Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-07-16
From the Friend Of Youth.
ANNIE,S STO ISY.

II
ploding all the gunpowder they could obtain in
any shape. l really do not think that many OF
them cared a great deal, just then, about the
event which makes the day memorable, the sign
inc of the Declaration of Independence. Two
of them, at least, rs you will see, showed them
selves unworthy descendants of the noble men
who purchased their freedom long before.
A party of girls, in airy, summer holiday dres-
SEES. had assembled upon the green turf or ayard
bordering upon the common, to watch, at safe
distance, as they supposed, the rough sport OF
their brothers. Annie Tracy was among them
cambolling hither and thither, as thoughtless and
happy as any child in her circumstances would
be- A small boy was firing off little battery
of squibs, crackers, &c, near by. man who
ought to have been in better business was standing
by, with his hat slouched, and his hands in his
pockets. The boy took up piece of am not
quite sure but think il was n Roman candle.
"Throw it among them girls whispered the
wicked man "itll be fun to make 'em jump"
The needless boy turned his hand and flung it
it fell into the neck of Armies low, loose-ncck
ed white dress She gave one sudden spring one
terrible scream as the fiery ball exploded on her
breast and mech and then she stood still andonly
wrung her hands in agony. The man who had
wrought the mischief skunk away in an Instant
The boy stood paralyzcda at first, with his eyes al
most starting from their sockets. Then suddenly
turning he ran in dreadful disnay to his own
home
One of the girls, at the risk 6f~fuining her
own hand, thrust it into Armies dress, and pulled
ont the fiery, sulphurous mass. But red hot bits
of rusty iron had driven themselves with the
powder, deep, deep into the blistered, blachened
flesh, and they could not be pulled out. People
crowded around her on all sides, some screaming,
some catching her to offer relief; but she shook
off every hand, only exclaiming, "Papa-papa"
Judge Tracy standing at the open window
of the town hall, chatting upon politics with
few brother lawyers, when little girl rushed up
in breathless haste
ooh, Judge Tracy, come quick Arnic is
dreadluy hurt She wants you"
"What where?"
The Judge was a man of few words in sich an
emergency, and asked no more questions, but
rushed to his child, who gave one eager bound
toward him, as though he were the only earthly
being that could help her--yet with the single OK
clamation ooh, papa! I'm killed"
He caught her in his arms without speaSing a
word, and was going to carry her at once into the
nearest house but she tried to shake her head,
and moaned "IIome-take me home :"
Then her head lay motioness on his shoulder,
and he thought she had tainted but, as he bent
down, she whispered, Don't let anybody 90 to
tell manlma-poor mammal She will be sofright-
cned."
They had now reached the door of the house.
Mrs Tracy had hardly time TO catch one glimpse,
when Annie by a great effort, lifted up herscorch-
ed face from her fathers arm, and spoke as cheer
fully as she could Mamma, don't be frightened,
mamma; it's only a little | am hurt. / shall be
better by-and-by"
"Oh, ma chiH!" exclaimed the mother almost
franticay clasping her hands together she sank
down in utter weakness.
The doctor followed close behind, and Annie
was laid upon the parlor sofa to have the wound
dressed. Her father sat by her side and held
her hands, and she bore it like a little heIDne.-
When the sharp pinchers pierced into her shrink
ing flesh, to draw out the poisonous particles of
iron, she did not scream-she shut her eyes and
lips tightly and clenched her teeth, graspng her
fathers hand convulsively.
For long weeks and months of that sunny
summertime, that active play-loving girl hy up
on that tedious sofa, suffering intensely at times,
and forbidden almost to move, on pain Of lender
ing herself deiormed for life For long time,
the physician feared that he could not, ly any
means, entirely prevent the childs head frtm be-
ing drawn to one side, on account of the shrink
ing of the burned and manged cords Of the neck.
But through the best of surgical care, Trough
her own patient obedience to orders and above all
through the blessing of God, the dear girl recov-
cred, without finding herself disigured ina way
that would make her an object of pity to pll be-
holders. Oh! it was a joy to her when tlp ban
dages removed at last, and she was permit
ted, leaning on her fathers arm, to step teebly
into the yard and see the sun setting over the
high, green hill she loved to climb She cared
little just at that moment, to know that she could
never again wear low necked dress, that her
throat must always be muflled high with a close
bnrD NVbil oil
their only daughter, preserved from defomity,
thanked Heaven in their hearts, and dared not
murmur.
One more incident | must relate to YOU in
connection with this story. The Judge had re-
solved at first, to prosecute and punish the sga-
E tor and the doer of this injury. Little Clarence
who was now old enough to speak plainly had
doubled his little fists, with swelling heart, and
talked largely about the way he would serve that
wicked boy, when he grew to be a man
Before Annie well enough TO lift her head
from the pillow, she motioned her father TO her
side, one day and as he bent down, she said ear
, nestly-
"Papa, will you promise me one thing ?"
"What is it, my DEAR asked her ahectionate
father "Can you not trust me enough to tell me
without promise ?"
f "Papa, heard you say that you were going TO
, prosecute that man and boy. Now, please not to
prosecute them, to please me, won't YOU, father ?"
, The father did not answer Immediately, his
] heart was too full; and she went on to say
"They didn't mean to do such harm and they
are sorry, am sure; they will never do so again
| Promise me, dear father, at least, if they are
, sorry p
| "They deserve punishment" replied Judge
! Tracy, "butif you forgive them, my suffering
little girl, they shall be forgyen"
' lie stopped and kissed her with tear in his eye
THANK you-thank you, papa w she replied