Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1848-01-13

The following, taken from the "Lowell Offer
ing" will be read with interest, we doubt not, by
our youthful readers, and we hope with profit al
so.
''Mr Atkins say Husband, why can't you
speak? Do you hear what Abby says!
"Anythlng worth hearng?" was the responsive
question of Mr.. Atkins; and he laid down the New
Hampshire Patriot, and peered over his specta-
Giles with Il look which seemed to say, that an
event uncommon deserved particular attention.
"Why, she says that she means to 60 to Lowell
and work in the factory"
"WelI, wife, let her go;' and Mr. Atkins took
up the Patriot again.
'But do not see how | can spare her; the
spring cleaning is not yet done, nor the soap made
nor the boys summer clothes; and you say that
you intend to board your own men-fOks,' and
keep two more cows than you did last year and
Charley can scarcely 30 alone. do not see how
can get along without her.
"But you say she does not assist you about
the house,
''WeIl, husband, but she might
eyes, she might do a great many things which
she does not think of doing and as do not see
that she means to be useful here, we will let her
go to the factory"
"Faher, are you in earnest? May I 90 to
Lowell?" sald Abby; and she raised her bright,
black eyes to her fathers with look Of exquisite
delight.
ayes, Abby, if you will promise me one thing;
and that is, that you will stay a whole year with
out visiting Ms, excepting in case OF sickness, and
that you will stay but one year"
81 promise anything, father, if you will only let
me go; for thought you would say bad better
stay at home and pick rocks, and weed The garden,
and drop corn, and rake hay; and do not want
to do such work any longer May go with the
Slater girls next Tuesday, for that is the day they
have set for their return?"
eyes, Abby, if you will remember you are to
stay year, and only year"
Abby retired to rest that night with heart 1ut-
terng with pleasure; for since the visit of the
Slater girls with silk dresses, and Navarino
bonnets trimmed with flowers, and lace veils and
gauze handkerchefs, her head had been filed with
visions Of fine clothes and she thought if she
CO lid only 90 where she could dress like them,
she should be completely happy. She was hatu-
rally very fond of dress, and often, while little
girl, had sat on the grass bank by the roadside
watching the stage which went daily by her ia
theirs retired dwelling; and when she saw the gay
ribbons and smart shawls, which passed like 1t
phantom before her wondering eyes, she had
thought, that when older, she, too, would have
such things; and she looked forward to woman
hood as to a state which the chief pleasure must
consist in wearing fine clothes But rs years
passed over her, she became aware that this was
a source from which she never could derive any
enjoyment while she remained at home, for her
father was neither able nor willing to crafty her
in this respect, and she had begun to fear that she
must always wear the same brown cambric bon
net, and that the same calico gown would always
be her "gO-t0-meeting Dress And now, what Il
bright picutre had been formed by her ardent and
uncutivated imagination! Yes, she would go ia
Lowell, and earn all she possibly could, and spend
those earnings in beautiful attire: she would have
silk dresses-one of grass green, and another OF
cherry red, and another, upon the color of which
she would decide when she purchased it; and she
would have new Navarino bonnet, far more
beautiful than Judith Slaters; and when, at last
she fell asleep, it was to dream of satin and lace
and her glowing fancy revelled all night in vas
and beautiful collection of milliners' 6nery.
But very different the dreams of Ably
mother; and when she aWOke the next morning
her first words to her husband were, "Mr. Atkins
were you Serious last night when you told Abby
that she might go to Lowell? thought, at first
that you were veXed because Interrupted you
and said it to stop the conversations"
eyes, wife, was serious and you did not in
terrupt me- for had been listening to all that yol
and Abby were saying. She Is wild, thouehtps
girl, and hardly know what is best to Ito witt
her; but perhaps it will be as well to try an ex
pertinent, and let her think and act a little while
for herself expect she will spend all her earn
ings in fine clothes, but after she has done So she
may see the folly Of it: at all events she will be
rather more likely to understand the value of mo
ney when she has been obliged to work for it,
After she has had her own way for one year, she
may possibly be willing to return home and be-
come a little more steady, aud be willing to devote
her active energies (for she is very capable girl
to household duties for hitherto her services hav
been principally out of doors, where she is nov
too old to work. am also willing that she shou
see IA little of the world and what is going on il
it, and hope that if she receives no benefit, sh
will ut least return to US unnjured."
''Oh husband, have many fears for her." wa
the reply of Mrs. Atkins, 'she is so very gidd
and thoughtess, and the Slater girls are as hare
Drained herself and will lead her on in all sort
of folly wish you would tell her she must sta
at home.'
| have made n PROMISE" said Mr.. Atkins
"and will keep it: and Abby, trust, will kee
hers"
Abby flew round in high spirits to make the ne
cessary preparations for her departure, and he
mother assisted her with heavy heart.
The evening before she left home, her fatht
called her to him, and fixing upon her calu
earnest, and almost mournful look, he SAID, "Al
by, do you ever Think" Abby was subdued an
almost awed by her fathers look and manner
There was something unusual in it--somethn
in his expression which was unexpected in hin
Iut which remiu,Ipu her nf her tpnchpr'a lnnk ,