Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-08-02
Butter Cups ami Daisies.

Soon VIII be- making tho hay
-...r
Butter Cups and Daisies.
During one Of last summers hottest days
had the good fortune to be seated in a rail-
way car near a mother and four children,
whose relations with each other were singu-
larly beautiful It was plain that they were
poor. The mothers bonnet alone would have
been enough to have condemned the whole ia
any one Of the worlds thoroughfares, but her
face was one which gave sense Of rest to
look upon it was earnest, tender true and
strong. The children two boys and two
girls-were all under the age Of twelve, and
the youngest could not speak plainly. They
had had rare treat They had been visit
ing the mountains, and were talking over the
wonders they had seen with glow Of en-
thusiastic delight which was to be envied, aud
the mother bore her part all the while with
such equal interest and eagerness that no one
not seeing her face, would dream that she was
any other than an elder sister. In the course
Of the day there were many occasions when
it was necessary for her to deny requests and
ask services. especially from the eldest boy,
but no young girl anxious to please lover
could have done either with a moro tender
courtesy She had her reward, for no lover
could have been more tender and manly than
was the toy Of twelve. Their lunch was
simple and scanty but it had the grace Of a
royal banquet At the last the mother pro.
duced with much gee three apples and al
orange, Of which the children had not known
All eyes fastened on the orange 1t was
evidently great rarity | wanted to see il
this test would bring out sefshness The
mother said " How shall | divide this
There is one apple for each Of you, aud |
shall be best off Of all, for expect big tastes
from each Of you
Oh, give Annie the orange Annie love
oranges, spoke out the eldest boy, with th'
air Of conquerer at the same time takinl
the smallest and worst apple for himself
Oh yes, let Annie have the orange,
echoed the second boy, nine years old.
" Yes, Annie may have the orange, because
it is nicer than the apple and she is lady
and her brothers are gentlemen, said th'
mother quietly. Then there was a merry
contest as to who should feed the mother witt
the largest and most frequent mouthiuls; an,
so the feast went on. Then Annie preteude,
to want apple, and exchanged thin, goldei
strips of orange for bites out of the checks o
Baldwins and as sat watching her intently
she suddenly fancied she saw longing in IN,
face, and sprang over to me saying Do yol
want taste, too?'
The mother smiled understandingly whei
/ said, No, | thank YOU YOU dear, geuerou
little girl l don't care about oranges
At noon we had tedious interval Of wait
ing at a dreary station. We sat for two hour
on narrow platform which the sun ha
scorched till it smelt of heat The eide.
boy the little lover, held the youngest chill
and talked to her, while the tired mother close
her eyes and rested.
The other two children we're toiling up au
down the railroad banks, picking ox-eyed dai
/ sizes, butter-cups and sorrel. They worke
/ like beavers, and soon the punches were al
most too big for their little hands The
came running to give them to their mother
=" Oh dear :" thought l. " how that poor, tire
woman will hate to open her eyes and sh
never can take those great bunchos Of wiltinl
worthless flowers in addition to her bundl,
and bags" was mistaken
"Oh, thank you, my darlings How kin
you were Poor, hot, tired little flower
how thirsty they look If they will try an
keep alive till we get home, we will max
them very happy in some water, wont We
And you shall put one bunch by papas plat
and one by mine
Sweet and happy, the weary and aushe
little children stood, looking up in her ia,
while she talked their hearts thrilling wit
compassion for the dropping flowers, and vii
delight in giving their gift. Then she too
great trouble to get string and tie up Il
flowers and the train came and We we
whirling along again. Soon it grew dar
and little Annie's head nodded Then hear
the mother say to the eldest boy, Dear, a
you too tired to let little Annie put her hes
on your shoulder and take a nap2 We sho
get her home in much better case to her paI
if we can manage to give her little sleep
How many little boys of twelve hear sue
words as these from tired oyerburdened mot
ers
+ Soon came the city, the fnal station, vii
its hustle and noise | fingered to watch II
+ happy family, hoping to see the father. "Wh
papa isn't here ?" exclaimed one disappoint,
little voice after another. Never mind" sa
the mother, with a still deeper disappointing
, in her tone "perhaps he had to 60 to 5
, some poor body who is sick" In the hurry
picking up all the parcels and sleepy babi,
the poor daises and butter-cups were left fc
gotten in the corner of the rack | wonder
if the mother had not intended this. May
be forgiven for the injustice A few minut
after had passed the little group, standi
{ still just outside the station, heard t
q mother say, Oh, my darlings, | have fC
gotten your pretty boquets. | am so sorr.
| wonder if could find them if | went bacl
e viii you all stand still aud not stir hC
4 this spot, if go 2"
"Oh, mamma, don't 60 We will Q
you some more. Don't 60 !" cried all t
e children.
/. Here are your flowers, madam, said
" saw you had forgotten them, and | to
. them as mementoes Of you and your swe
D children" She blushed and looked disco
I certed. She was evidently unused to peopI
and shy with all but her children. Howey'
G she thanked me sweetly and said
t / was very sorry about them. The ch
dren took such trouble to get them, and
think they will revive in water They cam
q be quite dead"
e "They will neper die" said l with
c emphasis which went from my heart to he
}. Then all her shyness fed. We shook hant
# and smiled into each others eyes with I
g smile OF kindred as We parted
@ As followed on, | heard the two childr
G who we're walking behind saying to ca
}. other, Wouldn't that have been too bat
/. Mamma liked them so much, and We ney
: could have got so many all at once again"
!. "Yes, we could, too, next summer sa