Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-11
ABOUT TWO BOYS.
By OLIVER RAYMOND.

John Walters is rude, selfish boy; con-
sequently his appearance is never hailed with
pleasure by any one. He comes into the
house slamming the doors after him so that
1t startles every one within hearing; runs
past the mat without seeing it, no matter how
muddy his shoes are through the hall over
the oil-cloth that Biddy has just washed very
nicely looks into the kitchen, and calls out,
" Helloa, there is dinner ready ?"
Being told that it is not he throws his cap
down IN corner of the dinng-room, and
seats himself to whtte stick, whisting or
singing loudly as he does so.
The servant demonstrates: Mr.. John,
please don't make dirt here. have but
just done cleaning"
Oh who are you? Get out III do
as please, he replies.
The bell rings. John rushes to the table
and seats himself before the family enter, with
face, hands and hair in a very untidy condi-
tiou. He hardly waits for grace to be said
and for his father to begin to carve, before he
passes his plate to be helped first
If there is any dish on the table of which
he is particularly fond, he helps himself, and
eats as fast as possible, so as to be helped
second time before the others As soon as he
has finished the first course, he calls for des-
ert and then mutters something about " al
ways making a fellow wait"
lie swallows his pudding hastily, and rush
es to the window to tell the boys outside that
he is coming; then slams the door leading
into the hall, and stamps around there for
while looking for his cap. He comes back
screaming, " | say; has anybody seen my
cap2"
After running back aud forth through the
room several times, he finally discovers the
missing article where he last threw it.
" What shall we do with that boy ?" asks
his mother, in a despairng tone after he is
fairly out Of the house, and there is pros
pect of a little quiet.
Aunt Sarah, who has lately coae to visit
her sister, suggests an application of Solo
mons prescription; aud is told that il has
been tried. Her next proposition is, Ban
ish him from the society Of the family until
he learns better manners +" aud, being al the
habit Of speaking nothing but the truth, and
generally the whole of it, adds for he is an
intoerable nuisance"
"Oh WE'LL" sighs his mother, " hope he
will do better when he is older"
" have decided TO send him away to a
school, where he will have to walk by rule,
and where he will soon learn that the comfort
of others is to be considered as well as his
own" said the father.
Charles Walters is two years younger than
his brother, and is as unlike him as possible
He closes the door gently after him as he en-
ters, wipes his feet carefully on the mat,
hangs his hat upon the rack and goes directly
to his room.
He soon appears in the parlor, his face and
hands washed, his hair nicely brushed ami,
after speaking kindly to all, takes his book
and waits for the dinner-bell.
When it rings, he opens the door for the
ladies and his father to pass out, then follows,
aud seats himself at table when they do. |
lie does not pass his plate the first, but waits
until the older ones have been helped. III
there is any rarity upon the table, he does
not wish for more than his share. He quietly
waits for dessert, and remains at the table .
until the others rise then leaves saying
cheoriully, " Goodbye, father mother, aunty,
until como back"
I" hope you don't think of sending brother
Charlie away, iather,P says little Helen, after
he has left
p" No, indeed !" father, mother, and aunty
all exclaim We could not get along without
Charley"