Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-06-19
Che family Circle.
Little FIOy.
BY ALICE CHADBoURNE.

What is to be done with the child -
This was the question which occupied
the thoughts and tongues of little circle
of kind hearted women, who met twice a
month to fashion and sew tiny garments
for the destitute children in Yare; not
wealthy women, though they had been
used to the comforts Of life. They were
all of them wives of men who worked in
the ship-yards, when there was anything
to DO But the business of ship-building-
a very important branch OF industry to
the sea coast people Of Maine-was at its
lowest ebb at this time (yOur father or
brother will tell you the reason and So
there were no stately ships or barques on
the stocks, and only now and then small
brig or a little schooner for the coasting
trade that called for their labor. The
school children were obliged to forego the
delight Of being dismissed half an hour
before high water, that they might 90
rushing down to the wharf, in . rolhcking
crowd, to see the launching OF the biggest
ship of the season, when she was ready to
be introduced to the ocean And then the
families Of the ship-carpenters found
themselves greatly Strengthened as to their
means. However, these good women con-
tinued to meet for their benevolent work ;
bat a case had Just come up for considera-
ton that even the most comfortable cloth
ing could not cover If we listen TO their
talk awhile, we shall learn all about it.
80 l must say" began Mrs. Brooks, as
she smothed out a piece of calico, and
laid on pattern Of a little tyer, " if that
little thing has to 20 to the poor house, 1t
will be a downright shame 4 Brewster,
too right straight down from good old
DR.. Brewster, the first minister in all
these parts, and honored and loved by
everybody for miles around. | declare it
Is little more than | can stand
" But what can we do ?" asked Mrs.
Hunt anxiously. 81 If it was only a mat
ter Of clothing, we could manage it. But
there the little thing Is, without father or
mother, and not a cent in the world She
Just wants everything
" Dear me if something could only be
done to bring up ship-building again
said Mrs. Mcdonald But Its almost
more than we can do to take care Of our
own children now
3. wish, s. returned Mrs Seabury, % that
our rich men would put little of their
money into something that would make
work for the people, instead Of building
vessels and fitting them out in foreign
ports In that case it would be an easy
matter to provide for little Floy.'
d" How old Is the child, Mrs. Brooks 90
Only four but she is ike little
woman. They say she waited on her
mother, while she was sick, as patient as
little lamb. and she Is terribly afraid of
making people trouble.
.. Dear me exclaimed Mrs Mcdonald
again She ought to be in a happy
home. She never's had chance to be
child yet. [ don't like to see baby
turned into a woman
:. There's Mrs. Burton. She might take
her Just as well as not. Plenty of money,
and not a child in the world. 1t would DO
her full as much good as it would Foy.
But she says God did not let her keep her
own children, and she won't take care of
other peoples"
Everybody looked shocked at this But
a gentle sweet faced little woman said
softly: " is a dreadful thing TO feel so
rebellious | know But we must remem-
Der how wretched she Is. Her loss was
so terrible and 50 sudden Three chill
dren all drowned together, right in sight
of home"
There were tears now in a good many
eyes, and some one added Yes, they
were good little creatures, too and they
sang ike little angels
And another . don't know that |
could bear it any better"
Then the voices were silent awhile
though the bright needles few very fast,
and the kind thoughts few faster still, each
eager worker striving to plan some way to
keep the poor little orphan out Of the poor
house.
Well, said energetic Mrs. Brooks at
last. as the afternoon drew to a close, and
she rolled up a bundle of work to carry
home, can't think of anything better
than this at present: % I'll take care of
little Floy for fortnight; and, if each
of you will do the same, there'll be six
months provided for. To be sure, | don't
like sending the poor child from pillar to
post in this way; but anything, almost, is
better than the poor house I'm afraid it
will have to come to that at last But
well do all we can and hope for the best
and in the meantime something may hap
pen"
Something did happen.
Three months had gone by. 1t was
gentle Mrs. Ingraham's turn to befriend
little Floy; and the child, trying to be
happy and contented everywhere, was
soon quite at home in the tidy, pleasant
cottage.
One day Mrs. Burton came in to bring
a taste of her strawberry jam, which she
had found unusually good, she said but
| believe the Borrowing woman really came
for the sake of the sweet loving sympathy
which she was sure to find in the tender
speech and restful ways Of her quiet
neighbor The two women had gone for
some purpose into the upper rooms of the
cottage, leaving little Floy alone in the
kitchen, in delighted play with toy fat
iron, with which she was smoothing, with
great painstaking, the wardrobe of an
immense doll baby.
By and by little voice came floating
up the stairs: Mamma +"
" Yes, dear, l am coming presently"
But Mrs. Burton detained her moment
to ask her about little pictured face
upon the wall and before she reached the
entry the small voice called again-this
time with a moan of distress in it;
Mamma! Oh, mamma