The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-06-10
The Meeting Of Two
OF Fate'S Currents.


AAN~RtNtNN ~4A@A AAANA ~ oKhaAhf a AE IVY 81
knowing she wished to speak Of some
thing on the shelf, took up various ar
ticles on 1t, at every one or which his
mother gave negative sign till he
came to small lacquered box, at
which she began to mutter He took
down the box, went to the bedside, put
his ear close to her lips and tried to
distinguish what she wished to say to
him. But he failed. The mother died
before she could make herself under
stood.
4 After all was over and the dead had
been laid away the little fellow closely
examined the lacquered box. 1t was
locked, and he had no key to open 1t.
Taking 1t to locksmith. he procured
key and unlocked the box, but found
1t empty.
The boy. was left with nothing and
was obliged to make his own living.
The few articles OF furniture were
4 roId. realizing only a few dollars. His
] home had always been in the country,
and he sought an abiding place and
work on farm.
Farmer Simpson agreed to take him.
He was to do chores and such light
farm work ais boy OF his age might
be able TO do, such as feeding the
stock. milking the cows and wedding.
( He was permitted to go to school for
portion Of each day, though this was
for his employers as well as his own
benefit, for little Belle Simpson, seven
years old, was sent to school, and the
boy was her protector over the two
miles between the farm and the school
house.
And so Benny Rengeralt grew up the
protector of child who came to be a
woman. Strange that her father should
not have expected that the two would
pass from the friendship OF childhood
TO the love Of youth, In truth, he never
realized that his daughter had grown
to womanhood till after 1t was too
late. Then when be began to consider
which one Of the neighboring wen to
do farmers sons she would take for a
husband he discovered that she and
Ben were welded together. They might
be parted, but 1t would be like tearing
up two clinging plants by the roots.
Nevertheless he resolved to do so.
Ben was twenty-five years old and
had accumulated nothing. Indeed, he
had never been paid anything to accu-
nulate. He was told to 60, and there
seemed nothing for him to do but get
work as d farm hand wherever he
might. But he had been an apt scholar
and was fairly well educated. He re-
solved to 60 to the city and seek
business situation. When he parted
from his sweetheart she told him that
she would never marry unless at some
future time she might marry him.
Five years passed. Ben was receiv-
ing a small salary. Neither he nor
Belle had married. but Farmer Simp-
son was as memorable as ever.
Fate works IN strange grooves.
While all this was passing one OF her
other currents was flowing on to meet
the one recorded One day woman,
seeing red flag before a house, en-
tered and found an auction. she
bought several kniekknacks, including
an old Iacquefed box. 1t was coming to
pieces, and she secured it for Is cents.
Some months after this purchase one
OF Ben RengeraIt's friends called bis
attention To q personal advertisement
which concerned him. 1T said that IL
lie would call at a certain street and
number Of d certain town he would
hear something to bis advantage He
was naturally very much surprised
and went at once to the place desig
mated. He was received by an elderly |
lady.
Are you Benjamin RengeraltT' she
asked.
II am"
aDid You ever see that bQzT point
ING.
Ben looked at the box.
'tNo." be said. Il never saw It be-
FORE
She saw that be was endeavoring TO
recall something and gave him time.
That quick springing plant memory
had taken root In bis brain, and while /
seconds were being licked away it was
growing It had been excited BIZ the
box. which he had not seen for nearly
twenty years. Again 1t stood on the
shelf over the fireplace. Then he saw
his mother looking toward Il, her eff
forts to tell him something concerning
IT. her failure
Yes he said. ut belonged to my
mother. When she was dying she
tried to tell me something about It,
but her voice failed her before she
could do 50. Where did You get itS"
II bought 1t at an auction. intending
to use It for trinkets But It was com
nc to pieces. and | tried to glue It to-
&efher Failing in this, I tried to fas-
Ia II with nails Under the hammer
ing it broke apart and revealed false
bottom See's
she took out the upper bottom and
disclosed 4 small paper book with a
humber printed on the cover. She +
npened It and showed him bis lame.
Nc was a savings bank book. There
we're deposits entered IN It, the last
having been made more than seven
feen years before. The aggregate de-
pesits were $500. The accumulated
Interest would amount to nearly twice
rs much more.
ut Is yours she said Doubtless
your mother had long been saving II
for you. I am glad to be the means
nf It's return to you"
And so It was that the mothers In