Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-08-21

once thought Of Gliding, and even offered to
take Lizzie home. But Lizzie didn't care TO
90 Just then, only she did wish her mother
had thought of Il to bring her some goodies.
Mr. Harrison had had a hard day Of it,
getting wood down from the mountain yet, |
tired as he was, he had to harness the horse
and 90 to the depot, to meet his wife at late
hour that night.
Mrs. Harrison's words were few as they
drove home The whole day had been dis
appointment to her. Having spent her mon
ey, her time, and her strength now that the
anxiety was over, she was even sorry to know
that Lizzie was well little illness would
not have gricved the mothers heart like the
sight of her child's selfshness.
The next letter from Lizzie was filled with
wants. Mother" she wrote, " we have re-
ccption evenings here once week, and |
have worn my silk dress four times All the
other girls have two or three silk dresses
apiece, and two are having new ones made,
trimmed up 5camJnHy II can't have a
new one, at least | want sash or two to
wear with mine. saw q lovely blue one
yesterday and velvet-and twas only
three dollars yard. Won't you send me the
money right away, so | can have it in time to
wear Thursday evening" want two yards
and half; and, mother, my boots are not
Mt all the kind the girls wear here They
look so stiff and coarse. Please put in
money to buy me u pair, I've got over be-
ing homesck now | should Ike box Of
nice things from home. Won't You send me
one There are two or three of the girls
who live too far away from school to 90 home
in vacation Mghtn't ask one or two TO 60
home with me2 | guess they would have a
good time, for they like sloighing, and it is
most always good sleighing at Christmas.
You can fix up the front room over the par
Tor nicely, and have stove put up for all
the rooms are warm here, only it never Is
qnite warm enough Write right away,
please, and don't forget the money for The
sash and boots"
That was the rurport of Lizzies letter.
Her mother read It, aud went to her own
room. What she did there was FIRST to sit
down and cry over the iugratiiude and selfish
ness of her only child She rcpented having
sent the girl away to school Then she be.
gan to take Lizzie's way Of looking at things
alt is perfectly natural that She should
wish TO dress as she secs others do, and a nice
sash lcould be pretty" With that Mrs Ilar.
rison went to count over again the money
that remained from the sale Of the land
With many misgivings the poor mother with
drew the required sum from the drawer, and
sent it the next day.
&" Maybe | shall not repent the sacrifice
after ALL" she thought, "if | do work lit
tie hard and let Lizzie invite the girls home
with her" So the permission was given.
PART SECOND.
The winter grew very cold as the holidays
came on. The spare.room was chilled through
and through, and yet Mrs Harrison worked
lovingly in the biting atmosphere to make all
ready for Lizzies friends The last thing
done was the putting up Of the stove Little
did Lizzie think how that kind, painstaking
mother was toiling to win her daughters love
She thought all mothers did just so-that il
was nothing at all uncommon.
Everything was in order when Lizzie and
her friends arrived. Mrs. Harrison wei
coined the merry group heartily, aud Lizzie
noticing that the girls were pleased, ran gay
y to the spare-room with them.
> That evening, while the three girls wcr'
> yet at the widespread supper-table, Mr. llar
rison came in Lizzie had not seen him since
, the day she left home. " Father - she said
hardly knowing whether to get up and kiss
/, him before the girls, or not.
Well, Lizzie !" he said, " am glad t.
see you here again and he went around t.
her chair and gave her two or three kisses
One of the two girls--a little thing in siz'
-wstfully said I've come home, too sir
Won't you give me kiss ?"
To be sure will" said Mr.. Harrison
That little speech Of Mary Fenns won biz
heart He began to think that, after all, i
wasn't such dreadful bother to have Lizzi,
bring home her schoolmates
The minute supper was over, Mrs. llarri.
son thought Lizzie would leave her LITTLE
friends and help wash the dishes But no
She went with the girls into the sittingroom
From there her voice could be heard by th,
weary woman laughing and chatting away al
though there was no more work to do in Oh,
world. Little Mary Fem, having Mother
father nor mother, had lived so long in tn,
atmosphere of schools thatshe was full OF JOY
at the thought Of being in home once more
Hearing the sounds from the kitchen, sh,
said, Lizzie, may 60 out and see you
; mother p
Mother" called Lizzie, " Mary Fem
, wants to come into the kitchen. May she 2?
Mrs. Harrisonput chair before the brigh
fire, and minute later Mary was sitting in it
However, she did not sit long for present.,
she had towel in her hand and was begin,
to help. The tears filed poor tired Mrs
Harrison's ewes as she listened TO Mary
girlish talk.
"Oh if | had a mother said Mary
" what lcouldnt | do for her can no
? even remember mine, and have no relatives
except one uncle and some cousins, who don
see me often enough to care much about me
1t was real good Of you, Mrs. Harrison, t
let Lizzie ask US down here"
Mother, we are going to bed now good
night" called out Lizzie soon after, and ava
she went, without single word Of home
i love.
D Before the next morning dawned, there wa,
trouble in the house. A physician was calle
7 in haste Mrs Harrison was very i'll. Tn
spare room" she had toiled so hard to pre-
pare for the little guests had been too coll
J for her. The next night she was delirious
and continually besought the neighbors VIII
had come in to care for her, to take her home
She wanted to 60 home once more, and Sc
if Lizzie wouldn't love her, and help her jus
a little.
: Mary Fem had been for some time hover
ing about the door of the room, and hearin
the low plant, she ran to find Lizzie.
Lizzie she said come come quick
> Your mother is talking about you. Touc
: her forehead aud love her.. Maybe she vii
feel your touch, and will wake up to know
you once more. 0 Lizzie, Lizzie it is S
lonesome without any mother You don
know what it is, and do"
Mary, do those women in there thinl
that mother is going to die ~ asked Lizzie
for the first time alarmed aud anxious.
Nobody can tell, but everybody is afraid,
{ said Mary, leading Lizzie to the room.