Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-04-13
F." Why can't we ?"

Neliy naO toucned the rlgnt chOrd
You are a sensible little girl,
quoth Burr, patronizingly. Cling
tight hold of me"
She did as directed. Burr had
wickedly intended to give her an in
nocent wetting in the stream, but hel
confidence in him he could not abuse
Her arms clasped so trustingly around
his neck, disarmed and softened him
He could not define the new sensation
that had come over him. 1t is one
common to true manhood as is this de
pendent trust to true womanhood.
What is your name ?" she asked
when safely on terra-frma.
Burr"
"Burr Winthrop"
Eyes"
The brown eyes with their heavy
silken lashes, opened wide.
Why, | don't think you are baG
at ALL"
Il am, | suppose"
"And this is Shag ?"
"Yes."
"Dear old fellowr'
Another chord vibrated music.
ado you know my name ?"
" Nelly"
"How did you find it out p in sur
prise.
" overheard her call you"
Their acquaintance had progressed
so far. when it was interrupted by {
scream from Kate, who had taken off
her shoes and stockings and attempt
ed to ford the brook. Burr went fol
her.
Didn't I tell you that girls could
not do it y"
" Girls can do as much as boys,
replied the embryo advocate of wo
mans rights.
They can play with dolls" he said
contemptuously; "Bu t they can
swim, or climb or fight"
You are a great, horrid boy"
When | am a man, am going t.
have a ship and sail around the worlC
-Shag and l."
"Humph y interrupted Kate. "BoyI
are great brags.'
Kate oughtn't to talk So put il
Nelly. "But boys like you can dt
anything"
1t was a novel and pleasant thing
to be trusted so implicitly. Boys art
as susceptible to it as men; and it car
ries weight of power with it whicl
is not sufficiently recognized. 1t goe
a long way towards making one trust
worthy. Of course the rule is subjec
to limitations and exceptions, but il
the main it will be found true.
Burr soas to Nelly as she though
him, and with Shag she got a fast holC
of his boyish heart. Henceforth sh
was exempt from his teasing pranks
Kate was not allowed to 90 quit
"Scot-free," yet for Nelly's sake sh
escaped much. Shag took the Gu
from his master, and also manifesto,
a growing partiality. He often LEI
him to lie by her.
Shag knows you are not like 9th
er girls; and I'd trust his instinct be
fore | would mans reason"
ado you hear what Burr say,
Shag ?" and she made the shaggy hea
fantastic with a wreath of evergreen
she had wove.
do you?"
Shag says yes"
Nelly, [ don t care for girls much,
said Burr, confidently, but if ever
should when | am a man, I'll MARI
you"
Will you? ?"
THAT l will, for you'd just suit m
for a wife. Don't you ever love an
body else until you know whether
have changed my mind. You won
will you ?"
mo"
This was the informal courtship o
boy of twelve and a girl of ten. .Ha
it counterparts among grown up pee
pie?
Kate had overheard Burr, and he
short, rich laugh came in to distur
him. He blushed hotly.
One day new character was il
, troduced among the scenes. 1t hal
pened in this wise: Burr, Nelly an
Kate were on the shore tossing pei
bles into the lake, when their attel
tion was attracted by Shag's howls
|, distress. Burr, followed by the girl
ran around small point, and can
upon another boy about his own ae
who was abusing his dumb companion
1t maddened him.
"Tom Bryant, let Shag alone"
: thundered.
" Mind your business, Winthrop
Burrs muscular fist came dow
, upon Toms face in a well directe
blow that knocked him over.
2 "You are coward, Tom, to il
treat helpless animal"
(" | am not. Sooner or later |
have my revenge for this, Burr" an
: the handsome, evil face glowed dar
e ly.
e "You are welcome to take it whe
j. you can, Ton."
: ~ am afraid of that wicked boy
= said Nelly to Kate. ale said he
:, hurt you sometime"
: "He will not dare"
:, On the approach of cooler weathe
b Nelly and Kate returned to their ci
homes, rosy and healthy, with the
It memories stored with bright picture
more enduring than the works of tt
old masters. The treasures of o.
d childish hours exert over US a subt
and powerful influence that wor
@5l51 sslll g7I.