Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-02-10
The Day that Hannah LOnged for ;
OR, A nUNmLE LIFE NoT srENT N yAIY.

Little Hannah sits on the doorstep, and
the scarlet runners make canopy over her
head She is summing herself in the doorway
on this July afternoon, and her head is full
Of happy thoughts as the day is Of bright
ness.
Would you think she hadn't much to make
her happy2 That little brown house, with its
tangled bit of garden and its broken fence ;
a patched calico gown, plain, sun-burnt face
and hard, brown hands, with overgrown joints
that had too early become acquainted with
the wash tub and broom And then il seems
so lonely there So it is sometimes but to-
day Hannah's thoughts are company enough
and she smiles and looks over her shoulder
through the low window toward the kitchen
cupboard wherein lie hidden two little wood
en- wagons with wheels that will turn, and
brightly painted sides. You see tomorrow
will be the twins birthday; Tom and Aggie
will be three years old, aud these wagons are
their beautiful birthday presents from Han
nah Dan made them, Ilannahs brother
Dan, man grown, although she is but child
Of ten years. And Dan has staid away from
the tavern and his gay companions, and
worked on these toys to give his little sister
pleasure for he has kind heart when he
can keep away from drink
And the twins. Are they her little broth
er and sister, Oh no, they arc Agnes Will
sons babies; Agnes who lives next door and
has been such help and comfort to Hannah
ever since she was left to be housekeeper all
alone for her father and Dan
1t was no harder, perhaps, than before for
her mothers drunken fit came oitener aud oft
ener at the last, and the poor little daughter
lived in constant fear until her father came
home at night from his work in the coal mine
and protected his trembling child from the
blows that were aimed at her and so when
one night, her mother was found dead in the
road, Hannah scarcely found life harder than
before, although for a child of ten il was no
light matter to take the burden of even their
little housekeeping; and sometimes, in the
midst of her work, she would hide her face
and sob, and wish she could even hear her
mother scold again. Then Agnes would come
in and tighten all her cares with helping
hand and word of advice. How many
times Hannah had to run and ask Agnes if
the bread was risen enough to bake or how
she must make the stew for her fathers sup
per. She has learned it all now, and is wise
little housekeeper for one of her years
And now about the twins. Hannah is
thinking of the time when they were born 1t
was Just such July day as this not too
hot, but very bright and beautiful. 1t was
only few weeks after her mother died, and
she was so lonely that she had wandered
down the road to the great white house where
Mrs Leighton lived; for she wanted to look
into the parlor window and see the picture of
the angels that hung over the Fireplace; five
little angels floating among the clouds five
sweet Young faces, with shining hair and
radiant ewes a shadow sembance of cheru.
bic wings and then the soft rolling clouds.
Hannah knows that angels have no bodies,
but she is sure they have faces and wings
She is satisfied with this picture-more than
satisfied. for these angels are her ideal COM
panions. and she loved them.
Well, she took a long. loving look at her
angels. and then ran home to set out for her
fathers sumner for she heard the foundry
whistle. and knew that the mine hands would
take il as signal for coming up. How glad
she was of the long DAYLIGHT. for in the win
ter time she meyer saw her fathers face ex.
cepting by candle-hght he WAS down so
early and nm so late.
On This particular nioht Hannah went TO
bed thinking of her picture. and She dreamed
dream wonderful dream the more so
beconse II came tue ns Won will see. She
dreamed that She went nm into heaven. softly