The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1844-04-22
Youths Department,
From the Boys and Girls Library.
SWs y's Go w.
BY MISS c. N. sEDGwIcK.


observing how much contentment child gets out Of
few possessions. canary bird, kitten, little
white mouse, will give little girl much reaenjoy
ment of the grazing dukes Of England gets
from his uncounted focks and herds.
One Of my favore twilight walks is over grnss-
grown road that, leading by few scattered habta-
lions through mountain pass, ia little Gcquen,ed.-
Just on tho vorge Of the mountain, in one end Of q
rckey old house lives the widow Ely and her daugh-
ter Susan. There s little garden patch nenr the
house peonies and rose bushes, and round the
door few decayed aPple-trees, The place looks
comfortable, protected rs il is by the well-wooded
mountain side from the cold winds, and with the
playing on the hop-vne that twines about the crisis
threads, passed and rcPassed before the win
dow. The widow Ely is as poor a sensible indus
trous well be in New England. She ia
very feeble, and little but that little is
SO well managed, that she and Susan live indepen-
IDENTIFY Of charity. The ladies who mstresses Of
the Beacon street palaces, would as soon think Of
begging as Mrs. Ely.
In my evening walks towards Mrs EIy's, l have
often met Susan, driving homo her COW; sometimes
unconscious that observed her, holding the animals
tail, whiskng it on side and the other, beating
time to artlcss tune she was singing. Sometimes
she alongside her favorte, pattng her and dis
coursng with her. "Hold up your head old lady -
she would say; "there's n nicer for you than
common at home Mother and had corn for dinner,
and we saved all the odds and ends FOR you. Come,
trot on dcare-- mother is Waiting, Poor old soul
how low spirited you are don't think Deacon
Bonton is half fair TO put you in that old eaten up
pasture 1t sets your teeth edge TO look ut it,
"Susy," saysl one day ovoraIing her, edo you
think the old cow understands you - Susan bushed
little at finding herself overheard; but we were old
friends and she answered me frankly, 'I don't know
that she understands every word but she has feel
ing when talk 10 her,-l am she has. Now
just look, na'um when stop and pat her, how she
stops and looks round at me and puts her head up to
my face,-poor Moody there you see She loves
me better than anybody in tho world does except
mother. Oh we have proper good times, coming
homo from pnslure,-Alooy and do''
"Does she give much milk, Susyf"
susau's voice fell little she replied. "No,
ma'am, mot much cows do But that is
all tho fault Of the pasturo,-I know it is -
"Why don't you get better pasture for herr"
"Mother can't afford to ma'am. Sometimes she
has talked of selling herr but felt dreadfully she
would not''
This summer times harder with Mrs Ely. She
had long Illness last winter, and long bill pny
The doctor. She is that, she herself truly
says, can't sleep qnietly upon debt. few days
snce called at her door and just turning round
the lilac bush that side eneloses her doorstep,
when was stopped by hearing Susan say in n ming
led tone of sorrow and surprise,
"Why, mother you haven't sold her, earnest
Tnother?" eyes have"
lis she gomez" eyes"
at is not fair" There was sense Of Injustice
evidently mingling with susans grief "IIave not
- she continued, ''pcked and sold berries enough
10 pay for her pasturing all summer' think you
might have spoken to me about it, mother. Why
didn't you %
"Because could not bear to Susy. knew you
would feel so bad'
Susan was much modified by finding that her moth
rr had tried to her feelings instead of Disregard
ing them; and when her mother said, sNow do hush,
child, and wipe away your tears. and litsen to me,
and will tell you all about t,''she ,rtnquized.
J, too, wanted to hear all about it; but felt as If
had no longer right to listen unseen; so presented
myself,and after exchanging greetings with Susan and
her mother, begged her TO proceed, and comfort
Susan if she could.
'cuSnn, Sne salu, can I reel any worse than do
about parting with the COW. My father gave her TO
me when was married she wns a hefer then
My husband died two years after, and for the first
eight years Of Susan's life, that more than half
supported US. There was not better COW for milk
in town.
"Nor half so good one for company" interrupted
poor Susy. Oh, how lonesome we shall be -
-'Yes, we shall feel kind Of lonesome" said the
mother; and observed she turned away TO wine
tear from her cheek. But we must be rational Susy
The old COW has fallen off in her milk the last two
years and could make her profitable as used TO
do.'
profitable - echoed Susan, "you would not
think of selling mother, because was not prota-
be-"
"Oh hush, Susy Poor folks can't humor their
feelings like rich To come to the real truth of
abe matter had way Of paying the doctor, bu, by
selling the cow. And now, l have the money TO pay
hm' and feel as if had done my duty; and If you
will only stop crying, Susan, and own you think /
have done right, shall feel better and happier than
have done all the summer"
Susan tried her best for resignation She began to see