The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-06-03
A Halt in Mid.Prairie.
A TRUE INCIDENT.

"Can there be station here?" asked
the surprised passengers on through
Pacific express train as they came to
sudden halt in mid-prairie.
"No particular station; but crank
pins on locomotives will break some
times, as this one has done, even be-
tween somewhere and nowhere" re-
piled facetious brakeman when ques-
toned.
But people were living even in that
indefinite place, and presently the in
habitants of the little settlement just
over the swell of the prairie were loiter-
ing near, looking as if they had been
visitors from another planet.
81 wish could give this little rose-tree
a good showering with brook water"
said lady passenger to a small boy
who stood looking wistfully up towards
her window. 81 fear l have nearly
killed it wetting it with ice water"
L" 1 can wet it for you just down here
at the creek, or perhaps you would like
to come yourself for the walk. Is this
fragrant rose, please? My mother
used to tell how sweet the roses we're
that grew about the house where she
lived when she was little girl"
Yes, this is a fragrant rose," re-
piled the lady, carefully examining the
plant; but fancy it is folly for me to
try to carry it across the continent in
this tiny pot"
"You might take slip off it and
wrap it in the wet cotton, and if the
root died the slip might live."
g / will do that. l can carry it with
far less trouble. and | will give you the
plant. You seem to know about cult
waiting flowers"
"Only what my mother told me.
She said all her family were gardeners
in Scotland, and she loved all growing
things. She hoped l should be gar
dener some time; but now she is dead
there is no one to teach me to do any
thing"
Have you no relatives to whom you
can go?"
Not that know of in this country.
My parents came here before the trains
ran through, and it was said that near
here there would be a grand station,
and soon a large town would grow up
around it. Other people came and set.
tied too, for they had great hopes of the
railroad; but when it was built no one
so much as thought of our little settle.
ment, and the trains all go flying past
us like eagles"
"Can you read?"
ooh yes, ma'am, but there is moi
very much to read. have Bible and
dear mothers books about gardening"
"Well, my child, let me tell you that
your heart is a garden. Be careful
that no weeds in the way of little sins
take root in it. You will search in
your books to learn how to take care OF
the rose that l shall leave with you
and you must let it remind you tC
search your Bible for instruction as t.
the cultivation of your heart and thu
hearts of all the people in the settle
ment. When / get to the place where
l am going / will send you some paper
and books. You must not despair
God will not forget you. Now pleas'
tell me your name and that of the near
est post-office, so / can write and in
quire how my little plant and my littl
friend are getting along"
Are you my friend?" exclaimed tn
boy. Has God sent me friend
How wonderful / shall feel as if
were part of the world, since / hav,
friend in it. And will you sometime
send me letter."
"God has already made you part o
the world" said the lady, mucl
touched. "You are his child. II,
wants you to understand that and t
tell all the people here that God love