Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-08

! she said and now hope you are going
to be good girl, and not cry any more
And lifting the little one from the bed, she
sat down to tea with her on her lap.
Thus admonished, Patsey put up her
lin in a moment and slid down upon the
| floor.
Why, what's that for ? said the
woman tartly. Don't you want any
supper. Good little girls don't behave in
that way.?'
Don't scold her, wife said the good
natured farmer. You see it's all strange
to her, and we can't expect her to get
used to US in a minute. Bring chair
Mary Ann, and let her sit down here by
me-
You want some of this nice shortcake,
don't you, now :? he said, coaxingly split
ting a piece with his knife and spreading
it with butter Come. let me see how
soon you can put that where the mice can't
find it.
Patsey looked shyly from the face Of
her new friend to the shortcake but she
did not offer to take it.
= guess she's dainty little thing, said
Mary Ann. City children most general
ly are. What did you have for breakfast,
little girl ?
Poor Pa tsey The tears had been
slowly gathering in the blue eyes and at
Mary AIMS sharp tone, or at the memory
of that breakfast, among all her little COM
panons, the lip quivered, and she began to
5 Job. And l could cry with her this min
ute for | know of nothing more pathetic
than a child's grief, no form of a child's
grief so touching as its first sense Of soil
tude-of being alone. Whatever the flu
ture might have In store for Patsey, it
could bring no sorrow more real than this
the being torn from all her accustomed
belongings, thrusts into anew life, surround
ed by new faces
Never mind said the farmer, sooth-
ingly, taking the little scrap Of homesjck-
ness in his arms Let me see if | cant
fud something tor the little girl But the
attempt at consolation was just the drop
too much that made the cup run over.
I-don't-want-to- |
-want-to-go-home,' sobbed Patsey.
All the anger was gone now twas just
pure grief, and poor honest John was at
his wits end
Haven't you any playthings for her,
wife | thought you made ragbaby on
purpose for her
1 did, and you ought to have seen how
she acted when tried to pacify her with
it, after the nurse left. She threw it clear
across the room. | never saw child show
more temper
Don't cry any more, there's a dearie
don't cry said John, walking distractedly
about the room Hanged if | blame her,
either. There you poor little kitten, just
lay your head down on my shoulder and
20 to sleep.
Suddenly glow Of pleasure lighted his
HON ely face, and, without word. he strobe
from the house, Patsey's sobs lingering
dismally in his wake
Where on earth has John gone with
that child said the good wife washing
down the last sedgment of the shortcake
with a saucer OF tea. l expect he'll spoil
her, and make me no end OF trouble
In confirmation of this dire prediction,
the truants appeared, Johns face radiant
with satisfaction, Patsey's glowing with in
effAble content. In her arms, which were
closely folded over her bosom, she held
two mewing, clawing, mouth-old kittens.
The fountain of consolation had been dis
covered.
Patsey and the kittens took tea together,
the little mother finding much to disap-
prove of in the table-manners Of her
adopted children. She put them 10 bed
before being undressed herself, and went
TO sleep with them in her arms.
She had found something to love and
care for and should she live a hundred
years, she would find no better medicine
for sorrow than that which cured her first
grief.