Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1856-02-07
Mlistellanp.
From Putnam's Magazine for February.
Living in the Country.

Living in the Country.
The Children are sent to School-0d sliersAn Invitation
and Cruel Disappoiutnent-0ur Eldest begins to show
Symptoms of Tender Passion-Poetry-The Melodies of
Mother Goose-Ltlc Posterly by the Wayside-A caus-
aity-The Drowning of Poor Little Tommy.
We have mt the children to school, Under
the protecting wing Of Mrs Sparrowgrass, our
two eldest boys passed in safety through the
narrow channel of orthography, and were fairly
launched on the great ocean Of reading before
teacher was thought Of. But when boys get
into definitions, and words more than an inch
long, tits tiue to put them out, and pay their
bills once quarter. Our little maid, five years
old, must go with them, too. The boys stipu-
lated that she should go, although she had new
Ar gone beyond e in the alphabet before. When
K came home from the city in the evening, l
found them with their new carpet-satchels all
ready for the morning. There was quite hur-
rah when came in. and they swung their
book-kna psacks over each little shoulder by a
strap, and stepped out with great pride, when |
said, Well done, my little soldiers" Next
morning we saw the old soldiers marching up
the gardeu-path to the gate, and then the littlo
procession halted; and the boys waved their
caps, and one dear little toad kissed her mitten
atus-and then away they went with such cheer
full faces Poor old soldiers what long, long
siege you have before you
Thank Heaven for this great privilege, that
our little ones 60 to school in the country. Not
in the narrow streets of the city; not over the
finty pavements; not amid the crush of crowds
and the din of wheels but out in the sweet
woodlands and meadows; out in the open air
and under the blue sky-cheered on by the birds
of spring and summer, or braced by the stormy
winds of ruder seasons. Learning a thousand
lessons that city children never learn getting
nature by heart-and treasuring up in theil
great picture-book.
We have great times now when the old sol
ders come home from school in the afternoon
The whole household is put under martial law
until the old soldiers get their rations. Bless
their white heads, how hungry they are. Once
in while they get pudding by way of treat
Then what chuckling and rubbing of little fists
and cheers, as the three white heads touch each
other over the pan. think an artist could
make charming picture of that group Of ur
chins, especially if he painted them in thei1
\ school-knapsacks.
Sometimes we get a glimpse of their minor
is;ia MI sfataged ambitions its puny cares
its hopes and its disappointments. The first af
ternoon they returned from school, open flew
every satchel and out came little book. A
conduct-book There was G. for good boy
and R. for reading, and s. for spelling, and SC
on; and opposite every letter good mark
From the early records in the conduct-books
the school mistress must have had an elogan
time Of it for the first few days, with the OLE
soldiers Then there came dark day; and Oh
that afternoon, from the force of circumstances
the old soldiers did not seem to care about show
ing up. Every little reluctant hand, however
went into its satchel upon requisition, and ou
came the records. 1t was evident, from tin,
legion of crosses in the books, that the mi ,tress
duties had been rather irksome that morning
So the small column was ordered to deploy il
line eff battle, and, after short address, dis
missed, without pudding. In consequence, th
old soldiers now get some good marks every day
We begin to observe the first indications of
love for society growing up with their new ex
periences 1t is curious to see the tiny ilament
of friendship putting forth, and winding thci
fragile tendrils around their small acquaintance
What little world it is-the little world tina
isallowed to go into the menagerie at half price
Has it not its joys and its griefs; it cares an
its notifications; its aspirations and its de-
pairs! One day the old soldiers came home
high feather, with note. An invitation to
party, ''Master Milet's compliments, ar
would be happy to see the Masters and Mi
Sparrowgrass to tea, on Saturday afternoon.
What hurraT there was, when the note w
read and how the round eyes gstened vii
anticipation and how their checks glowed wi
the run they had had. Not an inch of the W;
from school had they walked, with that gre
note. There was much chuckling over the
dinner, too; and we observed the glow nev
left their cheeks, even after they were in be
and had been asleep for hours. Then all thu
best clothes had to be taken out of the draw
and brushed and the best collars laid ou
and small silk apron, with profusc ribbor
improvised for our little maid and a great-t
do generally Next morning left them, as
had to go to the city but the day was brig
and beautiful At noon, the sky grew cloud
AT two O'Clock, it commenced raining.
three, it rained steadily. When Ireached bor
in the evening, tlAy were all in bed again al
learned they had been prevented going to tt
party on account of the weather. "They h
been dreadlully disappointed" Mrs. Sparro
grass said so we took lamp and went up
have look at them. There they lay-thc ho,
ful roses of yesterday, all faded and one DC
old soldier was sobbing in his sleep.
We begin to think our eldest is nourishina
secret passion, under his bell-buttons He /
been seen brushing his hair more than on
lately and, not long since, the two young
came home crying, without him. Upon inv
tigation, we found our eldest had gone off W
school girl twice his size; and, when he
turned, he said he had only gone home with
because she promised to put some bay run
his hair. lie has even had the audacity to
me to write piece Of poetry about her, ant
course complied.
TO MY BIG SWEETHEART
My love has long brown eurls,