Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-10-31
$444444444444444$$$$444 44
The Stone Fireplace.
Observation-Disclosures

seat, snail ule OIL lOnellueSS'
The cat gave sleepy attention, and
Miss Frazier shook her gently. "Of
course you don't care" she said, "but
who could have believed that snow
and cold weather would have come so
early. And all the other cottagers
have gone back to town. But can't.
MY rent is paid for six months and /
can't afford to lose it,
Once more she began her excited
walk across the floor, while the cat
went to sleep, and deadly quiet
reigned. At last Miss Frazier could
stand it no longer. She put on her
hat and coat and pair of rubbers.
Pausing on the threshold as she went
out, she addressed the cat theatrical
ly:
"Sleep on" she said, II go to seek
my fortune" and she floundered
through the snow to the gate.
The road, deep with drifts, offered
new discouragements. Miss Fraziers
long skirts dragged and grew heavy,
and at last she stopped and sobbed
aloud, II can't go on"
Help came in the person of little
man in high boots, who appeared
from the other side of the drift.
Got stuck, did ye?" he asked,
cheerily. well, you ought ter
stayed at home. 'Taint weather fer
wimmen to be out.
Miss Frazier looked at him haught-
fly. In her code there was no place
for bad grammar, and, besides as a
spinster of spirit, his reproof grated
on her.
Women can't stay in and die of
loneliness" she told him stiffiy. ~
The little man looked at her with
sympathetic grey eyes. Lonesome,
was YEP" he said. well, now, that's
too bad"
His sympathy warmed the cookies
of Miss Fraziers heart. 1t was so
long since any one had cared. The
last of her family, she had taught
school in a big city until i'll health
had forced her to resign. Then she
rented the little cottage at the I'M
fashionable resort, and had prepared
to live there for six months, hoping
for the benefits of the fresh air and
free life. There had been other cot
tagers near, but they had their own
interests, so that even in the warmer
months Miss Frazier had been lonely,
and now that snow had come, her sit
uation seemed unbearable.
There were tears in her eyes as
she stood there, forlorn and cold in
the drift, and the little man said
again, "Well, now, that's too bad.
You'd better get into the house. You
will ketch cold"
81 hate the house." said Miss Fra
zier fiercely. There isn't soul
there but the pussy cat"
81 live up at the farm" he in
formed her. I'm the new manager,
and there amt anybody there but
lot of men and colored woman to
cook for us. There's a great deal of
work, you know"
Miss Frazier didn't know, bat she
found herself listening eagerly to his
talk of Guernsey cattle, and of blue
ribbon horses, with all the rest of the
homely farm details.
The little man helped her pp the
path, and landed her on her own
doorstep safely. In spite of the Bit
ing air he jerked off his cap as he
babe her 'good-by."
Come in" she urged ooh, please
H.. hfr1 7 afo Il
it to face the pussy cat all alone"
His kindly blue eyes smiled at her.
"I'd like to come in" he said. 'Taint
very sociable up at the farm"
The little room was cherries
enough.
Miss Frazier's ginger jars and Mex
lean hats had been artistic summer
accessories, but in the gray light of
the snowy day they merely served to
emphasize the bleaLness. In the
stone fireplace was bunch of gold
en-rod gone to seed. The only warmth
came feebly from a rickety old stove
in the summer kitchen.
"Why amt you go fire in tho
fireplace?" the little man demanded
as he surveyed the cavenous struc-
ture.
II haven't any wood" shlvered
Mss Frazier. IL couldn't gel
any"
Perhaps he read in her hesitation
confession of poverty, but he did
not ask any more questions.
h. hon tn, tn, 10 h. 4
presently, and he went out, and when
he returned he was bending Atlas,
like under the weight of a great LOG
that had lain for days by the road
side.
There" he said. as he deposited
it in the fireplace, IF you will take
out them wild flowers, wen have q
fire."
Miss Frazier obeyed meehly.
"How strong you are" she
breathed.
ooh, law, yes" said the little man
II kin lift most anything"
He made several trips after thai
finding enough dry wood in the shed
to start the fire, and soon 1t was roar
ing furiously.
The black cat came and curled VI
on the hearth looking at the danes
with fathomless eyes.
"Oh, it's lovely, lovely" said Miss
Frazier. Its something alive"
II allus did like fire." said the lit
tie man. 81 came from down South
an we don't think much of stoves
there. Not fer bein' sociable. You've
got to see the flames to be real friend
ly."
81 am going to make you cup o
tea" Miss Frazier said fiutterlngly
and when it was ready she brough
1t in on dainty tray, fianked by I
half dozen stale crackers. II wish
| had something nicer to offer" sh,