Dorrie for
awhile II you like Father is in good work
and
Oh, interrupted Mrs. Fordham. how
kind. Fanny and the children. The two
little girls were delighted at the idea Of
going back with their cousin, who helped
their mother to pack their things, and de
part, witha child holding by each hand,
On the following afternoon.
Good by. Fanny. Mrs. Fordham had
'aid Don't grieve. It's first JOY and then
sorrow, aud then joy again! And there's
more sunshine than joy in our lives. after
III. Your Arthur will soon get well again
AS cannot help thinking and you will
be Ms happy as the day is long.
A fortnight passed John Fordham was
It home once more. The irst small pleas
ires and eXcitemrnts we're over, and be
,ad relapsed into . dalness and depres-
ion. ss bis wife had feared that be
would.
1t was a gloomy autumn morning. The
wo boys had gone to school, aud bis wife.
.fter giving him his breakfast TO return to
Ter washing: but he kept saying.
Don't rnu away from me- so Dorothy
hall never get we'll il / am to be left SO
much to myself
She did not know how to spare the time
she sst by him until, by and
~. he fell into light dcze, when che
tole silently from the room
As she reached the little passage. she
aw from the open door the postman ap
He gave her one letter II
sss for her husband Who had written
0 him just nosY
The posimsn's step had aroused the
leeper. and bis wife put the letter into
is bani. .
IL proved 10 be from their new friend.
Ilbert Weldon by name. the elderly pa i
lent wi ho had still laid in the neighboiing ,
ed at the hospital at Johu Fordhsm's s re.
,oysl And thus the missive ran: ,
Come aud see me- Ihsve no one TO talk .
o. A poor young man With a cbrushed
Dot has taken your place 10 the next bed.
nd speaks scarcely word through the
hole day. Aud besides. have some ,
hing Of great. importuce tha, want TO I;
y. enclcs- postal order for expenses.
ring your wife --and come to-day.
Yours truly.
ALBERT WELDON.