Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-05-04
Mis- eel Ilany.
LOST AND FOUND IN THE WOODS

All ready for start. The farm horse is
harnessed to the old-fashIoned chaisa with "a
top that looks as though saying. GLOW dye
?' with many bows the whip, fitting
loosely in the socket, is making graceful
angle with the dashboard while its lash is
deludIng old Dolly into the belief that 1t Is
troublesome but feeble fly on her back.
Come, Aunt Ruthy
The childish voice echoes almost strangely
in the old house, for Katie docs not live
there katie's father and mother have taken
her baby brother on "a Journey Tor his health,
leaving her in Aunt Euthy's charge. Poor
Charlie he dId not feel well. that was GER
tain, in childish way he was tired of life.
Ills big eyes grew bigger and sadder. his
arms were thin and pitliul, and he WAS low
spirited generally. DIR. A. had come
and gone again many times. Charlie had
put out his tongue, and had held out his tiny
hand Tor DIR. A. to feel the little pulse
that beat so feeblv, until he was fairly tired.
Everybody stared at him, and wondered
what allied him Old Nurse Ryan troubled
him by putting fingers with a faint odor OF
rhubarb about them i'm his mouth, in search
of anv teeth that were on the eve OF coming
through Aunty Smith punched him in the
there Neighbor Worryiull thought his
stockings weren t long enough, and his irocks
too low Mrs Clearcold thought that Char
lie ought 10 be soused in ice water every
morning Imagine the poor little thing,
with scarce an ounce OF vitality, gaspln-
and ,hivering through plunge-5ath But
worse than all. Mrs Ncnomous InSlnuated
that 1.-THE child's natural food was not
wholesome for him There was one mad
little brother then, | can tell You.
s. all these things, instead ol DONG "the
baby any good, had only made him more
miserable and at last DR.. A., not
knowing what else to DO, prescribed "A change
of air. Charlie didn't care whether he went
t., Havana or Halifax He intended to cry
any way. So the stage, two days before the
date Of our opening, had taken him, with
father. mother. and nurse, 20 see what noun
tain air would do fo: hlm-leaying Katie
looking after the receding vehicle with eyes
So full Of tears that the horses, stage, and
sundry trees and bushes were all mixed up in
her feld of vision Bat Aunt Ruta-the
fairest and brightest of old malds-wrs at
hand to cheer her and after shutting the
deserted house, took her home with her u
The Meadow" as the farm was called,
where Colonel Prescott had lived these many
ure distinct and apart from other ENJOY
ments, as any child can testify.
And so it happened that Katie was at the
farm house-like a sunbeam glancing here
and there, and like bird waking up the stu!
old house with her childish laughter. Among
the innumerable treasures of the garrett she
had discovered a heap OF balls OF carpet rags.
cut and wound ready for weaving, and had
coaxed Aunt Ruth to make the long-dcsircd
pllrrimage t. the weayer's this pleasant
June day.
Come. Aunt Ruthy, hurry up -
Aunt Ruthy's soft voice answers: "Comlng
Kitty 3" and she herself appears in the door
way. Pale. but with the softest hazel cye'
in thc world. abundant brown hair, ilsur'
pe it, and round. and a small white hand
which she is encasing in lig driving gloyes-
such is Aunt Ruth. To little Kate she seem
very old-oh. ever so old-but 70 'SquIr
Lesson who sits and stares at her every sun
dav. she seems wondrous fair and young
Katy has heard them say Aunt Ruth Wa
thirty-and that seemed to her halls score o
years as a far-off period, and one quite beyond
the pale Of human sympathy. She had hcar'
whispers too, of Aunt Ruth = beau -
handsome Harry REORGANIZATION she loYe'
and yet never married. Katie did not know
why. one only knew IldI every ni5uV' WV
aunty had said her prayers, she looked at
lock of sunny hair and sometimes cried a
she laid it away.
Now they are off really. Aunt Ruth
drives, and Katie is busy enough trying t
keep the carpet balls in place; for at ever
bump in the road. they come rolling towar
the front Of the wagon. Down the long Ian
they 90, as last as Dolly's ideas of lrsapl
travelling will permit; then by the side q
the wood, 50 dark and cool. Presently the
com t. the forest road, where the tall tree
arch over head, and the sunshine only come
through now and then Il hunt up hit q
green moss or "A bunch of viOlets to lIe upon
Tae scared squirrels SIT leaning against thei
hushy tails but second, and then dart away
Friendly brown birds just hop aside with
'.chirrup" as they pass and in the distanc
the bark of watch dog is heard. Kat