Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-04-05
ROY LOST.

curly. He wore crimson plaid Jacket.
with full trowsers buttoned on; had
habit of whistling, and liked to ask ques-
tioEs; was accompanied by small black
dog. 1t is long while now since he dis
appeared. | have very pleasant house
and much company My guests says,
"Ah it is pleasant to be here. Every
thing has such an orderly. put-away look,
nothing about. underfoot,- no dirt"
But my eyes are aching for the sight of
vhittlings and cut paper on the floor; of
tumhled down card houses of wooden
sheep and cattle; of pop-guns, bows and
arrows, whips, tops, go-carts. blocks and
trumpery. ! want to see boats a-rigging
and kites a-making. | want to see crum-
bes on the carpet and paste split on the
kitchen table. | want to see the chairs
and tables turned the wrong way about.
] want to see candy making and corn pop
ping, and to find jack-kuives and fish
hooks among my muslins. Yet these
things used to fret me once. They say,
"How quiet you are here All one here
may settle his brains, and be at peace"
But my ears are aching for the pattering
of little feet; for hearty shout, shrill
whistle, a gay ira la la; for the crack of
little whips for the noise of drums, flies
and tin trumpets. Yet these things made
me nervous once.
They say, "Ah you have leisure
nothing to disturb you. What heaps of
sewing you have time forl' But long
to be disturbed. want to be asked for
a bit of string or an old newspaper; for
"a cent to buy slate-pencil or peanuts |
want to be coaxed for piece of new
cloth for jibs and mainsails, and to hem
the same. want to make little flags,
and bags to hold marbles. want to be
followed by little feet all over the house /;
lteased for bit of dough for little cake
or to bake pie in q saucer. Yet these
these things used to fdget me once.
They say, "Ah you are not tied at
home. How delightful to be always at
liberty for concerts, lectures and parties |!
No confinement for you" But want con-
finemeut. want to listen for the school
bell mornings. to give the last hasty wash
and brush and then to watch from the
window nimble feet bounding away to
school | want frequent rents to mend,
and to replace buttons. | went to oblit-
crate mud stains fruit-stains, molasses-
stains. and paint of all colors. want to
be sitting by little crib, of evenings
when weary little feet are at rest, and
prattling voices are hushed. that mothers
may sing their lullabys, and tell over Oft
repeated stories, They don't know their
t happiness then, those mothers; Didn't.
All these things called confinement
once.
A manly figure stands before me now.
He is taller than [, has thick whskers,
wears frock coat, bosomed shirt, and
cravat. He has just come from college.
He brings Latin and Greek in his countc-
nance, and busts of the old philosophers
for the sitting-room. He calls me mother,
but am unwilling to own him. He
E AYERS that he is my boy, and says that
D he can prove it. He brings his little
s boat to show the red stripe on the sail Gt
: was the end of the piece and the name
on the stern-Lucy Lowe--a little girl o.
&. our neighbor who, because of her long
curls and pretty round face, was the chos,
| en- favorite of my boy, The curl'
t. were long since cut off, and she hlsgrogr
to tall. handsome girl. How his face
d reddens as he shows me the name on thu
! boat Oh see it all as plain as if i
e were written in book. My little boy
n is lost, and my big boy will soon be
s Oh, / wish he were little tired boy in {
Z long white night-gown, lying in his crib
with me sitting by, holding his hand il
: mine, pushing the curls back from hi
4 forehead, watching his eyolids droop
J and listening to his deep, heavy breath
ing.
4 If | only had my little boy again, hov
!, patient would be ! How much woul'
. bear, and how little | would fret ant
scold can never have him back again