The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-02-06
SELECTED STORY.
One Days Record.

lie tnOugDJ lIlle Vi CIOsslnB bue
ocean, as he was compelled to do so
every year. He was never sick; con.
sequently the sea was his place OF
thinking-his mental mill where he
ground and ground the grist his own
fancies or his own environment fur
nshed
1t suddenly occurred TO him that he
had not purchased some articles
friend had requested him TO obtain in
Liverpool. He would go to Liverpool
forthwith and there await the arrival of
the steamer.
Once there, he found it more at
tractive city than he had supposed it to
be. Like most travellers, he had in
spected the docks and then rushed on
to London.
After his second visit to St. Georges
he came down the steps with the air of
a man at peace with himself.
In the corner near the gateway he
saw an old woman with dirty garments
and basket Of apples nearly as wrink-
led as herself He had purchased some
fruit of her the day before and she re-
membered him. The good woman sur
prised him by saying: Goods blessing
on ye, sir-have we wife2"
EYES," was the brief reply.
"And little children, sir?"
eyes, five of them"
"Then, sir, be pleased to put this in
yer pocket, and mind its sayin' when
you reach yer great land of America,
though be old and poor"
Mr.. Grey took the dirty piece of
paper and fumbled in his pockets for
q shilling. The old woman refused his
charity.
"Not that, yer honor; no gold or
silver for that. It's been near my heart
this fifty year, an them as might have
minded it hev all gone, and / was
loOkin' for one who would say kind
word to me, which you did o. yesterday.
They may laugh at me eff they be
minded to, but he'd once home and
kind man and nine children at me
table,"
care they all gomez" asked Mr.. Grey.
Gail dead, yer honor. Would | be
settin' in the street if one of me own
blood was left to me?"
Mr.. Grey's sympathetic heart was
touched. After much persuasion he
induced the old woman to accept coin,
and he went his way with her legacy in
his pocket.
AS he entered the Adelphia he saw
several trunks in the hall bearing the
name of friend. His steamer had
Just come in, he could hear the very
latest news from home. Mr. Grey need
not 60 on board for several hours; his
luggage was already cared for, and he
was at liberty TO act as guide to his
friends family, who had left Boston
without any definite plan of travel.
He procured maps, marked stations,
made out list of hotels, and named
numberless things "to be done without
fall" The places to be Stunned were
marked with an x.
Thus the hours flew until it was time
for the steamer to sail for America.
Mr.. Gray found his luggage in bis state
room, and his old friend, the captain,
welcomed him with refreshing hearth
ness.
The third day storm arose, storm
80 severe that the sailors worked until
exhausted, and the captain did not
leave the bridge for rty.eight hours.
Mr.. Grey, being a good sailor, found
his way with much difficulty to the ga
loon. Although it was really midday,
it seemed like midnight. Mr.. Grey
splashed through the water on the floor
to his corner of the grand saloon, where
he was wont to sit with the captain.
He thought long and earnestly of his
family, OF his provision for them in
case of accident, and of their great JOY
should he return in safety. He began
to see the noble qualities of his wife as
he had never done before. What a
faithful, good, little mother she was,
and how hard she worked to keep her
brood we'll dressed and we'll behaved,
and how small his share of the work
had been.
A thousand tender scenes were pho
tographed upon his memory; they had
impressed him lightly at the time, but
the new background brought them out
with powerful distinctness.
"Ah," he said, "I would not be a
woman for million dollars"
Bob, the cabin boy, who was just out
side the door trying to rescue some
crackers which had fallen from his
hand, asked if he was wanted.
"No, Bob, l was thinking aloud"
"Mighty bad storm, SIR"
"Pretty rough, Bob, but please
heaven we will get in all right, with a
staunch ship and brave captain"
81 hope so, sir; but l never see dis
ship in SIGH pickle"
"We always use salt brine to make
good pickles, Rob-"
1t was a simple joke. but it sent Rob
away with lighter heart, and Mr.. Grey
continued his meditations.
1 wonder what Alicia is doingl"
he said, as he drew a long, thin case
from his inner pocket, and held it up
where the rays of the light might fall
upon it.
1t was good face, not beautiful as
men rate flesh and blood, but fine.
noble, sweet.
Poor girlie," he said, FIVE babies,
and heaps of worries and yet 80 full of
brightness. What good letters she
sends me; not word of the chafe and
fret of her daily life; only the sunny
home pictures bereft of all shadows.
Dear, brave little woman, if l ever see
her again l will make amends for my
selfishness -