The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-01-22
Highest Of ali in Leayenins Po~e-U Govt Report Aug III 1889
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ABSOLUTELY PURE



She vas gentle little wcmsu. With The
hight OF . coming revelation shining 10 bel
blue eyes and the rose OF su incurable dis
esse flushing her thin cheek, Ehe vas %
small A. to seem fitted to the name which
bad been bestowed on her In bsby hood
by one who had gone 10 the war ard ntveI
come back. Perhaps it was for this res
sou that Dolly biby" bad clung to hel
so long. or perhaps il was just because
Lydia Jane Was too heavy for the small
shoulders TO carry gracefully.
She lived at the toll.gste and kept the
gate when Daddy or Tom (for Dolly had
Tom) went to town, which they freq uent
ly did. seeing that the dram shop lay on
their way. And it was during one Of these
excursions that dropped in 70 see little
Dolly.
Morning said she briskly, painting from
her exeriion 10 pulling the pole" on an
obstinate traveller. BrtterP 10 an answer
to my query. Lal yes Told rom this
morning the cool weather would soon set
me straight. Why. I'm heaps better than
| was last week just seemed as il them
hot. dusty days would choke the life out
Of me I'm getting strong now.
There WAS piteous note OF inquiry in
her voice and such pleading in her
bright eyes that l had to turn my head to
avoid betrsying my thoughts,
Why, deary ne, don't you think l look
beilerY she persisted. when did not re-
ply.
There was a little offended qulver in
her voice that died away in Sigh. so l
hsstened TO assure her that she indeed
looked much stronger Aud as the morn
ing wore on Dolly's shyness gradually
disappeared. till she bad upfolded ber
common. uoeventful story - how she had
married Tom At twenty. and the good
start they lad. which, somehow. had melt
ed away; how her mother had died and
Daddy had come TO make his home with
them. Aud then, with slow step and
trem bling hands, she went to the bureau
aud drew forth some little gsrments, pass
ing her hands reverently over them rs she
told how short time they we're worn, and
how the great heart hunger even yet stay
ed with her.
Not that ia haveit back, said Dolly
The world sin't:sny too easy on poor folks.
but. oh il only sometimes could just
hold II in my arms one minute. Bat I've
got Daddy aud Tom, she ended, brightly,
and they're the best in the world, 'ceptin
well. sometimes when they sint quite
themselvea. you know.
As l passed them on my way home. twist
ing from one side OF the road to the other,
| understood how 'the two best 10 the
world" sometimes became not quite them
selves, and thinking Of that slender bent
figure standing at the gate oil day 10 the
sun or wind. my heart grew hot with an
ger against mans selHsbness and weak
ness.
As the country road stretched farther
and farther behind could hear Daddy
huskily shouting. 'Whur. OBJ. whur 10 oil
our loved ones?" and with faint echo
Tom drunken answer flosted back, Safe, |
safe. over Jordan Over and over Daddy
repested his plsintiye, maudliu qnery. |
till the whole air seemed ringing and sob.
biug aud wsiling with the tones of it. And
Is the two unsteady figures became mere
black specks on the road. the answer still
quivered dresrily above the croakiug OF
frogs and chipping Of crickets, Safe, safe
over Jordanl
knew that Dolly. poor little Dolly
With Immortality already at her feet would
spread the table aud ieign not to see their
drunken disgrace, the while she crept into
the sbsdowy corners TO dry her tears. She
would press an extra cup OF tea on Daddy
whose thick tongue would utter 20 den
isl. She would lnger near Tom. resdy TO
obey his slightest request; flushed with
shame To think that he, her own dear
Tom, should BE- red'lidded and uncertsin
OF sperch aud hand. And oil the While
she would be beating upon her suffer
log heart the old story Of womsus misery
aud fidelity aud divine patience.
As Dolly became more communicative
she entrusted me With her onc great some
thug 10 do, she sail. painting or such.
might keep the gate nov that Daddy
is gone TO Missoury. aud I'm 80 much
stronger. AMI and might do something
TO kind Of help along . little Toms
mighty good hand 81 psiuiiu'. che sdd
cd. proudly turning TO smile at tIm Is he
looked mp from his bosirg
All the wsy home tbst evening that
phrase. 10 help along li,tle," kept re
pes,ing it.eli 10 sort Of mnnhui air thst
trem blrd forth irem some forgotten 70
cess Of memory. 10 Leip along liltier
Aad ! thought OF the philosopher preach
Jog cont-Gtmeni {, the poor. auj Of the
rich bidding The poor 10 be si.i II their
poverty. since iieLrs bfiogs ohiy v+Istiou
Of spirit sbd wish that philosophy snd
wealth might sit in that humble toll room
Ior awhile sni v.ich the piiiencs aud
meaknvss of Dolly. sorl'1at lace; that
they might hear forever the plsintisr AnI
ious iope drosniug tbsi, sophi',ry and BY
poerisy; thu, itey might all 81 The table
sed have Dolly before them. flushed ui,h
The hes, of cooking. siekened ~iih The
odor Of coarse food, vesk With Tie many
steps. yet eompslled 10 endars !, day sf-
ter day. even auto The dresry end
God forgive him sho dseIieib net siih