Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-12-12

her foot might be infamed by walk
in the dust. I therefore entered 8
shoe makers shop, the only one the
place afforded, and bought pair OF
slippers for the poor child.
Betsy watched this operation in pro-
found perplexity. When I extended
the slippers toward her, saying they
were for her, she was dumfounded,
Intoxicated, dazzled. She dared not
take them.
Finally, as I firmly insisted that the
slippers were for her and her alone,
she seized them and fed with bound
of joy and without even saying,
stThank you'll"
s.Little savage!n thought I, "she
does not even know how to thank
anybody"
Irejoined my companions, who were
already seated around the hotel din
ing table, and we had soon finished
our breakfast, and were about to
climb into our carriage, when I felt
little hand within mine which sought
"Come, strip she said, "come!"
"And where do you wish to lead
me?"
s'To our house. 1t is very near"
I followed her. My companions
were not little puzzled. She led me
to the bottom of a narrow street.
There we paused before humble
cottage. She pushed the door open,
and we entered. It was without
floor, and contained scarcely any
furniture. 1t was dimly lighted by the
feeble rays which entered through
paper covered window, near which
sat an old woman spinning. She was
Betsy's grandmother. At our en-
trance, three little black pigs scamp
cred under her bench, grunting. In
the corner stood the lowly bed Of the
grandmother; at it's side the little cot
of the child. Just above her pillow
Betsy showed me kind Of rough
staging leaning against the wall. Upon
the middle board, covered with very
white linen cloth, beneath an image
of ST. Patrick, and between two bunch
es of white flowers, perceived-the
little slippers!
The poor child looked at her shrine
of beauty with admiration, and even
with religious awe, as upon precious
relic.
sBut you should put the slippers on
your feet. They are for you to WEAR"
said l. I could not help laughing to
see them set up as sacred objects of
devotion.
She appeared astonished, almost an
CRY. "On, never!" she said earnest
ly. ''They are too beautiful"
We slipped some money into the
pocket of the old grandma, and babe
adieu to Betsy; but she could not bear
to leave us yet, and followed us quite
to the carriage and looked after it t
with eyes full of tears as long as it +
could be seen.
=
A month later, we passed through |
the same place on our return trip, and
not see Betsy. Before quitting that {
country, TO which I never expected to
return, I wished to see her again, if
only for minute.
I sought out and knocked at the
door Of the poor little cabin.
No one opened it.
lifted the rude latch and entered.
A sad spectacle presented itself to
my eyes. Around the little bed Of
Betsy, lighted by three smoking can
lies. some old women were lneeling
and reciting prayers in monotonous
voice. Upon my entrance, the chant
stopped, and one of the old woman
arose and came to me. It was the
She. recognized me
and two large tears ran
over her wrinkled cheeks.
"Betsy,' murmured 1, where is
Betsy?'
In few broken words she explain
ed to. me that Betsy had taken fever,
md had just died.
approached the cot. The pale face
If the child wore a peaceful express
;ion. Her long black hair lay over
Ter shoulders in heavy curls, but her
beautiful blue eyes were shut. Clasp
ID in her thin, blue veined hands, and
pressed closely to her heart, were the
mage of st. Patrick and the two little
clippers. During all the time she had
,een sick, the old dame told me, she
lad held them in her hands. begged
he old woman to bury them with her.
A tear came to my eyes. I leaned
,ver the poor Irish child and imprint
I'd a kiss upon her forehead.