The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1864-02-19
Mary Allen and Her Self. Will
A STORY FOR CHILDREN

one summer afternoon, long ago, there
was party of little girls going out to gath
er b'ueberres. There were Mary and Hatty
AlIen' and Susie Lambert. and Fanny Brown
and halt GoZen others. 1t was Saturday
afternoon, and they were frisky and frolc.
some as young colts.
The blueberry pasture was mile or more
from the village, and the road was rough
and grass-grown. Only in SUNNI r-time did
the children 90 that way.
After while Mary Allen fingered little
behind, picking checkerberry leaves. When
she looked up she saw the little party had
reached place where two roads met, and
were taking the righ hand ore.
Why girlsr she cried, that isn't The way.
What are you going there for q
Yes, it is the way, answered Susie Lam
bert. 8 remember that great pine tree, and
the high rock
so do L. said Fanny Brown. and
there's the gate that leads to Mr. Henshaw' s
woods cried another. remember it Just
as p'N! Why Mary Allen, We all Of US
Know the way
Cow Mary had rot lived in the village
long. Her father moved there only the year
before, and size knew little of the country
! round, and had been this way only once
But she was always very self-conflent and
positive, and was sure now that she reuem-
bered taking the left-hand path. She was a
headStrorg child, who was never willing to
confess herself mistaken: so, with a wilful
toss of the head, she cried cut Il know
better, and shall go Just where l please
Hatty Allen, come back, and ore will take
the right road. See how pleasant it looks,
and all down hill"
She ran forward, and catching Ter gentle
little sisters hand, trotted her back, by main
force, to the other road.
The girls called after her Mary, YOU re
too lad !! Let Uatty aloner You'll get
lost : some one thing, some another. But
that same old Giant Sdf IViU had got hold
of Mary, and she would have Ter own way.
She hurried little Hatly almost crying. along
the down-hill path, and soon they were out
of sight.
The girls were quite vexed by this sudden
and foolish outburst, and very sorry for poor
Hatty. But they said among themselves
we can't wait here, and we cant follow her.
1t wouldn't 10 any good. She's 50 set So
they went on, and, by-and-by forgot their
trouble in the hurry and delight Of picking
the fruit. 1t was thick as spatter,' they
SAID.
When the happy little company had filled
toeir pals, and set out fer home, il was rear
y sunset. Wont mother We glad when she
sees what great lot I've picked y WON,
| have the blueberries and milk for supper? p
And won't Mary Allen be sorry she didr',
come with US?
So said the girls as they walked along,
aid one added l suppose Mary got home
hours ago. She ionnd Gut the blueberrits
didn't grow on that road pretty soon,l guess.
But when they passed Mr. Aliens house,
Mary's mother was LOOKING out OF the win
dow. With frightened look she called to
them: Where are Mary and Hatty"
Have n't they conc home, na'anl?' and
they told her all they hntw. But she hardly
waited to hear them through-she ran for
her husband, and, as soon as tie horse could
be harness-d, he set out with a neishbor's
son, who knew the roads, to hunt for the
stray children.
And where were they all this time?
After they parted from the rest, You can
fancy that Mary felt very cross. She made
Hatty walk faster than she was able, and
when the poor child whimpereI, she grew
crCsser still, ana drew her along faster than
ever. Bat tHey came to TO bluebergieS. AZ
tar time, too, the gtal entered swamp,
and seemed to lose itself in the spongy soil.
Before they knew it, their feet We're wet and
muddy, and at last even wilful Mary could
no longer blind herself She had mace &
mistake indeed. l. seemed d9rk too, in the
,had0w Of the thick trees which was made
deeper by the long, gray moss, that hung
heavily down from them. Now that they
stood still, all was so hushed and solemn
that Mary's heart smote her with fear.
Let us go right home, Ilatty,' she said,
whirling her round with such sudden jerk,
as to throw her down into pool of muddy
water close ly. Her head struck sharp
stick, and, when Mary drew her dripping ou,
Of the water. and laid her on a messy hilock,
the blood began to trickle dowr her pale lit
tie face. Her cries Of pain and fright echoed
through the silent forest, and sounded quite
awful to Mary, alone there with her in the
gloom.
Mamma mamma cried Hatty, and an
echo answered. mamma" TIL the child fell
into perfect spssm OF sobbing.
What could Mary do? Seit-Will, now
that he had brought her into such trouble,
left her to herself. oh, Ha.ty, do stop, DO
try to get up she said. Lets go home to
mother, and she'll make you all clean and
well. Hatty tried to quiet herself, and to
get up, but fell back crying: 'Oh l can't .