St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-23
seleeted Story
r lone MOUND STATION.

6sHel'u' train toward the small de-
tue 'G 5cSSond the brown wate i..ts T.
IT, s W. soon slaked its thirst at
l'ee a%k and got under way again.
u, moment later the caDoose passea
k'a'''s s,yayed onward toward the
Z s s,,yr at the Lone Mound:
cDI''E :' neared the little depot,
a pains of a violin floated to-
tue ! i% him, Soft and sweet came the
= wa," IKE the tinkle of musical glass
~ ''I and there was in it t. ,p pathetic 1es,
r 9, l undertone, as il the player
v'D'" Striving to tell in music OF a
,S',,.srbe and trials bravely borne.
] '' T,anIcy could hardly repress an
.n "'I of surprise as he entered
i ,sD little office ana beheld the WELD.
'' Of If, tbe magic bow, pale-faced
! S,y " almost child. AS the lad
WV 'V!sonIly deposited the violin in the
', n,a box at his side, and slowly
! v vs" Keanley saw that the little fell
] lo~ was a cripple. One leg, distort-
I % JG ard shriveled, swung, a useless
~ember. Resting on his crutches
! tbc bow raised his hat.
"yol're the new agent, | s'pose,"
IVES" Keanley answered, 81 am
tse new agent. And who are you ~
6ccon.inucdkindly. The ex-agent."
10, only his SON the boy re-
'' "Ard where is your father2'
"O,cr there on the slope
The bows chin quivered as he
.oke. Kcanlcy looked from the win
.dow. On the slope Of the Lone
/. Mound was tiny graveyard. One
obIong black blotch in its midst
marked a new-made grave. The
agent was there.
@Pardon me-" Keanley said 81
did not know, My instructions
simply told me to take charge of the
Astation. supposed the agent had
4 been promoted or discharged"
4 HE was promoted " the boy said
grayrly.
And what will you do now"
KcanIcy asked, presently.
81 don't know the boy answer
ed 1--WE been thinking and think
ing, butts no use. | don't know
what to do. P'raps the superinten-
dent will give me a place in an Office.
| can write a fair hand and wire
pretty well, but | amt much on
heavy work
This last with a ruelu glance at
his cru,ches.
Then Keanley lied, and deliberate
y, too. He had no need OF an as
s>Iant, but a lightning resolve
flashed through his brain, and he
sid to the cripple:
You are Just the chap am look
my Tor. | need boy to help me"
What for?' asked the lad.
"To-to-why, to write and look
oatior things generally. OIL feel
safer to CAD about when have an
assistant whom | know can trust.
Then, too | might be sick, you
know.
The boy looked doubtfully at him.
nyou are in earnest, I'll jump at
Inc chance to stay" he said.
In earnest?' Keanley cried, in
/ pretended plque at the lads doubt.
VI course am, Do you think |
, uon a. Know my own mind, young
Inc boy said nothing. And so it
W was @'IIed' and crippled Ben became
, assistant, although there
WAS WAS not work enough to occupy
nan Of one PERSONS time.
As tae days when the breeze
d. drought from the slope the perfume
y. '1c wild yerbenas were succeeded
~ 'noSe when the snow came with
- '"'I =, ana Mss against the little de-
~ r VI, NIeanley grew more than fond
G h, ,.S niue cripple. To be sure, to
b b"n'u aud cIothe the lad and to pay
y a' n, d" occasional dollar made quite
ET s, IN each months salary, but
II ' ",n never grudged penny Oft.
L h was pay enough to witness the
"oy gratitude, and to see the lads
S Sa", Eyes following him with their
S' ols OF positive beatitude.
sv U..tl and often the violin sang it's
had aiV ,h songs. but now they seldom
~" Th ''e Pltiful wailing undertone.
do i rs iaos father had planned to
hi him justice .a to his talent by having
i'm, in 'Mausht by master of the VIC,
pIana Mow' Keanley and little Ben
Tba" 'e gu IN happy visionary way.
,oni ny were to save what money they
,aro ' q, and thus little Ben was to
3ut W '"ecoveted musical instruction,
pnG mi at best, the accumulation of
THIS Tbs went W, on slowly.
ban ny ,E pans of the two went further
time el " keanley had, once upon
h hwy, oeen foolish enough to fall
n '5IC with old Senator Hicks's
owe "'g T and she had returned the
ound b Inc old senator, when he
% so n %ow matters stood, proceeded
org 11', tl the whole affair. He even
Is 9 mn, the time when he had been
elbow u'T In OF pauper as the Young
nice. nc sent packing from his pres,