Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-09-10
M | s c E L L A N Y.
THE BOYS WILL LAUGH AT NE.
From Arthur's Ladies' Home Journal.
BY VIRGINIA +. TOWNSEND.

ten dollars! the boys would laugh at me for a
month !" and Robert Scranton wound the Irvine
nervously around the end of his fishing rod,
and his face flushed away up into the roots of
his brown hair, at the thought of his compan-
ions ridicule.
"Well, Robert, l think quite likely they
would" said Aunt Jane, in her quiet, earnest
way glancing up from the tassel she was sew
ing on her nephew's cap. "People in all ages
have generally found plenty to laugh at them
for doing good deeds; but Mary Pratt is poor
little girl younger, by four years, than you, and
she's been sick for three weeks with the scarlet
fever, and shut up in that little dark bedroom
from all the light and beauty of the Summer
and her mother takes in plain sewing and can't
afford to keep horse, so | thought, as you
were going to ride down to Pixies creek, it
would do the delicate little girl more good than
you can imagine, to carry her over to her
Grandma's, who lives only half a mile beyond.
But l leave you to decide which would be more
manly, to do good act to a sickly little child
who hasn't any father to take care of her, or to
deny her all the pleasure and benefit of ride,
just because you fear the laughter of your
schoolmates."
Here Aunt Jane returned to her sewing, and
there fell long silence betwixt her and her
nephew, Robert Scranton but the lady knew
Mhut tuOuSulS NtIt at NOIh III tnt OOl ) SOUL,
as he turned uneasily in his chair, and drummed
on the table, and made knots in the Irvine.
Robert Scranton was not quite thirteen: his
father was dead and his mother was an invalid,
travelling for her health so the boy had come
up into the country to pass year with his
Aunt Jane, and to attend the village academy.
He was a bright eager, outspoken boy, a
great favorite with his schoolmatcs and indeed
with everybody; but brave and fearless as he
seemed, he was very sensitive to ridicule, and
had an almost morbid dread Of being laughed
at by the boys, and this feeling. unsupported by
himself, sometimes made of Robert Scranton
that pitful thing moral c0pdrd!
But there were springs of warm, generous
feeling in the boys soul, and his aunt had
lea he'd one of these when she told him the
there went on sharp conflict between his
cowardicc and his kind heartedness; but at
last his brow suddenly frightened he brought
down his hand heavily on the table, then sprang
up, and went out into the garden, and his aunt
bent with dim eyes over her sewing, and thank
ed God.
She came shyy into the sitting room, little
pale, sunburnt child; but her eyes sparkled
joyfully out of her sharpened face, as she went
up to Roberts aunt, and said in her glad, lisp
ing voice: "Now Robert came over to our
house this morning, and said was to go ridin'
on horseback to Grandmas, if I'd be here BY
two O'Clock" and she brushed the strings of her
straw bonnet, and smoothed the folds of the
snowy white apron in which her mother had
dressed her for the occasion.
"Well DEAR that will be very nice, indeed,
won't it," This was all Mrs. Ingham said, for
just then her nephew entered the room, and she
was judicious woman, and knew that Robert
would not wish any notice taken of his gene
rosity.
But she watched from her window, when the
boy lifted the little GIRL and set her carefully on
the great grey horse, and then, taking good
care of his fishing rod, sprang on behind her.
As the animal started, the child gave quick
shrek; "Oh, I'm afraid ?" she said sit makes
me so dizzy" and the little pale face was turned
appealingly to the boy.
His heart warmed towards her. "Oh,
don't be afraid now | won't let him hurt YOU
Lean right against me, and take tight hold of
my arms"
And she leaned her little head against his
shoulder, and seized his arm in her small hands,
and so secured she grew fearless, and at length
fairly broke into shrek of laughter at the de-
lghtful motion.
Robert was greatly amused. "You like to
ride, don't you?"
"Oh, l guess do, and l don't feel bit
afraid now-I like you, too )" and she flashed
up her bright, inmost smile in her face.
"Do you what makes you like me P"
"Oh, because you're so good. told mama
knew you was, when you said you'd take me
to ride this afternoon"
"Well, wouldn't have missed taking YOU
for twenty dollars" said Robert and his face
was full of smiles, and something better than
smiles.
So they rode through the still, green woods,
chatting together for more than two miles and
at last Robert heard voices in the distance, and
he braced himself up proudly, for he knew that
the ordeal had come.
What shout that was, echoing away off
among the hills, from the threats of the half
dozen boys on the bank, where the waters of
the little river gathered themselves up into a
creek.
"Oh, Robert Scranton, riding with girl II
Hurrah ! Hurrahw Robert took off his hat
and shouted with the loudest of them, though
his face was all in blaze.
"Oh, Robert, before you'd catch me there !"
exclaimed Harry Weston, as amid the shouts
and laughter the riders passed in the midst of
the boys
snow, see here, boys, just hear me minute
this little girls been sick with the scarlet fever
ever SO long, and she wanted to come over to
her Grandma's, and there wasn't ANYBODY else
to bring her. and so did, and so would again,
if all the boys in the world stood here to laugh
and make tun of me, and so would they too,
unless they wsre all towards"
He said these words out bold and fearless.
and then rode on, and somehow the boys did
not raise another shout; some of them laughed,
some OF them whstled but all in their hearts
respected Robert Scranton for his courage
In little while he returned to his compan-
ions. They had fine sport that afternoon, and
Mary drew up before the front gate.
"Oh, I've had such nice time, Mrs. Ing
ham," said the little girl, as the lady vert out
and lifted her from the horse. Sand Roberts
promised to take me over to the mill next
week"
HAS Yep" Well, Robert, I think you must
have enjoyed it, too"
"Oh, I've had capital time aunty- the very
best that ever had in my lfe."