Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1890-10-06

to go way of ever so far TO Charlton
to live with Uncle Jdcob. Do you
know him?''
''No. But how did you get there
in my barn?"
"Why, that's easy enough. When
we got to this town the ticket man
said the train would stop at the de-
pot ten minutes, so mamma and |
got off to walk around little, cause
| was so tired Of sitting still. We
walked down the road a little ways
till we came to the barn, and just
then mamma turned around, and the
cars were just going off. And my
little kitty was there in the basket,
and our trunk, and mammals little
bag, with the money and tickets, and
everything was all on the train, going
to Uncle Jacobs as fast as they
could, and mamma and | was out
there in the road. Mamma was clear
discouraged, and we opened the door
and went into the barn, and sat down
on box and just cried as hard as
ever we could. | stopped first, be-
cause | saw a little mouse run across
the floor, and | wanted to catch it,
but | couldn't Mamma said we
would have to sleep there, because
she hadn't any money. 1t was most
dark then, and we couldn t see any
thing in the barn but little bit of
hay and the box. Mamma put some
hay in the box, and ] got in and cud-
died down and played [ was little
mouse in nest. Mamma laid down
on the floor and | could hear her cry
until | went to sleep. This morning
when / woke up and crawled out of
the box, there was that little baby,
all done up in mammals shawl.
Mamma hasn't woke up yet, and |
guess she'll be s'prised when she finds
out what she has got for Christmas.
l guess / had better go back now, for
if she should wake up she might want
me- The energy with which Mrs.
King turned to her husband showed
that her mind, at least, held no doubt
as to her future course of action.
"Timothy, you know 'twould be
downright murder for US to let those
poor critters stay in that barn all
night. 'Tisn't great ways, and |
guess we can get them home with us
all right, if you will hitch up Dobbin
in the long sleigh. l shouldn't Won
der if this was good chance for an
/"
AS Mr.. King took the lantern and
went out to get the horse and sleigh
his actions showed very unsettled
state of mind. He was thinking, and
very serious thoughts they were, too.
It was clear that something must be
done for the wanderers and a shelter
provided for them before the storm
settled any heavier; but he could not
think that it was his duty to do it.
Y ct those were plain truths which his
wife had set before him. Altogether
he felt very much put out with the
world, and as he helped his wife ar
range a comfortable bed in the bot
tom of the long sleigh her interest
and sympathy for the sufferers only
made his dissatisfaction deeper.
Soon all things were in readiness,
and leaving Doxy in the comfortable
kitchen to wait their return, they
drove down to the old barn. They
found, as Doxy had said, the mother
was asleep, but it was the sleep from
which she would never awaken to
know more of pain or sorrow. The
tiny babe, however, gave abundant
evidence of life by wailing Justify. |
Mrs King took him into her arms
and her heart at the same time, and |
from that moment she felt that he |
was hers. Mr.. King was still think
ing deeply as they drove homeward |
with their sad freight. Two chileren
to feed and clothe seemed no pleas
ant prospect; and yet from the way
his wife held that baby to her bosom
he knew that this was her determine
ton. Later on in the night, as he
sat watching her coddling the little
on her knee, he yentured to
say;
81 guess | had better take the chill
1ren over to the selectmen in the
hadn't p
He received an astonished look as
she replied, 81 don't really see what
Mr.. Bates has got to do with our
children. / guess we can provide for
them a spell longer. Amt you glad
this little youngster is boy, for now
you can have son to help you carry
On your farm"
This last rather staggered Mr.. King.
The idea of this morsel of humanity,
which he could easily put in his peck
IT, helping him to carry on his farm
vas rather more than he could COM
Still it was rather an at
;ractive picture. He might live to
grow up,and what a comfort it would
De in his old age to be able to say:
"Timothy," (of course his son
should be called Timothy syop had
better look after the men this after
loon, and I'll rest here in the shade"
A son would take so much more
interest in things than hired men do,
md they could plan together how
Kings should be done. 1t wouldn't