The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-03
And that old man was bright and

hope had fed and he knew that he
would never again rise up and walk.
Life, even to him, had not lost all its
joy and beauty. Upon Ida he rested for
almost all aid, for the younger sisters
were too small to render much assist
ance. Into her mind and soul he in
stilled love for the beautiful, discern
IDLE in so many varied forms in the
wild mountain scenery around their pic
turesque though humble home. Like
the sunfower which grows SO luxuri-
antly in this southern cline, his bed
was always wheeled around so that he
could see the morning sunlight as it
streamed in through the door facing tho
east and again, when the sun went
down behind the mountain in the west,
he loved for the last rays to fall in all
their golden glory upon his head. Often
when the moon was flooding noun
tain and stream and valley with mel
low light he would ask Ida to wheel
his bed near the open door, and then,
with her hand in his, they would look
down the beautiful valley and see the
winding streamlet, with its banks lined
with Towering ivy and laurel, looking
like ghostly sentinels keeping silent
watch over their mountain home. And
they thanked God for it all.
Captain Hall had done what he could
with his imperfect education to give Ida
some knowledge of books, as the we'll
thumbed volumes on the shelf testified.
While her language was rude and i'm
perfect and her information very linn
tied, yet aspirations had been kindled
in the heart of this child of the forest
which she herself scarcely knew. Her
life of toll, so hard for one of her sex
and tender years, was sweetened by
those longings which had begun to
spring III her soul. She drew inspiration
from all the objects around her-thc
grand old mountains, the thickly wood
ed forests, the cooling dove and the frisk-
ing squirrel, the bubbling spring and
the running brook.
Mr. Slade had fastened his horse to
the vehicle and was ready to depart as
Ida came down to the ford of the brook,
and whistling for the OK was preparing
toreturn to her blowing on the hillside.
Ida, " he said, chow would you like
TO go 10 school ana learn -
go to SCHOOL," she interrupted Her
blue eyes kindled as she continued,
ASK me if l like to drink out of this
spring when 1 am athirst, or to eat
bread and honey when l am a-hungry
Go to school! But
But WHAT"
whats the use of talkin, mister:
Are you a schoolkeeper?"
eyes. I am teaching school across the
mountains, down in the Hiawassee val
ley. If you would like to co.
'Tain't no use to talk about it,
and her voice had ring of sadness in
1T can't leave pap and Old Spot"
Mr. Slade babe goodby to the noun.
tain girl but his mind was made up
Providence was opening the way.
The first opportunity after his return
home he paid visit to DR.. Baker, the
kind hearted physician who had be-
friended the Hales in their sickness and
distress. Of his scanty enthusiastically
for family of 12-he had given liberal
ly to the stricken family. His profess
sional services and the needed medicines
were never charged for, and under the
righteous pretense of selling the baskets
and mats made by the feeble fingers of
the old paralytic many dime and
quarter found their way over the noun
tain to the little cabin by the spring.
Never have | seen mortal being
bear his sufferings more patiently than
Captain Hale. He's always as cheerful
as cricket, no matter if there isn't
crumb of bread nor scrap of meat in
the house, said DIR. Baker in explain
Ing the situation of the family to Mr..
6lade.
LAS to Ida," he added, "she's as
bright and as pretty as picture. If she
had the chance of good education, pro-
lessor, she would be queen among wo.
men, or my name is not Billy Baker"
Il intend to give her the chance"
said Mr. Slade, with decision.
1t was soon arranged, One of DR..
Bakers tenants was to go over and take
,are of the little farm and the helpless
family, while Ida was to be taken into
Mr.. Shades school and given the best
opportunities of obtaining a finished
education. Good Mrs. Baker volunteer
GU W iiO iltI up Will WuIuIODt WlllCll
would answer for present emergencies.
Ten days after his first visit Mr.. Sladc
was again drinking from the gourd
which hung on the broken twig by the
side of the mountain spring.
AS Ida came across the brook, follow
ing Old Spot from the cornfield, she met
him.
"Howdy, Mr.. Slade?" she joyfully ex-
claimed. "What you come for?"
''For you. "
"For me? What for, Mr.. Slade?"
'To carry you back with me to
school "
''But | can't go. l can't leave pap
and Old Spot and the children.
Her lips quivered, and the tears came
Eyes, you can, said Mr.. Slade, ''for
a man has come with me for the pur-
pose of renting the farm. He will stay
and take care Of Old Spot and your ia
Their and the children. -
Her whole face shone with joy.
"a kind friend - he continued "has