Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-15
M | sc E L L A N Y.
"S0MEB0DY HAPPY"

sure you've done one good action, or made
somebody happy"
"Elumph," said Harvey Lane, as he closed,
with this sentence, a very interesting little book
his aunt Harriet had sent him from the city,
81 don't believe there are many folks make this
their motto through life I'm sure / never
did" Then Harvey whose life was Just taking
hold of its thirteenth year, rose, and walked up
and down the room, whistling with his hands
behind him: for he was revolving the question
in his mind, whether he had ever made anybody
happy in his life.
Alas it was very meagre array of good
deeds which his memory marshalled before him !;
he remembered saving Mary Jones from falling
into the river one day by pulling her off rot
ten plank on the old bridges and then there
was little Hope Mathews-all last winter he
took her to school on his sled, for she was such
little Dobbin, she never could have beaten
her way through the winds, and would have
run quite risk of being buried in the snow ;
but in the latter case, Harveys conscience did
not indulge him any very hattering commenda-
tons, for he had enjoyed the matter as much
as Hope did.
The truth is, Harvey Lane was selfish bow
and like great many older and wiser people,
he was utterly unconscious of the fact, and
would have been as much startled at this an
were made of yourself
81 can take the wheat along for you lest as
well as not, because I'm goin' beyond the mill
with this load o hay"
These words broke in suddenly on Harvey's
meditations and looking out OF the window.
he saw uncle Josiah. who bore this cognomen
throughout the ncighborhood, standing in the
backyard, in his old straw hat and farmers
blouse. At that moment the "hircd man"
came along with two large bags of wheat ready
for the mill and uncle Josiah took one of
these, and the two men carried them to the
load of hay that stood just outside the gate.
Now, Harvey, like all boys, had an especial
penchant for mounting load of hay accord
lngly i'll less than two minutes, he was out of
the gate hat in hand, saying, very importunate-
ly, ''uncle Josiah, let me go down to the mill
with you, come now, don't say no.
"Well, guess theywon't object to taking on
few pounds MORE" answered uncle Josiah.
who was one Of the kindest hearted men in the
world, as he glanced at his fat oxen. In a sec
ond more Harvey was duly mounted on the hay
pile. Uncle Josiah took up his long whip, and
just then the face of little girl put itself out
side the front door. 1t was pale, pretty face,
with soft hazel eyes, and long braids of brown
hair.
"Oh, Harvey, where in the world are you go
ing on that hay2" asked an eager voice.
''Down to the mill, Annier'
GLOW | wish could go, too ~
"Oh, Annie Clark, who ever heard of girl
riding on hay load2'
Here uncle Josiah suboined, "Let her get on.
if she's mind to. You can move that bag. of
wheat and make room for her. Run Pussy. and
get your bonnet"
With cry of delight, the child bounded
away, but Harvey sat still with a lowering brow,
and his cogitatons were somewhat after this
fashion
"All the boys in the village will laugh at me.
know they will, for riding on a hay-load with
girl. l shall be ashamed to show nv face at
school on Monday morning, and l know shan't
hear the last of it for year to come. Just
won't make myself laughing stock for Annie
Clark, and If l don't go, she can't, because she
won't know the way back"
But just at that moment, the book he had
been reading, REQUIRED to Harvey's mind, and
also the sentence with which it concluded; and
then something rose, and whispered in his
heart
"Poor little cousin Annie-how much she is
to be pitied, after all now her mothers dead.
and she's shut up there in the great city nine
months III the year, and only has sight of the
country when she comes up to visit aunt Mary
She'll be perfectly beside herself with delight.
at riding down to the old mill and no matter
what the boys say, guess, Harry Lane you're
too much of man to be afraid of them or their
laughing, when you know you've been doing a
good action"
Just then Annie rushed out the gate, bonnet
IN hand, crying-"lm ready, Harvey, I'm
ready"
"Well, how are you going to get on here
you can't climb, Annie ?" asked Harvey, as he
removed the wheat bag
Uncle Josiah, however, settled this question,
as he took Annie in his long arms, and tossed
her up, and with a shrek, half of fear. half of
delight, she landed on the hay.
1t was soft mellow day in the Indian sum-
merj andas you grow older, dear little children.
you viii learn to love those days MOI than any
the year brings us. There were no clouds on
the deep, serene sky and the naples still had
tufts OF crimsonleayes clingingt their branches.
1he barherries grew thick along the roadside,
and looked like REQ beads strung among the
green leaves; and every little while the children
could hear the prattle of brook or the drop
ping OF nuts in the woods. Harvey was very
happy-oh, how much happier than if he had
ridden along with the little disappointed face of
his cousin Annie haunting him all the way
She was almost beside herself; clapping her
hands at the sight of every new object and call
ing to the blue birds and robins as thew swan
through the air and certainly it seemed to Har
vey that the country never looked so pleasant
as it did on that day.
AT last they reached the mill and here was
new wonder for Annie. They alghted, and
Harveytook his cousin through the old mill with
its bags,and barrels of newly ground flour, its
wonderful machinery, ard the old miller, "as
white Annie whispered to Harvey, "as though
it had showed all over him."
Then they went TO the sfream and sa,, Al N
waters dashing and foaming over the great wheel;
md here Annie did not sneak ona ,ua.d L.