Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-02-28


ed IN with much rejoicing Jack and Ned
Joined their farms and raised potatoes,
those being a good salable article. They
got twelve bushels, counting little cues and
all, and sold them to Mr.. Bhaer at fair
price, for potatoes went fast in that house.
Emil and Franz devoted themselves to
corn, and had a Jolly little husking in the
barn, after which they took their corn to
the mill, and came proudly home with
meal enough to supply the family with
hasty pudding aud johnny cake for long
time. They would not take money for
their crop, because, as Franz said, - We
never can pay Uncle for all he has done
for Us if we raised corn for the rest of our
days"
Nat had beans in such abundance that
he despaireI of ever shelling them, till
Mrs. 10 proposed a new way, which
succeeded admirably. The dry pods were
spread upon the barn floor, Matt 6ddled,
and the boys danced quadrilles on them,
till they were thrashed out with much
merrimen. and very little labor.
Tommy's six weeks beans were a fail
ure, for dry spell early in the season
hurt them, because he gave them no water.
and after that he was so sure they could
take care of themselves, he let the poor
things struggle with bugs and weeds till
they were exhausted, and died a lingering
death So Tommy had to dig his farm
over again, and plant peas. But they
were late-the birds ate many, the bushes
not being :icmly planted, blew down, and
wden the poor peas came at last, no one
cared for them, as their day was over, and
spring lamb had grown into mutton. Tom
my consoled himself with charitable ef-
fort. for he .ransplanted all the thistles he
could find, and tended them carefully for
poor Toby. who was fond of the prickly
delicacy. and had eaten all he could find
on the place The boys had great fun
over Tom thistle bed-but he insisted
that it was better to care for Toby than for
himself, and declared that he would devote
his entire farm next year to thistles,
worms, and snails, that Dennis turtles and
Mats pet owl might have the food they
loved as well as the donkey. So like
shiftleSs. kind hearted Tommy,
Deni had supplied his grandmother
with lettuce all summer, and in the au-
tumn sent his grandfather basket of
each one scrubbed up till it looked
ike . great white egg. His grandma was
fond Of salad, and one of his grandpa's
lavorite quotations was
'Lucul!us whom frugaIty could charm
Ate roasted turnIps at the Sabine farm"
Therefore these vegetable offerings to the
dear domestic god and goddess were afFec-
tionate, appropriate and classical
Daisy had nothing but flowers in her
little plot, and it bloomed all summer long
With succession of gay and fragrant
Dosies. She was very fond of her garden,
and delved away in it at all hours, watch
ing over her roses, and pansies, sweet-peas,
and mignonette. as faithfully and tenderly
as she did over her dolls or her friends.
Little nosegays were sent into town on all
occasions, and certain vases about the
house were her especial care. She had all
.orts of pretty fancies about her flowers,
.ud loved to tell the children the story of
he pansy, and show them how the step
mother leaf sat up in her green chair in
purple and gold-how the two own chill
lren in gay yellow had each its little seat,
While the step children, in dull colors.
10Th sat on one small stool, and the poor
title father IN his red nightcap, was kept
ut of sight in the middle Of the flower
hat monk dark face looked out of the
monks hood larkspur, that the flowers of
he canary vine were so ike dainty birds
.uttering their yellow wings, that one al
most expected to see them fly away, and
he snapdragons that went off ike little
istol shots when you cracked them.
plendid dollies did she make out of scarlet
nd white peoples, with rufied robes tied
ound the waist with grassblade sashes,
nd astonishing hats of coriopsis on their
reen heads. Pea-pod boats, with rose
saf sails, received these flower people, and
Dated them about a placid rpool In the
lost charming style, for finding that there
ere no elves, Daisy made her own, and
wed the fanciful little friends who played
leir parts in her summer life.-Frop
Iiss Alcott's " Little Men"