Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1909-01-22

with It's message Of love and hope filled
the little church. And more hearts were
touched and thrilled than those only
whose heads We're white with the snow Of
many winters and who were bowed down
with the weight Of years. Even Martha
Bradley felt a sudden throb Of under
standing as she watched the absorbed
face beside her Martha's life was so full
Of a mighty effort to uplift and enian-
cipate her sister woman through nu-
merous clubs and societies, that she al
most lost sight Of the individual.
But DR.. MATHS deep eyes we're looking
past her to the pew opposite where Mrs.
Judge Wainwright sat, her small son
joey at her side. Mrs. Wainwright had
not lived very long in Bethel. This in it.
self was against her, though she did not
know 1t. Not to be an old settler was a
grave drawback among the better class
In Bethel almost lack Of good breeding.
Mrs. Wainwright was a very reserved
woman, and few people had penetrated
the reserve, or learned to know the real
woman beneath the cold manner. Dr.
Matt had been one Of the few. The loss
of her invalid mother and her husband
within few months time had only served
to make her seem more quiet and I'M
approachable than ever.
But DR.. Matt had learned to know that
a warm heart and a sweet womanly ma
ture were hidden beneath this seeming
reserve. Watching her, he could almost
read her thoughts as the sermon went on.
She had been devoted to the invalid
mother and her words still rang in the
doctors ears ooh, DR.. Matt how idle
my hand will be without herl''
| joey had made himself sick crying for
/ her, after she was gone. For you see,
I've always been used to a grandmother
| Dr. Matt he had explained " Cause
| I'm never been wivout one A fellow
needs a grandmother, DR.. Matt and now
mine has gone up to heaven to live
| seems like ! can't get along. She's go
| In to miss me, too. I know she is-at
night, mostly, when it's just twenty bill
dark an a twenty bit light and / got
upon her lap to be wocked. Grand.
mothers have got little hollow place il
their shoulder that just fits your head
| DR.. Matt 1t was made a-purpose, grand
mother said so" and his lip quivered.
DR.. Matt had only held him with hi,
big firm arm, and said nothing. But HI
smoothed the short brown curls gentl,
and Joey understood Children usually
understood DR.. Matt. And now, as hi
eyes smiled across the aisle into Joey'i
brown eyes. an Inspiration came to him
The sermon was almost over, but m
heard little more of it,
And why not?' he was thinking
Children are adopted because they nee,
surely needs them as much. l wonde
no one has thought before of adopting
grandmother It's like joey says: Ever
fellow needs one And / pity the lad o
lassie who never knows the joy of ownin
one"
AS they came out into the vestry
Grandma Silvers smiled up at him. ]
was a brave smile and he read in It tn
peace that had come to her with tn
sermon
Mrs. Wainwrights carriage with tn
liveried coachman was waiting for hel
Dr. Matt stepped quickly forward t
help her in.
Il want to come and see you tomor
row. he said, you and Joey. I've bee
thinking should like to persuade you
adopt a grandmother for Joey, and
know of one who needs love and HON
so much. Some way 1 believe Joey
grandmother would like to have you d
this-not in her place. but for her SAX,
That would be memorial more endurin
, than a granite shaft or a cathedral wiz
, dow could be. You know you wer
speaking to me last week of a memorial.
CHANGING back, Mrs. Wainwright sa'
the quaint, little figure, and caught tn
sweet rapt expression. Come and tie
us about 1t tomorrow, DR. Matt" she sal,
[ 1T may be just what Joey and ] bot
need; l don't want my trouble to max
me selfish. We shall expect you tomor
row."
r And as the DOCTOR turned back to hi
wife and Grandma Silvers, his menti
[ vision held the picture of a small figuI
in black, with waves of white hair an
! stiff little curls behind her ears and cue
1 died close in her arms, his brown hea
, I'm the hollow of her shoulder, was Joe
z -tNew England Homestead.