Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-06-02
HE AND SHE.
by M1ss =. S. pnELps.


They had "grown up" together, in the full
sense of the term-and that was just the
matter. They had eaten each others mud
pies taken the Group in each others snow
forts, cried out the sums on each others
states, tipped over each others ink bottles,
sopped up the ink with their mutual hand
kerchiefs, "told" of each in about equal pro-
portions, and made up in common cxu-
berance of sobs and sassafras. They had
played at lovers behind the wood-pile, been
married by the prize speaker, been divorced
by the " first base, been reunited by the
minister's daughter, and gone to housekeep-
ing in the peat swamp, at regular intervals,
as far back as their memory extended.
She had blue eyes, and never understood
Vulgar Fractions.
lie used to miss, se~that she might get to
the head of the class.
One day she braided her hair in two little
braids behind, and tied it with a pink Lutte
string ribbon at three cents yard. When
they walked home together he touched it
gently, to signify his appreciation, and she
blushed like a Mayfower.
1t could not have been long after that be-
fore she grew shy at singing-school, and was
apt to be going home with her brother In
another year, when he went to st. David's
College She cried herself to sleep, forgot to
crmp her hair, and said that nothing was
the matter,
So, of course, when he came home on his
first vacation, it all happened as it could not
very well help happening, and as suppose,
it must 90 on happening to the end of all
young things dreaming or ofold ones warning.
She sat in the choir in blue dress with
white spots, with pink bonnet and pink
cheeks, and sang in very sweet little coun-
try voice. that quivered and curled about the
pillars of the sunny white meeting house like
incense in an open field on n May day, you
might have thought--or you might not.
i He, grown rather tall, rather quiet, with
long hair, and the unmstakable St. David's
shawl, sat below in his fathers box pew
aud listened.
One Sunday it chanced that the Reverend
Mr.. Love, the recently settled and very pop
ular shepherd Of the injecting g-house," felt
moved in the spirit to preach to his flock a
sermon on Christian amity, and to suggest as
its most fitting accompaniment Hymn S57 OF
the Sweet Singer of Israel" just intro
duced).
All, you excellent mothers with Washing
days on your minds and ye fathers struggling
to keep your faith under the discovery o
Toms first cigar, do you never suspect II
your stupid good hearts, tue tears OF soiC
comfort rolling into your spectaeles as you
sing, and your souls a-glow with all the hid
den meanings Of fellowship in the one Master
whom they who love not never know-do yor
never suspect the Airtations conducted ove
that admirable hymn2
1t may be very much too bad, but it il
very much the case. 1t is quite as bad in m,
to suggest the sacrilege to your young people
Bless your indignant souls they stand il
, need Of no suggestion. Ask them. / dc
! not deny that it is atrocious in me to spoi
, the hymn for yoat 4; but that is another matter
She then, in her blue white dress, with
sunbeam struggling through a little ground
, glass gallery window upon her pink bonnet
sang;
"Blcst be the tic that binds
Our hearts In Christian lovei
Il Tho fellowship Of kindred minds
Is like to that aboyc.n
1t struck him that her voice was like in
cense now, and more like melted silver
, which was very goou iancy, py-ue-""y
and he would make note Of it against SOM
indefinite exigencies as class orator.
"Our fbars cur hopes, our aims arc one,
our comforts and our cares
faltered the little silver voice; and SO tinkle'
into this:
"When we asunder part,
IL gives US inward pain
But Nc shall still be Joined in heart. %"
And he, turning round with the audience
back to the Rev. Mr.. Love, as was the fash
ion in the Bloomsbury First Church, liite'
his face to hers, md their foolish young eye
mct--mot and dropped, and the work wa
done.-Harper's Magazine.