Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-03-17

1t is very light this evening" said Fred
Iloward's mother as she came into the sitting
room where her son and little daughter were
watching from the window the sports of the
school boys on the long hills opposite the
house "The moon is full, and it seems more
like day than night. You can 60 out, Freddy,
and coast an hour if you like"
No, mamma, | don't care about coasting
any more"
The boys tone was so plantiye that his
mother looked at him in surprise.
Molly wouldn't ride on my new sled to-
day, mamma. asked her three times"
Freddy sat down before the fire, and drew
sigh deep enough for more experienced
person The perplexed look upon his chubby
face made him look quite unlike his usual
merry self
We'll, my dear said his mother, "per-
haps she did not feel like coasting."
"Oh it wasn't that; because she rode
down the hill ever so many times on Jimmy
Aliens sled. don't see what she means"
Have you quarreled with her ?"
Quarrel with Molly | couldn't do it il
| tried. Why mamma, we never thought of
quarrelng in our lives
Fred Howard was a stout, handsome boy,
twelve years old, and Molly, his pretty little
neighbor, was ten. They had played together
ever since he could remember, and no shadow
of GOODNESS had ever fallen between them till
to-day
Il can't understand it, mamma She
don't seem angry, but she is $3.50 oflish
My new sled is clipper | tell you it went
like bird"
There were Mary and Annie Green, and
they have no brother to give them a ride. |
hope you were polite enough to ask them"
No, didn't want them | wanted Molly
You see cushioned the seat on purpose for
her, and | wanted her to try it first"
She must have had some good reason for
refusing you. 1t isn't like Molly to behave
in that way"
No, there wasn't any reason for it, There
couldn't be any," said Freddy earnestly
" 1t wouldn't have been so bad if the boys
hadn't all laughed at me. You see" said
Fred, honestly, did feel little proud
when | went up with my pew sled. 1t is
such a beauty, and the other sleds looked so
common SO when Molly would not ride, the
boys were glad of a chance to crow over me. "
:" And so your pride had fall"
Jimmy Aliens sled is older than the
hills His clothes are patched and--and his
face is all freekes and-his hair is red as
| fire"
But he is a bright, intelligent lad never
theess," said Freddy's mother, A good
son too. He cannot help his looks or his
poverty And l supposed my boy to be quite
too manly to speak in such manner of him. "
Freddy coored | never did before,
mamma. It's because Molly rode on his sled
suppose he added frankly. wish |
knew what made her"
know" said his little sister, who was
engaged in putting very wakefu dolly to
sleep ." know all about it,"
What do you know" asked her broth
er.
Speak stiller. You will wake up Susie
Such time as I've had a-getting her to sleep
| I'm clean beat out"
The little mimic-mother leaned over the
tiny cradle with such a world of care in her
face that Fred could not help laughing.
" What a funny mite you are, Bessie %
81 don't care. You are a boy and you
ant spected to understand babies. Susie's
teeth are as bad as can be. They won't cut
| through"
But about Molly, puss--what is it you
know ?"
" You know Alice Harlow, don't you ?"
What silly question OF course |
do"
" There, now, you've hollered and walked
Susie Oh dear She is the wakingest
baby ~
" Bother If you know anything, Bessie,
out with it,"
" Yes, Bessie" said Mrs. Howard, " don't
tease your brother. Susie will be quiet"
Well" said Bessie, speaking in low,
hushed tone, and rocking her cradle CAREFUL
ly, Alice Harlow was over here yesterday
She saw you on the fence smoking piece Of
grape vine--your cigars, you know, Fred.
I" Yes. What of it ?"
" 1t was before school began this morning
heard her telling Molly about it, and how
you looked-just like old Bay down to the
tavern. And Molly said she wouldn't play
with a boy if he smoked"
" 1t wasn't a real cigar"
No. answered Bessie grayely, sit wasn't
truly one. But Molly don't like the look
ings of it,"
" guess | shan't ask her if | may smoke
grapevine" said Fred in great indignation
/ shall smoke as many as | choose. What
goose she is But she's no right to rule
me. Has she, mamma %
No but she has n right to decline a seat
with you on the new sled. And that is what
troubles you most
4" 1t was not a real cigar, mamma"
No; but the real cigar as you call it,
seems to come very naturally to the lips of
the young men who have smoke sham cigars
when boys The mind, or rather the taste,
gets used to the idea of smoking in this way,
so that it does not object to the use Of to-
baeco when the boy out-grows the grape vine.
How would you like to see Molly smoking
or Bessie2"
"Grls don't smoke" said Fred, shortly
But they might do so, | suppose, if they
tried. You see that il would make them less
lovely to do SO. They have the same opinion
in regard to boys. don't think | blame
Molly"
1T is mean way to treat fellow, any,
how"
Molly said she seen all the smokers she
wanted to, down to the saloon. She said she
wished her way to school went by somebody
elses houses, so she wouldn't see the smokers,
or smell them," said Bessie. "It do smell
real awful down on that corner, Freddy. [
shouldn't 'spose you'd want to be saiooaer,
why, Bessie, you'll make me out a
drunkard next"
"rd break it right of, just where you be,
pursued Bessie, soberly. "If thought my
Susie would ever be salooner, Id-well,
wouldn't ever wake her up again to all
everlasting"
" Mamma" said Fred desperately, " is
there any harm in smoking grapevine, or
90 Iaa,,,a .,y.sta1 nm ~