Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-08
Little Lucy's First PIaything.

Little Lucy was arranging her cupboard .
Of playthings, one day, in a very neat and or
/ derby manner, just az grandmammah had taught /
her There were her little dishes her small |
vases, and tiny set Of knives and forks, all on .
the shelves by themselves There on the /
bottom shelf were her numerous family off
dolls, some snugy tucked away in cradles
and little beds, and some sitting primly up in |
the rocking chairs or on the sofa.
Grandma was called on to inspect the work, |
when it was finished, and her warm approval
was reward enough.
wonder what my first plaything was ?'
asked the little girl, as she glanced over her
treasures. suppose | must have given it
away long ago"
The little girls life Of six years seemed
long time to look back upon.
No. said grandma, smiling, you never
gave that plaything away remember it
very we'll"
Do you, grandma ?" asked Lucy with
interest Have | got it among my play
things now 1t must look very old and soil
ed, | think, by this time. Even my last
Christmas baby begins to look musscd and
faded"
On the contrary, this has grown more
beautiful by use. Ii is not worn nor soiled
either [ believe At least, it bears washing
very woll'
50 Now, this is some puzzle for me to guess,
know. grandma, but | can't see into it vet
Please don't tell me lust vet. What color is
it. please ?n
" The first time | saw it it was delicate.
sheIl.liks mink. and was all curled up like a
Ihalf.opened rosebud. 1t is whittier now. and
grows more useful every year OF your life
Indeed. il is of very curious workmanship
There 4 nothing for sale in all the toy shops
in the world that can equal IT,"
Lucv pressed her fingers upon her brow
and Thought long and earnestly. She was
'n.e1 IN grandma's puzzles. and liked them. .-
But This one seemed little beyond her skill.
u Havc had i, TODAY ?" she asked.
Yes, great many times You took it
, to the table with you in the morning and
found il of the greatest help to you. You
carried il with YOU when you went out to pick
prandma's flowers, and when you led little
. brother out for walk. Indeed l cannot
tell you in how many ways you use this first
playtbine.p
" | think can guess it now," said Lucy,
brightly. LAYING her hands upon grandmas
lap. ~ think it must be my hands you
mean
Grandma smiled and Matted her cheek
4 al l:.1 80 ~ =. -,
softly, then took the little sot hand IN hers
e as she SAID " esi lhi9 htue manu- was your
b. first playthiug. | well remember the first
49,. - I'D; Albo family ,,,thered
tlhe you uollVou H. -A.l t"V i"uii'l b"'"N' ~
aoou' Joui H'''0 80
IL was anuouuceu thal uauY was Juat pcelu-
uinp 10 notice things You tWIrlCd aud
uHB
b. with such wonder-eyes that it made US all
.lopgb Then Won would try TO nick off one
of your fingers and when. a little after, YOU
. learned TO take and give things with your
D hands Won could not let 90 with all YOUR fin
GERS at once. How much these little hands
6avo had IN lo,rn since then and how ready
% tbcv are now IN do vonr bidding in eyery-
+ hin, If Won onlv wish n thing done they
b ohey Won Now. inst in this way nv little
girI sbonld obev her Heavenly Father. |
viii teocb Won some little lines / learned when
NO older than Won about little hands. if YOU
d ,ro,Id lilo 10 bcor tberpn
Lucy always loved grandma's hymns and
y verse. and "a sbe quickly brought her little
chair and sat down by her side These were
,e tho lithe lines grandma repeated to her. and
"a Lucv soon had them all hy heart
.t.,.,..,.......,.. .u,.
not alone to gather gold
Bgt for aoPer no 2.1, taings nm ,.5 my pet Pedtid oid
- Made 10 iold and clasp h prayer,
And to plead q goa, my pei.
f0' 'D''O' 'O'' 'DD 'D'''
fqld @ them ,, then in ll5, prayer erJ %y Sis PS'
Nothing half 50 dear my pet, ..
Nor more pleasant IN o0a' 'S''''
p II was one Of the great blessings of Lucy,
life having this beloved and reyered grand
mother in the house. Besides the many les
sons Of wisdom and love which fell like
honey-drops from her kind lips she learned
TO be gentle and thoughtful toward the ageC
and intrm. Her little hands were alwayi
ready 81" to help the weak and DID," for she
thought Of her own dear grandmother and
ly how feeble her step was getting, and how un
m. steady her wrinkled hands Just as little
N tender child in the house makes US NOR,
gentle toward all little children, so an ageC
grand-parent makes the children kinder to al
aged people.
As Lucys hands grew stronger they MAJ
have lost some Of their laughing dimples, bu
they we're beautiful hands " in the eyes o
every one. All the household had reason Il