The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-11-07

heatu ~ Whatt tceeiy Eakpci Mr.,
Mickington.
There's been an accident At No. 3, said
= hoarso.volced man, aud there's an ola
dozen young Auus Killed stsirs irll
down at recess time.
Ncedn't to hA told her quisc 50 suddou
Jones, said The grocer, ypFoaehfully
Don't YOU see she's fainHn
But Mrs. Mickington was as utterly
devoid Of color as though Il had been
moulded in the worthy groecr's best tat
low She dar,ed down the street moau.
ing softly and wriRRlug her bands,
Aud only to think | scnt 'om away with
hard word aud frown not two hours
ago! | told em | never wanted to see
their faces again; and the Lord has taken
me at my word I'm call the Major IN
ask him TO 20 round, for have neither
the courage nor The strength myself Oh
my ehidrcnl my childrcnl to think
sent em away So
As she entered her Kitchen shc saw that
her baby chair was empty.
oh, my God she walled, wrineing her
hands he's gone O, Major, Maiorl
The Major nearly fell over her a. she
tottered up stairs, holding fcobly by the
railing. ....
What's the matter, maam, breathlessly
inquired the old gentleman. House on
fire? No matter, lt's insured,
The childrcnl the ehllrenl gasped
Mrs, Mickington. There's beon an acci
dent in the school house, Aud-and..
Not deddi .
Mrs, Mickington answered only BY .
burst Of sobs and tears,
The Major caught his hat from The peg,
his face as pale as the mothers own.
IN 20 round and sec Pray heaven its
nothing serious, he suffered, Reports
are always exaggerated, ] dare say
dare say they are all safe and sound. III
willgo round and see, Dear little Blllyg
and he was only eight years old ,eslcr-
day And Sarah Ann that taught 20
say the Beggar's Petition without mis-
sing word from beginning to end Aud
Joe, that could put on my slippers aud
spectaoes aud laugh SO You couldn't tell
him from me myself They're not dead
they can't be dead, you sect But Tll go
round just TO set your mind At rest, Mrs.
Mickington. Bless your heart Of course,
ma'am, It's all right,
And away hurried Major Jossamlnc,
with his hat thrust on wrong side before,
and the scarlet skirt Of his dressing gown
hanging six good inches below his over.
coat, making him look not unlike gor-
geous coekaioo asearaa f.e,.. ~ VaEo,
As Mrs. Mickin0tan ~'-"si vacahtly
off,. Li.u, Detsey sloper, hcr next neigh
Dor, came in with the identical baby in
her arms.
Now, look here Sally Mckington, said
she, the next time you go TO market and
leave poor little Jimmy all alone so, III
never bring him back Why, any one
might ha' kidnapped him, poor, dear bIes.
sed darlingl
And clasping the restored treasure in
her arms, Mrs. Mickington sobbed out
her grief to the friendly car Of Miss
Sloper. ..
And IL told 'em never to show their
faces to me again, she wept.
That was a foolish thing TO say, sure
enough, said Betsey; but dear heart, the
Lord don't always take us at our word.
Hope for the best until you know tho
worst; that is my motto, And here
comes the Major now.
Sure enough the Major was visible from
the window, hatless and eager, with his
scarlet skirts streaming meteor fashion
behind him, Sarah Ann in his arms, aud
the two boys following, their arms laden
with toys, sugar-plumbs and picture
books.
MAJ ma the Major says he win take us
to Central Park, Saturday, screamed Joe.
MAJ intcrposed Billy, we was on the
stairs, but We didn't get thun. Jack Em-
mons ls killed, Jack Isl The Major says
he'll buy inc squirrel In tin cage.
! Oh, Major how can ! ever thank youl
sobbed Mrs. Mickington.
Don't say word, maam, responded
Major Jcssamine, but get right down ON
your knees aud thank God for his mcr-
cies. And-l say, ma'am Of course you'll
pay no attention to my little Joke this
morning about giving months notice.
Bless my heart, belong in your second
floor front now, aud I'm sure don't
known what should ever do without
the ehildrenl
And Mrs. Mickington kept her lodgcr,