Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-03-20


or twice he said something about his present,
but nobody paid any attention to him. They
were too busy. Nobody dreamed how the
one thought had taken possession Of bis mind
His present What would they give him
He bad one once. II was candy horse f;
but be didn't want o candy horse now. No,
indeed. lie was too big Well, he could
wait,-not many more days now Thursday
Friday, Saturday and then
Aud theu. He walked up iubilant, sprang
'''A Of bed with jump, danced into his
c., 'es, and ran down stairs.
Father mother, I'm ready for my pres
ent"
u mother was 6usy sr lho baked beans
ard coteu The time et lnopportune, but
when did poor rommie o,a hit upon any
other2n
Little boys mustn't talk about presents on
sunday" she said, as she fastened the obnox.
ious buttons.
" It's my birthday"
60 know it,
Can't just look at it mother ?"
The eager, anxious face, moved her to pity,
and faint sense of remorse She paused a
moment, not knowing what to say
" Can't |, mother?
" No, you can't"
" God wouldn't care. | don't b'lieve.n
" Run ont aad tell father to come in to
breakfast
Tommie ran out across the road, to find
his hther compacently surveying his eighty
acre lot Of corn He turned pleasantly, as
he heard the little voice.
Father, breakfast s ready, Father, can't
| just look at my present to-day ?"
" Your present What PRESENT.
Why, it's my birthday. Don't you re-
member ? I'm FIVE years old (here the lii.
Tie figure Strengthened proudly You,
said, you know, il Ia be good, aud I've been
good
/ said what, if you'd be good ?"
You said I'd get present. Did you buy
it at Chases2"
Pooh pooh Little boys mustn't ox-
pect prcsouts every year. said the father
ihoughtes-ly. " Come, let's so to breakfast"
But Tommie stood still, his little hands
clasped, aud his large black eyes looking
straight up into his fathers face.
Didu't you buy me anything, fother ?'
No, my SON"
Y GU told lie You told a lie You
said You would if I'd-be-good-and--I /
was and he threw himself down upon the
ground, crying as if lis heart would break.
His father left him, with strange, un-
comfortable feeling at his heart. He really
loDged TO take the poor, sobbing child into
his arms, and kiss away his tears, giving him
the sure enough promise of present Oh
the morrow. But how foolish that would
be, he thought to himself Wouldn't he
have trouble all his lifetime to bear so the
sooner he began, the better. He wished he
could remember Just what he said. He was
quite sure it wasn't promise. He would be
more careful another time; but children
mustn't think SO much Of every little word
Oh, well Tommied forget all about it in
an hour. So he drove away the kindly i'm.
pulse, and the little fellow, thought his father
didn't care, and his tears came thicker and
faster, with the bitter sense of injustice and
injury. He had 20 idea Of time. The south
breeze stirred the corn, aud played with hi.
tangled hair. The meadow-lark sang lis
sweet little song on the fence near by, and a
pair Of turtle-doyes alighted upon the grass
close to him. A couple Of tumble-bugs de-
posted their heavy burden at his feet They
we're not afraid there was no need, for, at.
ter the first paroxysm, he was very quiet.
" Iommie, Tommio Come into the
house, dinners ready
" Dinner2' They'd been to church, then,
and never told him. Well, he couldn't think
about it any more, his head ached so. He
got up very slowly and went in.
" Eat your dinner, my som
." can't 1t isn't nice
Little boys mustn't fnd fault with whats
set before them. Your appetite ii come fast
enough, reckon Not much trouble about
that" said his mother, helping herself to a
second potato.
Tommie didn't answer but, after a few
vain attempts, crept up stairs, laid down upon
his little bed aud went to sleep. His mother,
coming up at supper time, found him burning
with fever She was very good to him, Tom
mic thought, and he woke up in the night to
wonder if it was all dream, or if she really
did kiss him, "al Of herself" when she said
goodnight.
But it wasn't a dream, for when he opened
his eyes, very early in the morning, there she
was, at his side fast asleep. Wasn't it fun
ny? He wouldn't wake her, no indeed but
he must turn over just to cool that other
side Of his head. She was up in moment.
IS Do you feel better, Tommie ?"
guess I'll feel better now. | was so
hot Can't you come up some night when its
cold, mother2"
She made no answer but bathed the burn
ing temples with cool water, changed the
heated pillow, and soon the weary eyes closed
again. The boy slept, but she sat watching.
Suddenly he woke with start. It's my
birthday Have you got my-oh," with a
little scowl of pain as he remembered.
" You shall have your present Tommie. "
l." I've got over my birthday, now" and
again he was of in the land Of shadows"
All day long he dozed, waking occasionally, y,
and always 6udipg his mother at his side So
strange so strange He wondered who was
doing the washing--and the--scrubbing- land
Observation-Disclosures he didn't ask, he was
too tired.
That night the doctor looked very sober.
IIe had a long talk with them all, down stairs,
after which father looked ten years older,
mothers face was white aud haggard, and
poor old grandpa wrung his hands Alas (!
alas
Mother, said Tommic, the next morning,
" I've had my present father needn't buy
it," The little voice was weak aud faint, but
almost gleeful,
What was it, my darling ?"
A flush that was not fever crept over the
pale face, at the endearing name. You do
like me, don't you, mother ?" he cried, exult-
antly,
Like him The artess question, with its
unspoken reproach, was too much for her.
Don't cry, mother, don't, III be good.
Don't You make my head tired.
She stopped instantly. You made me
forget my present" he exclaimed, almost pet
rishly, 1t was great, big picture-book -
as big-as this room. God showed me the
pictures. Tisn't wicked to say that, is it.,
mother ?" he asked, anxioasly.
No, Tommie."
" He showed me Johnnie and Charlie, and