St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-02-02
fnr hr Children.
How God took Care of Patty.

house with green blinds. There was
nice ward with Smooth-cut grass and
great trees, where the birds would SIT
singing and swinging on the h"ugllS.
Patty had swing. too. one that papa
put up. of good stout rope, that would
go ,rp ever 50 high int" the branches.
\ short distance back from the house
and garden stood three great barns
filled with such stores of hidden Won
,ler> that Patty seemed never tired OF
PLAYING in them. Hut perhaps she liked
best to go with mamma. in the early
sprinr-timr. int" the woods to gather
the sweet wild flowers. and search for
the delicate ferns and lovely, soft green
mo>sc>. On. who knows. maybe she
liked better (" ." into the the fields
where papa WAS at work, and make
him little visit.
Onc morning, it was i'll ia" harvest
time. Patty was i'll the kitchen. Bridget
Was chulnimg. mamma WAS baking, Pat
~ was helping her mother, and the
WA, She helped was 10y eating small
humps of sugar. and listening to Il story
mamma was telling. She wanted very
much to roll ont the crust to Il pie. hut
mamma said She would help most by
sitting still and listening t" the story.
The butter had come. and Bridget WAS
Uul,. to carry il down into the cool eel
lar. when the door bell rang: 50 mann
ma. busting the iiom from her hands,
went herself to answer il. Patty, left
alone in the kitchen. soon began Ia
.,rnv lonely: wondering what made
mamma gone 81 long. and where Was
Bridget; then she opened the cellar
,luor and called in u sweet little voice,
..Rridgct Bridget" But Bridget wa,
gone up the outside way. and :" did
not hear.
Patty waited Il minute "I two. and
getting II" reply. shut the door.
Out of doors it looked bright anc
sunny Though III" open window
came the Snftcnrd hum of the distant
r,apcr>. Party thought She would %
ont and see papa. and 81 in another mo
mcnt the littl" feet trotting across the
fields. When ~hr came into the whea
hcld. she could see the men going dow
one side following the reaper, and leav
inu shining row of bundles behind.
Patty tried tn catch mp. Int they
worked very fast. and hy-and-hy grow
ing tired. She sat down to rest on
sheaf of wheat. by her sid" tn,
mncut grain waved back and forth il
the sunlight nr old beach tree east ;
cool. pleasant shade where she was sit
iuw: il was very beautiful there Sh,
sat quite still. thinking such sweet lit
tie thoughts.
suddenly bird flew ont Of the whca
near toy. singing - Iirh. clean song
Patty clapprd hey hands III delight
and, a. the bird rose higher and high
,r. and then "rcw fainter and sweet
er in the distance. She fairly held he
breath lest she should lose one of tho>,
delicious sounds.
..Pclhap> there is II nest in there.
thought Patty. when it WAS still again
and lin there" she went. looking with
pair of bright eyes eagerly about
and. YES. tirrc it WAS surely. II nest an,
three of the dearest, sweetest. littl,
brides. Was there anything 81 frnn,
is thoS, downy little heads with tn,
tiny bills wide open
Such nice place fnI u nest. too, Pat
~ thought 1t Was like being i'll gold
ell forest III there, for the grain wa
high above her head, and she laughc,
softly all to herself thinking of ii
The yellow straw laughed, too, Il way
ing. mulmuring laugh, and tossed it
heads back and forth. hut never Whi>
pcrcd To the child of danger. nor ever
told to the men. coming rapidly along
the story of the little giIl hidden in it
midst. The men came on, the machin
leading them, the horses drawing stead
lily. and the knives cutting sharp an,
sure.
What WAS it. Il" you suppose. tina
made the farmer stop his team all Il
once! Did he know his little daughte
WAS iii danger No, indeed. though
She WAS safely cared for at home. Blu
h, was Il noble man, with Il large. kin,
heart, and he would not willingly hur
the least of gods creatures: :" he sal,
To one of the men: Here, Tom, com
and hold the team. There's lark
nest somewhere neal the old tree ynn
der. III hunt it mp. and you can driv
around SOS not to hunt the birds
Nh, what Il cry OF surprise papa ut
tered " hen he found his darling Patt
sitting there, How fast his heart beat
when he thought of the danger She ha,
been III, and how thrilled and >ottcmc,
is he caught her up i'll his arms. cover
ing her face with kisses, and saving. Il
was the birds that saved her"
When the first excitement with tn
men WAS over, and Patty had been cal
lied safely home in hen fathers ann,
and the men were going down the tiel
again. leaving Il wide uncut >pac
around the lalk'> nest. >omehodV-i
waN Il great rough-l"oking man-said
while the teas gliStencd i'll his ewes
and his voice grew husky. "God hles
the birds. '-Hdppy HoH~.