Year: 1878

The old people smiled and nodded
their heads, but the young folks
looked at each other and wondered
what he could be indebted to Aunty
Lee for.


"When Twas a boy" the Major be-
gan, "I was bound out in H to a
very, very bad master, from whom l
determined to run away. 1 availed
myself of an opportunity to escape
one Saturday afternoon, wien l was
sent to the pasture to salt the cattle.
came straight over the mountain to
this place. L wanted to get out of
the State as soon as possible, so came
directly to the bridge down here at
the river, which is, you all know, the
New Hampshire boundry. Just after
had stepped upon Vermont soil 1
overlook, on the road, Mr.. and Mrs.
Lee, young people then. They had a
basket and spade, and had been
digging up wild flowers to transplant
in their garden. Although I had
been an entire stranger they accosted
me kindly. Noticing that had been
crying, Mrs. Lee asked me my trouble.
Before 1 knew 1t 1 had blurted out
the whole story and had been invited
by her to go home with them over
Sunday. / was of course only too
grateful to accept the invitation.
After supper we set out the plants
and then Mr.. Lee took me with him
down the hill to the bank Of the
brook, as we called it then, and into
his little machine shop. I soon
evinced my fondness for tools, and
confided to him an invention that
had, in crude form, long had pos
session Of my brain. Being a natural
mechanic he saw the utility Of my in
vention at a glance. The subject was
not mentioned on the morrow, which
was quiet, restful day to me. Mrs.
Lee loaned me clean linen suit be-
longing to her husband, and 1 went
to church with them. The next day
Mr.. Lee went over to H and made
terms with my master, because Mrs.
Lee said she could not allow me to
feel like a runaway. Then Mr.. Lee
took me into his employment and
gave me a corner in his shop where !
could at odd moments work at my
model. My invention proved a sue
cess and made my fortune as you all
know. 1 am thankful my friends,
that I am able to repair the damages
done to the dear little homestead and
to rebuild my friends shop;" and
Major Sandford sat down, wiping his
eyes with his handkerchief, while his
delighted audience applauded vocif-
ersusly.


Dear heart" said Aunty Lee to
me, what was he talking about
He's paid us over and over, and he's
tried and tried to make Elijah go into
partnership with him, but he wouldn't
and / would not let him."


Then followed one minute speeches
by the score. "They kept me three
weeks when was sick and home
less," said one. II made their house
my home for a week when was out
OF work." said another. Ten home
less working girls were married in
their parlor and went out into the
world with their blessing. There was
a great number Of touching little
speeches from those who had received
flowers and delicacies In illness and
warm garments in times OF need.


And so from them all flowed out
contributions Of money, the greater
part of which was safely placed in
bank for the benefit of the Lees when
old age and failing strength should
overtake them.


Dear me-" said Mrs. Evans tc
Aunty Lee, you've been lendin' tC
the Lord, and He pays the best inter.
est arter all. / never could under.
stand before; but / dew now."


"There are none OF us so poor thai
we cannot give such as We have. A
smile or kind word will even come
back to us in kind" said Aunty Lee
and we all brushed away the tear,
that we could not suppress while
those touching speeches were being
made, and went to our homes.