Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-05-17
From The Children. Hour
What Was in the Package.

From The Childrsn's Hour
What Was in the Package.
Edmund had a dollar to spend-not nice
silver one that he could throw down on the
counter, pleasing himself with its clear ring
and the sparkles it would gather as it fell
that is the kind we used to have-nor even a
crisp, paper one in fresh green and white
not any sort Of a visible dollar-only dollar
in trade He had been errand-boy for Mr.
Nix, the grocer, two long, hot July weeks
trotting about with heavy baskets while hi.
mates took their vacation pleasures; this was
what the dollar was for.
Well Ed, it's all right so far; coffee.
starch, oil-seventy.fve cents. What's for
the rest2' called Mr. Mix from the farther
end of the shop
Some of those candies those pretty ones
in the first jar-for Minnie. How many will
it buy 2n
Not very many--rather costly those are
but you've been good boy and LII make
you up fine, large package of the very best
for your twenty-five cents"
| do not suppose the grocer knew 10 the
least what he was selling he could not begin
to see what Edmund had in his arms as he
went out at the door like man going
home to his family"
The boy knew, though. First, the coffee ;
wouldn't it be delicious frothed with cream
from the COW he tended ? then starch to make
smooth, shining collars and wristbands for
church and Sunday-schoo and the oil that
would give light for the evening table, with
its books, work and newspapers, and, at bed.
time, the Bible, best Of all,--so much COM
fort the grocer sent off.
Edmund did not forget Minnie's candies,
either. When he reached the by-path he sat
down to count and admire them. Twenty,
and such beauties 80 Kisses, red.and.white
striped, fishes, peppermints, notices, twists,
and one large sugar heart spotted with peschy
pink, gay picture fastened on it and a white
ribbon to hang it up by.
lie could hardly manage TO wait till his
sister was snug in her bed, so anxious was he
to bring his treasures out and show them.
That done, he rolled each in a separate parcel,
then placed the whole in a box Just above
her pillow, not without many fears lest it
should be upset in the night. Which of the
two children do you think was the happier
on the next morning?
1t is great deal better that 6recrackers.
mother" cried Edmund how can any one
bear to burn up so much fun? But what are
you going to do with 'em little Min?i
Well the heart is to hang up always, to
remember my present by in lace bag to
keep the flies from eating it the biggest fish
is for papa put it under his plate that
kiss for mamma; this one for YOURSELF
"lll not take it Minnie; | bought them
for you"
But you will be a good brother and take
this because it is mine, you know there is
one for the baby, and the rest I'll keep to
play with awhile"
We mustn't breakfast entirely on candy"
called her father; "come, young people, and
get something more substantial"
Then Minnie had kiss and " thank your
all around, and when the merry meal was
over, Edmund went of satisfied with the way
in which he had spent his money; and if you
had asked him whether he knew what he had
brought home in the package, he would have
told you Yes, but he did not begin to.
Let us see what else it contained. As YOU
have guessed, Minnie did not have candies
very often so many and such handsome ones
she haa never before owned She was not
soon tired oil counting and looking at them,
OIL reading the notices and placing them so as
70 make funny sentehees for her mother to
laugh at. Just as she had them arranged in
what she thought the prettiest possible man
ner, one Of those things happened which often
vex children who are not the youngest in the
Iamily. Baby came along, and, charmed
With the bright colors, grasped at them, pull
ng handful from the low table where Min
ale sat, scattering them about the floor and
breaking number of them. Some sisters
would have given the tiny creature sharp
word, perhaps blow this one did not. She
,nly said, Z" Poor brother wants to play too
should not have forgotten him."
Then she picked up the pieces of the broken
mes, and let him have them for his own to
pread out on chair. That kept him all the