Year: 1878

The little town where the first eighteen
years OF my life were passed was in
lonely part OF the country many miles
distant from any of our great commercial
towns. | was the oldest of family of six.
and an only daughter My father was
particularly proud Of me, for | had not
only been pronounced the best scholar in
Rosedae but had for the last two years
taught our village school


How dull and monotonous this kind of
life was TO mel and how many times |
longed to get away from it all-longed to
90 where could live fuller, richer life
To my father | would not for the world
have breathed these thoughts for he would
not have understood me, but my sweet,
gentle mother was my cOnfdante; to her
laid bare my heart, and though she said
but little. l knew she secretly sympathized
with me.


1t was one of our coldest. longest win
tcrs; and, although it was now the first of
March the snow was still lying on the
ground to the depth of several feet. How
lonely that winter had been, and how
longed for some Change | did not care
much what anything was preferable to
the duh life had been leading for the last
two months.


1t was late at night, the rest Of the fam
lily had been in bed several hours; but
feeling no inclination to sleep, ! sat quiet
ly reading, when was suddenly inter
rupted by a loud knock at the door
Thinking it was some of the neighbOrs,
who had been taken suddenly i'll and sent
for my mother, without any hesitation
opened the door Great was my surprise
when, instead of meeting a familiar face,
| saw that it was an entire stranger a
comparatively young man, but so wrapped
in furs that his eyes and beard alone were
visible


"Do not be alarmed my dear young
lady; | will not hurt hair of your head,
but in heavens name allow me to bring
in my wife and child, who, fear, are dy
ing of cold "


Without waiting TO arouse my parents.
bade him bring them in at once. A
moment more, and he returned bearing
in his arms pale, delicate woman. fol
lowed by little boy of some five years
old. who crying bitterly with the cold
The lady was insensible, and l at first
thought life was extinct.


The noise of their entrance awakened
my mother; she hastily rose, with rare
presence of mind, and commenced using
the proper restoratives. 1t did not take
long to wrap her in warm blankets, and
her in bed; and then for a few moment,
we stood by her bedside, eagerly watching
for some sign of returning life


Her husband, too, almost be 5ite himsel
with grief stood wringng his hands, anC
calling upon her in the most endearns
manner TO arouse, to awake, and speal
once more to him.


But Angela did not die AS we stooC
watching her, pale glow spread over he
face; there was a nervous twitching ahOu
the eyelids; then the eyes slowly opened
and looking inquiringly about. she woulC
have spoken, but her husband forbade
her.


1T is all right love- he said; II an
with you. and we are among friends, an(
you are too weak to talk now"


And with her hand tenderly clasped il
her husbands, she soon sank into an easy
slumber, from which she did not awak,
till late the next morning 1t was ther
we learned who our weather beaten guests
were, and how they happened to come il
upon us in SO unceremonious a manner
Their name was Vernon There home
was In London, and they were on theil
way to Mrs Vernon S mother who resided
some six miles beyond us. and who was
Ill and had sent for them, They had
far they could by rail-. and
We're anxious to reach their destination
that night; so they had taken private
conveyance, and would probably have
succeeded in doing So had it not been fo
the extreme cold, and an accident whicl
occurred just before they reached my
fathers humble home.


The Nernons remained with us for
week or more 1t was some days afte
that fearful night before Mrs. Vernon wa
able to rise from her bed. But those wer
happy days for me. happy days for us all
My mother would have been kind TO tn
poorest beggar thus thrown upon her syn
pathy, but how much more so to one a
lovely and interesting as sweet Ang
Vermont


How lonely our humble home SCENE
after they left But the friendship thu
stmng ly commenced did not cease wit
their departure. ! heard from them frC
quently during their stay in the country
and when they returned 10 town. they ii