The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-09-04

man had it pretty soon, anyway; and he
always seemed to read every inch of it.
Neither Mr.. Simpson nor his wife said
much to Mr.. Littlefield. Unconsciously,
Lyddy had in her mind placed her
father somewhat outside the pale of the
common interests hat absorbed her.
He was old; of course, old folks didn't
care about things as they used to care.
She herself was owe fifty, but that was
different.
Lyddy had noticed sometimes that
her fathers face had a kind of wistful,
lonesome look as he sat with his paper
on his knee after he had read it, or as
he waited for Zenas to finish reading it.
But she never thought much about
that look.
The next day he said to her that he
/" couldn't help kinder wishin' she was
goin' to that convention. There'd be
some first-rate ministers there"
"'Tain't no use for me to think of
it," she replied, shortly. "You en- go.
You amt got nothin' else to do"
"But it's kinder lonesome, never
havin' nobody with ye," said Mr.. Lit
tlefeld. "'N'you know I'm what you'd
call a sociable sort of a man, Lyddy.
Your mother always said l was real
sociable."
The speaker was standing at the win
dow in the kitchen, with his cane in his
hand and his hat on the back of his
head. Lyddy did not look up from the
milk-pail; she was washing it at the
sink. She only said, with a careless
contempt, that old folks always would
take up queer notions"
Her father stood a moment longer.
He stroked his moustache, and he
Strengthened up involuntarily as he did
so. But he was conscious that he did
not get much comfort from this caress
of the moustache.
He walked to the end of the kitchen,
where his bedroom was. He put his
hat and his cane on the bed. He moved
somewhat aimlessly about the small
room.
A large lilac grew in front of the one
window. In that lilac a pair of robins
had built their nest, and the young
ones were now sitting there in constant
expectation of the arrival of one or
both parents with worms.
Mr.. Littlefeld sat down in the chair
by the window, and leaned forward to
watch the birds. Presently the father
and mother came, the mouths gaped
and swallowed.
"They amt lonesome" said Mr..
Littlefield aloud. Pm a real sociable
man. Lyddy's mother used to say 30.
l amt one of them kind that likes to
be alone. There amt nobody nova
days that wants me with 'em."
The 1orid, still handsome old face
broke from it's usual lines; the mouth
under the moustache began to tremble
with s%elf-pity. The corded hands rest
ing on the chair arms shut tightly.
The old man sat there for a few mo-
ments. Then he rose and knelt down
by the bed. He was obliged to guard
his movements, though he was young
for his years.
He always prayed night and morning,
kneeling by his bed, but he could not
remember that he had ave prayed in
the daytime like this; and the fact natur-
ally added an Importance to the func-
ton in his OWL eyes, and he could not
help thinking that it would have the
same effect in the eyes of God also.
The uncertain whisper became au-
dible.
"Oh, Lord, thou knowest how I am stu
ated. 1 need a companion. Lord, if, in thy
wisdom, thou thinkest it best, 1 pray thee
send me a companion. Thou knowest 1
have property enough to be real comfort
able, and leave Lyddy something, too. l
pray thee, Lord, think about a companion
for my declining years. For Christ's sake.
Amen.
Just as he had said "amen," his
daughter opened the door. She shrank
back. She thought her father had goLe
out, and she came with a broom in her
hand.
She was startled. She understood
about praying night and morning, but
Lord at other times.
The old man was a little hard of
hearing and he had not noticed the
opening of the door.
He placed his hands on the side of
the bed, and braced himself, so that he
could rise more easily.
He saw Lyddy and became confused.
"Why, pa" she exclaimed.
She had vague thoughts of sending
for the doctor. When a man goes and
prays after breakfast, after having
prayed before breakfast, she felt as if
something ought to be done.
"Does your stomach seem to be out
of order, pa?" she asked.
Stomach, mol" was the response.
Mr.. Littlefield reached forward and
took his cane from the bed, planted it
firmly on the floor, and leaned heavily
on it, As he confronted the woman in
the doorway.
"T've been addressing my Maker"
he said, solemnly.
"Ain't you well as common" she
asked.
Eyes, l be-"
AT this point the old man began to
waver from his firm attitude.
" was kinder lonesome" he said,
Il IL L lO..-l4 4 :. -