Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1867-04-24
srIcr. Gale.
\ CHECK FOR A CARPET
ny L0rIsE cIANnLER MouIroN.

Pretty little Mrs. Lane spoke coaNingly, with
her hands cla.psd on her husbands arm He
looked down at her a moment before he answered.
She had been his wife for five years, but her face
was a. sunny and as girish as when he first woord
her. Her blue eyes had scarcely shed tear In all
those years. except Che law, luxurious tears such
happy little souls weep over the ideal woes of
story book heroincs Her monthly rose in the
French window was not pinkcr than her checks
her scarlet geraninm was not dlcr than her lips
and the pet canary chirpng above the blossoms
was not gayer or merrer than the little biri-like
woman who waited for John Lanes answer. lie
smiled as he looked 40 her and brushed back bor
soft, brown hlir with ana unconscious tenderness.
" Yes, about the carpet Annie II ] thought
we needed il, J would get 10, Of course The
carpet that IS on now h. almost bright as 10 was
the day we chose it,, and you know how pretty we
both thought il then
The girlish Young wife poutel bcr dainty lip
" Wei, John, but rs been down iye wears and
IFS only nice because I've taken such nice care OF
10. % I'D been careless and let d. get spoiled
you'd have bought another without arumbling,
you know you would It's too bad. 81 I've got 90
see things round forever, just because Jon careful
Of them. Don't yop get tired Of seeing the same
thing. always John z"
" Not easily, so long as they are the same. fresh
and bright as ever. I'm not tired Of YOU ,ctn
She laughed and her pink checks flushed a
b"l H h't vdtptl- Oui' le onll "a pIus-
sells, You know. aud did so want Wilton, like
Mrs Mayue'sn
so, Mrs Mayne is the serpent in our Eden?
Wen, ANNE. give me tlll tonight % think about
t, and he bent toward her Tor his good-bye.
After be hal gone. she went into the drawing
room and took a survey Of her possessions. The
carpet was that soft many shaded mosslike green
ON which everything looks SO we'll She confessed
TO herself that it bad moro refined air than Mrs.
MaYuc's large figured Wilton which held your
gaze like toe eye OF the ancient Mariner from the
moment You entered the room BIt then. she
thought She needn't buy great, gmdy thing
and WBton was really 20 much more elegant.
SO much more in keeping with her rosewood and
brocatelle Then she began dustng some OF her
books and ornaments.
While She stood there the heard The bell ring,
and a short pariey at the door--a chiis voice ap-
plreufly asking for food, and che cooks answer
tAat to-day there was nothing 90 spare A sound
10 the Young sad voice, sort OF uncomp'aning
hopclessncss. struck her, and she stepped down
stairs just as Bridget was about TO shut the door
Come back moment, little girl She said in
those gentle tones that John liked SO well %
hear
The child turned, an eager light coming into
her face for a moment and then going oN Mrs.
Lane was acting on impulse She almost always
did; 30 was very good thing, therefore, that
most oi her impulses were sweet, gentle aud true.
Are YOU hungyY she asked, pityingy
" It dosent matter so much about me. maam.
/ could bear to be hungry but don't know what
to do for my mother have tried to get place
TO work but no one will take me. Ihey say a
child ten years old is more trouble than good
My mother bad 10 work so hari 20 keep US, and
NOW she's been sick while aod can'l work, and
we've eaten up everything. So came ont TO see
ID anybody would give me something for my moth
er. and I've asked at every house ON the street,
and everywhere they said just the same, that they
had nothing
Where do you live-is 10 hr!' asked Mrs.
Lane
"O1ly few stems, mam-three streets OF
Well then, lil 60 home with YOU, and see
'olr mother. Come into the house, while l put
1n mg bonnet, aud Bridget shall give yol some
5reai and butter aud cold meat
Mrs, Lanes sweet face was fall of pity as she
lurriedly packed basket with tea and sugar aud
bread, for the sick mother. Ihen She run zap
stairs and tied on her pretty summer hat, and
town again while the hungry girl was finishing
ler breakfast
"Come Little girl she said. What is your
iame !"
"Ellen Stanton, maami but my father always
lHed me Nelly, and So doe my mother.n
"Aul is your father dead =
Oh, yes, that's Che way our trouble began
Father died, and mother wasn't used TO hard work,
.ui She had to work so hard to keep the baby aud