Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-05-25
Our gonms folks.
Wren Hollow.

why, my cnllu, SAID Mrs. BELL TO Sl-
sic one morning, as she dressed her kr
school, it seems to me that your clothes
wear out very fast
Seems to me they do said Susie, VITA
a rueful face. / tumbled down yesterd4y,
up by the cold spring, and tore my new
gingham apron
What took you up to the cold spring.
said her mother.
: took my own SELF ansv~sraa -
without the slighteat in.ention of being 49,
respectful. Henry Dyke said there was
a trout up there, and he was tame, and
wanted to see.' II
A trout there?
'Yes'm, he said so, and he's 'ceiving
round stick that was speckled with moss
He made believe he didn't see right the
first time, but know it was nothing bu,
'ception'
But how did you fall DOWN.
We'll, l said 1t was 'rageous to make
little girls 90 trotting that way when things
wasn't so. And he laughed, and said he'd
put me into the spring, and I'd make a
blue fish, cause my dress Is blue, you
know, and | ran away, and tripped and fell
on stump. That's how.
Il think, said Mrs. Bell, that after
this you had better keep out of Henry
Dykes way. Always be polite to him,
but play with smaller boys and girls
'Yes'm,' said Susie, and taking her
books she started for school.
She found Jennie Lee waiting for her
near the school-house, with bunch Of
flowers for her teacher. 1 brought them,
said Jennie. cause l don't know my les
son very well, and maybe they'll soften her
heart so she won't keep me in
At recess, Susie and Jennie went to a
clump of young spruce trees that grew on
the side of the hill on which the school
house stood. There was a slight depres-
sion of the ground at the foot of the tree,
and when the children sat in the hollow
thus formed, their heads came gust to a
level with its outer edge. They were thus
nearly concealed from view. 1t was ia
vorite resort for the two children, and Su.
sizes brother Sam called it, Wren Hollow.
When Susie asked him why, he only
! laughed.
ANY one who saw the two little girl,
sitting in their retreat, might have thought
il something like birds nest Susie was
much smaller than most children of her
age. Her eyes were black, and as bright
as any birds, her movements were yesE
susck ana uer voice had KIND or chip
an it that often reminded older people Of
some little bird. Jennie was larger thar
Susie, and a little quieter. She was like
a robin as Susie was like wren. Wher
the two were together there was perpet
ual twtter of voices, and constant mo
ton in Wren Hollow.
4 Jennie had done better that morning
than she had expected to do. Her lesson
had been nearly perfect, and her teacher
had praised the flowers; consequently sh
felt very happy.
The children sat down in their nest, an
chartered busily. Susie told Jennie abou
tearing her apron the day before, am
freely gave her opinion about Henry Dyke
Just as she finished saying, OF course
always treat him 'spectfully, but | shan
have anything to do with him. they hear
a loud laugh, and large piece of the gra
moss that grew on the rocks, fell into he
lap. 1t came from behind the sprue
: bushes.
What's that p said Jennie.
Another piece of moss fell into the hdl
: low, and a minute afterwards Henry Dyk
appeared. He was large boy, and wa
the terror of all the children in the neigh
] borhood He laughed as he came in sigh
e and said, So you'll treat me 'SpectfitllI
4 will you, Miss Cat-bird :?
f MY name is MT Cat-bird, but, of coqrsI
I'll be polite, and l just wish you'd;
! away. We don't want you here, do v
Jennie ? replied Susie.
E We'll, l call that being polite, do
r shan't go. I've got as good a right her
t as you have, and I'm going to use tn
s hollow for my fireplace. It'll make
capital ONE
No you can't said Susie. View
always had this for our nest, ever SIM
S last summer, and we amt going. I'll te
{ Sam
= Yes laughed Henry you're brave
: you told your mother that L made you IA
d down yesterday, and now you'll tell 4
e teacher
e No shan't. That would be mea
a but s0iU tell Sam
= Well, tell away. All I've got to s.
!. is, that Wren Hollow's going to be smoke
n out, so the birds can't come back
k He began to pick up small sticks an
d pieces of dry moss, and to throw them in
8 the hollow. Susie watched him minut
T and then started towards the school-hous
but he ran after her. and brought her bac
No you don't, he said. If you &
J that, III throw you in with the wood.
S one of you goes, I'll put the other in
He gathered more wood, and piled it I
! in the hollow.
: oh, don't Henry said Susie, You
t scorch the pretty spruce trees
y Henry went on, with malicious smi
spreading itself over his face. Jennie al
Susie began to cry. Their little nest ha
; been so pretty, and now it must be spoile
to do no good to the bad boy.
I Henry took a match from his poke
: and lighted the fire. 1t burned feebl
and he stopped to blow the fame. At tn
moment Sam came over the brow of til
hill. One glance showed him what W:
taking place. He sprang forward an
gave Henry push that sent him rolliD
: over on the grass. A kick among the WOO
sent part of it flying out of the hollow
and little vigorous stamping put the I'll
out.
Jennie and Susie dried their eyes as the
: saw Sans proceedings. When the fire wa
out, be turned to them, and said kindly ::
Wren Hollow isn't hurt much. l.
make it all clean and nice this Afternoon
and you can build your nest in it, and CHR
just as loud as ever, little birds