Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-08-05

ness and gladness steal into you"
Instantly, Kitty jerked her chair aside.
out Of the bright beam, as If resolved that
no unfair advantage should be allowed, and
again muttered: "I don't care.'
The mother made no reply. She could
not. for the tears that were yelling up in
her heart. Still Kitty rocked aud scowled,
holding her pretty blue dress and white
apron close to her side, as If 10 keep il en-
tircly out of the sunlight. Meantime her
ewes were fixed defiantly upon the bright
spot on the floor.
Suddenly she looked up in amazemont.
"Nfamma," she cried-"its creepin'--irs
comm to Kitty"
"Thats because God loves you" said the
mother trembling, yet not knowing why.
"Oh If my little girl would only let the
sun como to her straight from. God, IL
would brighten her, l know--al the ugly
shadows would run out of her heart"
Kitty did not answer. She was watch
ing the bright spot. In her eagorness, she
slid from her chnir aud isnnlt upon the
pet. The light crept nearer, nearer; it
touched the hem other dress, II climbed up
her little apron, it folded her in is splen-
dor, It danced in her eyes-and sic burst
forth into happy, childish laugh.
"lts comet mammar' she cried iovful-
| ly. "It's comew
"Don't cry, mamma ~ she said co,xing-
ly, ms her mother, kneelhg besid, her.
kissed her again and again, "Don,t cry
mammal dess Kitty won't nevcr ho
naughty any more"
"My own darling, 1 am so glad. Won,
you thank God, Kitty for all thisYr
81 dess WILL" said the little girl 40 :,
deliberating upon it; "perhaps TN 49,
something about it in my 'Now-I-lav.,,,a,
tonight, because do like tho funny old
sun. Now, you rocking-chair. Won rons,
go back to the wall, mustn't you?'
So, childlike, happy, and full of lo,,;,.
pranks, the little one spent the rest or ,i,o
long day in manner that astouisbed ali
the household, accustomed as they were IN
her almost hourly fits of gloom and an hr.
NOR. That night, as she kissed her mother
for goodnight, the rosy mouth fingered n
moment to whisper: GLOW shall thanl,
bod about that?"
sunlight had indeed entered her soul.
To be sure the naughty spells were not
gone entirely but the intervals botween
them grew longer and longer, and each
time they were checked in nearly the same
way. The little creature would willingly
sit or stand in the sunshine, at her moth
er's suggestion, and good humor would
follow almost instantly. Once, on a rainy
day, when she felt her temper rising, she
said su ddenly, "Oh if Kitty is naughty
now, she can't Diet back, can she, mammal"
And mamma laughed, told her pretty sto-
ry, cooed a sweet song in her ears-any-
thing to take the sunshine's place--until
the little heart grew bright again.
But this is not the end of the story.
Months passed. The old grandfather was
evidently failing; he would sit in his chair
now nearly all day without noticing any
one, except to growl angrily when address
ed. ono beautiful morning, his Irown was
oven darker than usual. Kitty stole into
tho room with hatftii OF cherries, and ven
tured to offer him some. His angry rebuff
sent the child trembling to her mothers
side. For a moment they both looked
wistfully at the poor old man; but the in
cident was too common TO surprise them
! long. Soon Kitty slipped away, and Mrs.
c. was sewing busily as ever.
At last something caused the mother tC
raise her head.
There stood Kitty near the south win
dow the sunlight streaming full upon hel
lighting her bright hair, her eager, upturn
ed face, and her apron, which she held VI
at the corners with her chubby little arms
extended.
1t was beautiful picture and it stood 81
still, it might easily have been taken for {
picture in reality.
"What arc you doing Kitty?' asked tht
mother at last
"rm catchin' sunshine to trow owe
dran'pa," said Kitty.
The old man leaned back in his chai
with n strange smile. 1t frightened Kitty
because, at the same time, her mothe
screamed. The little creature ran from
tho room, and met others rushing in alarm
ed by the cry.
1t was all like dream to the child aite
that. The doctor with his big, ticking
watch-the hushed house-the quiet form
lying there with its strange, peaceful, hap
py look-the deep tones of the minister
the long, slow drive-and, at last, holdin
her mothers hand, then standing beside
fresh grave with sunshine streaming upo