The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1848-08-30


said she "l'll poison that dog +; you'll see if
| don't; and shan't wait long, either, l can
tell you. What you keep such an impudent
little beast for, don't know, without you do
it on purpose to plague your neighbors."
81 am really sorry he behaves So" replied
Mrs. Fairweathcr, mildly. "Poor Tab"
"Poor Tab !" screamed Miss Turnpenny ;
"What do you mean by calling her poor
Do you mean to fling it up to me that my cat
don't have enough to eat ?"
81 did not think of such thing" replied
Mrs. Fairweather. 81 called her poor Tab,
because Pink plaques her so that she has no
reace of her life. l agree with you, neigh
Dor Turnpenny; it is moi right to keep dog
that disturbs the neighborhood. ! am attached
to poor little Pink, because he belongs to my
son, who has gone to sea. l was in hopes he
would soon leave off quarreling with the cat
but if he wont be neighborly, l will send him
out in the country to board. Sally, will you
bring me one of the pies we baked this morn
ing? / should ike to have Mrs. Turnpcnny
taste of them"
The grabbed neighbor was helped album
dainty, and while she was eating the pie, the
friendly matron edged in many kind word
concerning little Peggy, whom she praised as
a remarkably capable, industrious child.
al am glad you find her so" rejoined Aunt
lIetty: Il should get precious little work
out of her, if | admit keep switch in sight"
81 manage children pretty much as the
man did the donkey" replied Mrs. Fair
weather. Not an inch would the poor
beast stir, for all his masters beating and
humping But a ncighbor tied some fresh
turnips to stick, and fastened them so that
they swung directly before the donkcy's nose,
and off he set on a brisk tlot, in hopes of over
taking them"
Aunt Hetty, without observing how closely
the compal ison applied to her own manage
ment of Peggy, said. " That will do very well
for folks that have plenty Of turnips to spare"
"For the matter of that" answered Mrs.
Fairweather, "whips cost something, as well
as turnips and since one makes the donkey
stand STILL and the other makes him trot, it is
easy to decide which is the most economical.
But neighbor Turnpenny, since you like my
pies so well, pray take one home with you.-
am afraid they will mould before we can cat
them up"
Aunt Hetty had come in for a quarrel, and
she was astonished to find herself going out
with pie. "Well, Mrs. Fairweather," said
she, "you are neighbor. thank you a
thousand times" When she reached her own
door, she hesitated for an instant, then turned
back, pie in hand 10 say, "Neighbor Fair
weather, you needn't trouble yourself about
sending Pink away. It's natural you should
like the little creature, seeing he belongs to
your son, I'll try to keep Tab in doors, and
perhaps after while they will agree better"
a hope they WILL" replied the friendly
matron "Wc will try them awhile longer,
and if they persist in quarreling, will send
the dog into the country" Pink, who was
sleeping in a chair, stretched himself and
gaped. His kind mistress patted him on the
head, " All, you foolish little beast" said she,
"whats the use of plaguing poor Tab ?"
"Well, do say" observed Sally, smiling,
"you are a master woman for stopping a
quarrel"
That same afternoon, the sunshiny dame
stepped into Aunt Hetty's rooms, where she
found Peggy sewing, as usual, with the eter-
nal switch on the table beside her. " / am
obliged to 90 to Harlem, on business" said
she /" I feel rather lonely without company,
and always like to have child with me-
If you will oblge me by letting Peggy 60,
will pay her fare in the omnibus"
She has her spelling lesson to get before
night" replied Aunt Hetty. 81 don't APP
prove of young folks going pleasuring, and
neglecting their education"
Neither do l." rejoined her ncighbor ;
" but l think there is great deal of cduca-
ton that is not found iii books. The fresh
air will make Peggy grow stout and active.
| prophesy that she will do great credit to
your bringing up" The sugared words, and
the remembrance of the sugared pie, touched
the soft place in Miss Turnpenny's heart and
she told the astonished Peggy that she might
90 and put on her best gown and bonnet.
: The poor child began to think that this new
neighbor was certainly one of the good fairies
she read about in the picture books. The
excursion WAS enjoyed as only city child
can enjoy the country. The world seems
such pleasant place, when the letters are
of, and Nature folds the young heart loving.
ly on her bosom A flock of real birds and
two living buttcrhys put the little orphan in
a perfect ecstacy. She ran and skipped
One could see that she might be graceful, if
she were only free. She pointed to the fields
covered with dandelions, and said, "See,
how pretty 1t looks as if the stars had
come down to lie on the grass" All, our lit
tie stinted Peggy has poetry in her, though
Aunt Hetty never found it out. Every hu-
man soul has the germ Of some flowers within,
and they would open, if they could only find
sunshine and free air to expand in.
Mrs. Fairweather was Il practical philoso.
pher, in her own small way. She observed
that Miss Turnpenny really liked pleasant
tune and when Winter came, she tried to
persuade her that singinglwould be excellent
for Peggy's lungs, and perhaps keep her from
going into q consumption.
"My nephew, James Fairweather, keeps a
singing school," said she and he says he
will teach her gratis You need not feel I'M
der great obligation for her voice will lead
the whole school, and her ear is so quick, it
will be no trouble to teach her. Perhaps you
would 90 with us sometimes, neighbor Turn
penny? 1t is very pleasant to hear the chill
dren's voices"
The cordage of Aunt Hetty's mouth re-
| laxed into smile. She accented the invita-.