Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-04-03

DodY trlcI Y ..
Poor Heltyl' replied Mrs Fairweather
" she has had much to harden her. Her
mother died too early for her to remember
her father was very severe with her and the
only lover she ever had borrowed the savings
OF her years Of toll, and spen; them in diss-
patton. But Hetty, Notwithstanding her
sharp features and sharper words, certainly
has kind heart Ia the midst Of her great
est poverty mauy were the stockings that She
knit, and the warm wai.tccats she made for
the poor drunken lover whom she had too
much sense to marry Then you know she
feeds and clothes her brothers orphan child.
"lf you call it feeding and clothing" re-
piled Mrs. Lane. "The poor child looks cold
aud pinched, aud frightened all the time as
it she were chased by the east wind. | used
to tell Mrs Turnpenny she ought to be ashamed
of herself to keep the poor little thing at
work all the time, without a minute to play.
If she does but look at the cat as it runs by
the window, Aunt Hetty gives her a rap over
the knuckles. I used to tell her that she
would make the girl just such another old
sour crab as herself
THAT must have been very improving to
the disposition" replied Mrs. Fairweather,
with a good-humored smile. But in justice
to poor Aunt Hetty, you shall remember that
she had just such cbeerless childhood her
self. Flowers grow where there is sunshine
Il know you think everybody ought to
live in the sunshine replied Mrs. Lane !;
and 1t must be confessed that you carry II
with you wherever you 60. II Mrs. lurn-
penny has heart, dare say you VIII ma 1,
out though | never could, and never heard
of anyone else that could. All the families
within hearing OF her tongue called her the
neighbor-ln-aw.'
Certainly the prospect was not very en-
couraglng; for the house Mrs. fairweather
proposed to occupy was not only under the
same roof with Mrs. Turupenny, but the build
ings had one common yard in trout. Ihe
very first day she took possession OF her new
habitation she called on the neighbor-in'iaw.
Aunt Hetty had taken the precautlon TO ex.
tingulsh the bre, lest the new neighbor should
want hot water, before her own wood aud coal
arrived. Her first salutation was, " II you
want any cold water there's pump across
the street; don't like to have my house all
stopped over.
al am glad you are so tidy, neighbor
Turpenny,' replied Mrs. Falrweaiher. II
IS extremel y pleasant to have neat nelshbors'
| will try to keep everything as bright as
new hye cent piece ior see that w'll please
you. | came merely to say go@d morning
aud to ask you u you could spare little feggJ
to run up aud down stairs for me- while am
getting my furniture IN order. Will pay
her sixpeuce an hour
Aunt lletty began to purse up her mouth
for refusal but the promise OF slxPence an
hour relaxed her features at once. h'itIe
Peggy sat knitting stocking very diilgenty'
with a rod lying on the table beside her: ohe
looked up with tlmid wlstfulness, as II the
prospect OF any change was IKE reiease
from prison. when she heard consent gwen
bright color flushed her cheeNs' enc was
evidently OF an lrrepresslole temperament
good or evil. Now mind ana penave your
self said Aunt Heltyi "and see that you
keep at work every minute II near one
word OF complaint you know what you WIZ
get when you get home. Inc rose color
subslded from feggys pale lace, anu she
answered, es, ma am, very meeNly
In the neighbor's house all went quici
otherwise. No switch lay on the table, ana
instead OF, " Mind now you DO that II you
don't I'll punish you, she heard the gentle
words, There dear, see how carefully you
can carry that up stairs. Why what nice'
handy little girl you are
Under these enlivening influences, Peggy
worked like bee. Aunt iietly was always
in the habit of saying, Stop your noise, and
mind your work" But the new friend pattod
her on the head aud said, "What pleasant
voice my little girl has. II is like the birds
in the fields. BY and by you shall hear my
music box"
This opened wide the windows Of the little
shut up heart, so that the sunshine could
stream in, and the birds fly in aud out CAROL
ing. The happy child tuned up like lark,
as she trpped lightly up aud down stairs, on
various household errands But though she
took heed to observe all the directions given
her. her head was all the time filed with con-
lectures what sort Of thing a music box
might be. She was little afraid the kind
lady would forget to show it to her She
kept at work, however, aud asked no ques-
tions she only looked very curiously at
everything that rosembed box.
At last Mrs Fairweather said 81 think
your little feet must be tired by this time.
We will rest while, and eat some ginger
bread" The child took the offered cake
with humble little courtesy. and carefully
held out her apron to keep crumbs from fall
log on the foor But suddenly the apron
dropped, aud the crumbs were all sirewed
about " Is that little bird r. she exclaimed
eagerly. "Where is he2 Is he in the
room ?" The new friend smiled, and told her
that was the music box aud after while