Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-02-14

shall never forget" said o lady one
day, TO me- "my first and thiuk | may just
ly say, my last theft When | was between
seven and eight years Old, went to day
school in the noighborhood and nearly every
morning, on my way there, | used to step 10
at Mrs Benefits to see her little girl, Lizzie,
the dearest little thing that ! ever know, about
three yoars old'
One mauir uai Nn. u@aa,lars-
tn llm
miaa lI0a1 lf.ef f.t.. ] .a. eyer
seen. A.l a.la Ue. oGlt p ut ln
raoa.uors qs which ] v ma.'Hg; but
did not .ise o. a.. iaraH
" Oh, how pretty itWlt Tie loug'ng grow
intense. Mrs. Blmotts back was turned. /
picked up throe.cornercd pie1o from the
iloor, aud hid t in my bosom.
" In two or three minutes ] was on my way
to school, every now and then looking at my
beautiful calico, and thinking how cleycrly l
managed to get it, But all at once it struck
me that had stolen it aud | began to feel
very unhappy. At school / couldn't attend
to my lessons there seemed to be great Jumps
in my throat, and the tri-cornered piece Of
calico, in my bosom, felt as if it were piercing
me with every point. Ny teacher asked me
if felt sick | was going to reply, Yes
but fortunately thought in time No, !
will not tell lie besides stealing so | an
swered that did not feel very well. She
very kindly told me to 60 in the playground
for little while. Oh, how | wished she had
not been so kind
81 said to myself If She only knew
what wicked girl | am, would she speak to
me again 2 went out, and determined to
get rid of the calico, but whore was to put
lit! Everybody would be sure to sec it, and
know stole it. / spied a hole in post
and thought that that would do for a hiding.
place. | squeezed it in, and fancied that
ielt happier, but the bright and beautiful
colors haunted me yet The children would
see it. | must find some more secure place.
got it again, and tried to chew and swallow
il. But it would not do. Oh, how wretched
was beginning to feel On my way from
school, | had to cross bridge over a run.
ming stream Of water, and there | thought
could get rid Of it, | threw it over, ant
watched it slowly floating along. Now il
whirled in a little eddy and now it came
swimming back again. Would it never foai
out Of sight and if it did, where would i
20? Wouldn't it be sure to float right il
front Of some one who would know that il
was Mrs Benefits calico, and that l hac
stolen it While leaned over the brigde
and watched il with all the agony Of childist
remorse, it caught against the root Of bush
which grew upon bank. es, there it stuck
where every one would see t. was sur,
they couldn't and wouldn't see anything else
| heard wagon wheels COMMISSIONING to
ward the bridge.
felt certain that Mrs Bennett was il
that wagon and all my unces, and aunts, an'
playmates and every one that knew me. The
/ would all see the calico, and know that ha,
been stealing. climbed over the bridge a
the risk Of breaking my neck, crept down thu
bank and hid until the wagon bad passed
When all was quiet, | came out Of m,
/ hiding-place, and tried to reach the calico
but my arm was too short | took oil my
shoes and stockings Oh if any one shoul
sse me now With a desperate effort
reached a ll.a. Blt what hol.l d
with 't,u4a aaI gotit3 Nale wlug o.
.my l1c aal stockings, J determined what O
|d0. ran along toward home. L roache
/ Mrs Beunetts. Sao 8as sitting near t4e opel
window. 1 opened tAc gate, went up 90 th
window, throw iu the piece of calico, and Wa
running away, when She called afor me.
q" Sarah, my dear child, what ails you p
hardly turned back but she called again.
went in slowly.
why, Sarah, what is the matter wit
you2 You look quite pale What did yo
throw the piece Of calico in the window for ?
al stole it, said |, desperately expecting
that she would look Mortified and tell m
never to come in to her house any more tina
she couldn't have such wicked girl pla
with her dear little Lizzie. She pu.dow
her work, laid hold Of my hand, drew me tc
ward her, put her arm around me, and sal
pityipgly, Ny poor child =
81 had not shed a tear all the day, but m
head felt as fit would split and my throo
ached Those three words opened the flood
gates of my poor little heart leaned m
head on her bosom, and burst into tear
Sarah dear, she said, as She held me close
her, tell me all about it,
q" did tell her and my heart grew lighte
|, When had finished, she said, am sure
need not say word to add to your sorrow
, you have suffered enough to-day and don
think you will be tempted to be dishonei
again. Take some of these pieces of oaic
aud put them in your patchwork, and whei
ever you see them remember this day
My children sleep under the quilt no'
=, and it is an unfailing monitor 49, Selected.