Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-05-15
MONT PHGNIX BRATTLEBORO, FRIDAY, MAY 15 1903

south, to the horizon, stretched the
undulating green plain. Miss La
vinia gazed and gazed entranced. At
last out Of her starved experience
leaped the words, "Oh. how good it
seems to sec something there is en-
ough Of" Later its power and beauty
and majesty laid hold upon her so that
when at a weeks end she journeyed
back to Cranfield she took with her
something which she kept to the very
end. and whenever the minister read
about the wonders of the deep she
had only to close her eyes to feel the
salt breeze in her face and see again
the wundrous shining vision.
In her years of loneliness she had
lOnged for a bird or a cat-anything
she could talk tO.-but the tiny eX-
pense of its food could not be thought
Of Now, as if to prove the words
ITO him that hath shall be given.
she opened her door one morning upon
a halfstarved yellow kitten. Miss
Lavinia welcomed it as a gift from
Heaven. and under her generous feed
ing and tender care it developed into
a purring ball of happiness, the very
apple of her eye 1t was an ever
fresh delight to her TO see the yellow
head against the window when she
returned from an Grand and to hear
the scamperng little feet about the
rooms that had been so deadly still.
She held long One-sided conversations
with it. and Goldie's affection and
cunning ways furnished her with a
constant theme. Life had grown
very full and rich.
So the quiet, happy days slipped
away until nearly three years had
gone. and Miss Layinia found herself
saying each morning. Il wonder if it
will come today There was no
shadow of fear, only profound thank
fulncss that lent a tender gravity to
her face and an added kindness to
her manner. The new year was APP
preaching and she felt deep longing
to gather her friends about her-while
she could. SO. some who had grown
near to her were hidden. and she
busted herself in hospitable prepare
tions. New Years day was darkened
early by Goldie's tragic death. \
stray dog fell upon the happy creature
sitting on the sunny doorstep and
shook its life out under Miss Lavinia 5
very eyes. She tried to 90 to its res
cue, but a terrible pain through her
heart and a mortal weakness chained
her TO her chair
She made a brave effort to greet her
| friends cheerfully, but their New
Years greetings seemed a moCkery
with Golde gone and they noticing
/ her pale face. left her early.
The next morning her friends
/ noticed that no smoke came from her
| chimney. and when repeated knock
! ings brought no response. an entrance
was forced and Miss Lavinia was
found lying in her bed with still. peace
ful face She had entered, indeed
upon her Happy New Year
All traces OF the evenings gather
ing had been removed, and the little
gray house was in perfect order. Or
| her bureau was a paper telling where
her will and handbook and grave
clothes could be found. and giving {
few directions for her burial
When her will was opened it wa;
found that the little house was left tC
DR. Geer. and after dividing her few
personal belongings among her friends
ii provided that the Cranfleld Baptis
church should have all that remained
! When Miss Lavinia was buried and al
her debts paid the residuary legate'
received six dollars New England
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