Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-15
Chr family Circle.
About Willie.

Almost everybody asks us why we keep
such an old dog as Jack is, because be is
nearly blind, and although he is well-fed
every day, he will have a starved look that
makes folks pity him.
/ am not going to tell you dog story,
though, but about his little master who used
to love Jack SO dearly. His name was Will
lie, and there are great many things put
away in the garnet now that have - Willie -
printed on them with red chalk; his little
green sled and his chest of mimic tools are up
there too, just as he used them years ago. lie
was such a.little fellow, with black curls that
were always dancing, and rosy cheeks, and
soft, dark eyes Then he was brave and
sturdy, and not bit of baby, though he
wasn't quite four years old. Mother used to
bundle him up that winter, and let him slide
down the short hill close by the house.
One day she made Willie little scarlet
coat and trimmed it with gilt buttons and
remember how beautiful he looked when he
put it on and marched round the house the
next morning, carrying a wooden sword that
father had made him. But we were too busy
to mind Willie much. Mother was getting
ready for company the next day, and father
and the hired man were taking up pump
in the back yard, SO Willie had to have his
red-coat celebration all to himself
But finally be grew tired of his dress pa
rade, and wanted should find a new string
for his sled. l guess | was pretty cross to
him when he asked me for it, because just as
he went out at the door there were tears in
his eyes, and his sweet little voice trembled
when he called " Jackie Jackie " for the
dog to follow him.
After that we didn't think anything about
him till dinner time, and then Willie didn't
come in with the rest. Mother said she had
Just seen him draw his sled by the window,
and he would be in directly. After waiting
u while, mother grew inpatient and went to
the door to call him. He had clear, piping
voice that might be heard ever so far, but
this time we didn't hear him answer. So
mother went out to the shed to the kitties'
nest to see if he had stopped there, but they
were lying undisturbed, asleep with their
mother Then she glanced into the back
yard, but Willie never dared 90 there for
fear of the cows. Surely he must have gone
into the house while she was looking for him.
Just as mother came in, we heard Jack at
the outside door, scratching and bowling to
get in. When we let him in, he ran up to
father and pulled at his coat. and looked so
beseechingly at him that father sprang up
and followed him out of the yard. There
was look in mothers face that frightened
the door. | knew she did not want me then
50 stole out softly and followed the rest, till
| saw them standing on the brink of the old
well, and saw father stopping over it. \
great dumb pain came over me when l saw
them lowering rope with an iron hook down
into the we'll. Then | saw something rise
over the edge that looked like scarlet coat,
then a face strangely white, and clustering
curls like Willie's.
They tried so hard to bring him back to
life again, but they could not. They closed
all the shutters in the parlor, and laid Willie
there in his own pretty crib. As he lay
there SO still and cold, | remembered all the
naughty things l had ever SAID to him, and
how longed to break his strange sleep and
tell him how sorry was
Our dear, merry little Willie to be hidden
out of sight under the snow How could we
bear it? Father didn't want him far off, so
they made him a grave in the garden. In
the summer Jack and | 90 there very often,
and watch the sunshine glinting through the
long grass and swaying the bright flowers
and when 1 speak Wille's name, Jack turns
his eyes pitifully to my face, as though he
were waiting to hear his little masters reply.