Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-22

ing the outskirts of the town, as she stood
on the top of hill, she saw the tiniest
and dearest bitof a cottage, with the tiniest
mite Of an old lady sitting at the door, on
pretty porch, spinning away for " dear
life"
BY this time our young friend was SO
thirsty that she forgot all about her fears,
and marched straight to the cottage door.
a bite out OF her little plump cheeks be-
sides, she was very much afraid that some.
Some bright red roses were climbing up
around the porch, and they nodded their
pretty heads in such a merry way, and the
old lady looked up and smiled SO kindly
that Flounce felt quite rested at the sight.
please would you give me drink OF
water ? ~" she asked with her lips and with
her eyes at the same time.
" Certainly answered the kind woman,
stopping her spinning; I'll give you a
Upper, and then you can get drink for
yourself down at the spring-house.
So saying she tripped away as though
she were as young as Flounce, and soon
came back, bringing small tin dipper that
fairly shone
- Here" she said, you see that queer
white house yonder, close bY the big apple
tree? If you'll go down there, my daugh-
ter Sally Ann would give you drink OF
u ce cool milk"
FIounce almost hoped out Of her dusty
shoes on hearing this, and skipped of to-
ward the spring house, scarcely waiting 10
thank the good lady for her kindness. Sure
enough she found " Sally Ann busy
washing great pile OF milk-pans, who,
although She was much surprised NJ the
glt Of little girl bouncing into the
spriug-house. smiled good naturally end
asked what she would Ike.
Please, said Flouace, " your mother
told me might have arjne OF milk if
Ia come here, aud she gave ne this pretty
dlpper 10 pat i IN
81 roSy.cbeeked sally Auu -.uYpcd
working. and treated Mis- Fi0uace - the
'' elegantest drink " a. she afterRard told
Tots. that ever was Then she hurried
back 20 tine cottage with the Upper after
thanking the young girl a lots. AID beg
glng her TO come and see me an Tots,
an KITTY Snow. The nice old lady was
watching for her and when she reached
the porch steps handed her great, fat
guger-cake Fiounce was ready to Jump
up and Mss the withered cheek, and give
the slender form one Of her good
squoozes + f; but the lady, words struck
terror to her heart, and She only blushed
and stammercd
My dear, said Mrs Morris for that
was the name OF this kind stranger won't
you tell me where you are gong. You
seem to have come quite long way, and
l IN afraid you mamma don't know where
her little glrl is aud viii be very anxious
about her"
Poor FIounce After d good deal Of
trying. she managed 10 say, stopping TO
get her breath between the words
Im-a-going-to hunt-tbe rainbow. "
Il the chud had said she was gong
z bear hunt the good woman could not
have been more astenjshed but she only
asked gently:
Why. Httie one. what made you think
OF hunting the rainbow "
There was such . pleasant smile shining
10 Mrs. Morris soft blue eyes and dancing
about her lips, that Fiounce could not help
telling her the whole story, al the same
time doing her best 20 twist the ruff > of
her new white apron. When she had
lone. Mrs. Morris SAID kindly.
You can never tiud the rainbow. my
dear, even if you huat for It forever. [
eau L take time TO explain TO you all about
It; for the sun Is fast going west and
you would better hurry home. Your good
papa can tell YOU what the beautiful ram
bow IS better than | can; aud some other
lay hope youll come and see me when
you're not hunting. Saying this, the old
ady stopped down aud kissed her, while
,he crowded another ginger-cooky into
Founce's small pocket, and patted her cheek
5II She saw a smile beginning to light up
he pucSered little mouth. Flouuce was
AFRAID She would cry IL she tried 10 talk,
50 she Just sand goodbye. and trotted away
IS fast as her tired feet would carry her.
She was about halfway home when she
Je-an feeling So very warm and tired that
me thought she would have TO sit down
md rest by the roadside and spying a
arge stone under a small, wild apple-tree,
ue sat down on IT. ." just for a minute.
he said to herself That one minute
passed. and the next, and the next. and
tin a dust-covered little girl was to be
een sitting on the stone by the waysde.
3 Why didn't she jump up and hurry
along home you say. Well, I'll tell
you why-Mr. Nod came and carr led her
o Dreamland, and so the poor child sat
here with her head mid, MD, nodding,
md she dreamed that Mrs Morris blue
yes were peeping at her over b 2, bright
ainbow, aud then again that She and Tots
7ere busy digging pretty, sparkling stones
,ut OF that same rainbow, while Mrs.
Norris, like true fairy, hoped and
kipped about them | don't know how
many more funny dreams she might nave,
,ad, but Just as she thought she had her
myers on a large, clear diamond, some
,ody screamed in her ear Flounco
LOUNGE " She rubbed her eyes. and
ooked up to see, not a fairy with blue
n e, but her Uncle Yves staring at her a.
bough he could hardly believe his own
enses.
" Why, child, what under the sun are
ou doing here? g
- 1t IS all your fault, Uncle Yves Bell,
he cried, land I'm mad at you forever
n ever.
" Uncle Yves was surprised enough at
his bit of temper coming from his little
liece's lips; but ne only said
Never mind now, Flounce, Jump into
ny arms and Ill carry you home. Well /
ght 1t out when We get there. f
If Miss Flounce had not been COM
Ietely tired out, she would have marched
roudly home without his help. but as it .
vas, she could only cuddle close TO him
nd sob softly to herself as he carried her
iome. Papa and mamma were both at
he door to meet them, very anxious iu-
eed about their little runaway. With
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