Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1872-07-02

1
the gentle words: There. dear, SEQ how
carcIally YOU can carry that UP stairs.
Why, what nice, handy little girl you
arow
Under these enlivenng influences
Peggy worked like a bee. Aunt Het,y
was always in the habit of saying stop
your noise, and mind your work" Ilul
the new friend pattcd her on the hosd
aud said: "What pleasant voice The
little girl has II Is like tho birds in The
fields. BY and-by you shall hear my
music box
This opened wide the windows of the
little shut.up heart. SO that the sunshine
could stream in, and the birds fly in and
out, carolIng. The happy child tuned
up like n iaik. rs she tripped lightly mp
aud down stairs on various household
errands But though she took care TO
observe all .he directions given her. her
! head was all the time filled with conject.
ur-s what sort OF u thing y music, box
might be. She was littlO afraid tho
kind lady NIGH! forge; to show it to her.
/ She kept TO work, however, and asked
no questions; she only looked very Gu
iiously at everything that resembled Il
! box
1t last Airs. Fairwcather said / think
your little feet must be tired by this time.
We will rest awhile. aud eat some gin
gerbrcad."
The child took he offered cake, with
humble little courtesy, aud carefully
held oul her apron Ia prevent any
crumbs from falling on The floor. But
suddenly the apron dropped, and the
crumbs were all strowed about.
lis that little bird ?" she exclaimed
eagerly. Where is he? Is ho in this
room"
The new friend smiled, and told hcr
that was the music box, and after u
while she opened it, ana explained VIII,
made the sounds Then she took out y
pile of books from one of the baskets oi
goods, and told Peggy she might look nj
the pictures till she called her
The littlo girl stepped forward eagerly
l1 take thum, and then drew back, us il
afraid
What is the matter p asked Mrs
Fairwcalher Il am vciy willing to
trust on with the books keep them
ON purpose to aiduso children"
Aunt Turnpenny won't like it il /
| play"
Don't trouble yourself about that. |
will make it all right with Aunt Hetty."
replied the friendly one
Thus assured, she gave herself up 10
tho full enjoyment Of the picture books
and when she was summoned 10 her
work. she obeyed with cheerful alacri,y
that would have astonished her stern rel
ativc. When the lnbors Of The day were
concluded, Mrs. Fairweather uccompa
MED her home, paid for MI The hours she
had been absent, and warmly praised hon
doclily and diligence.
Ill is lucky for her that she behaved
80 woll," replied Aunt Hetty; If had
heard any complaint should have given
her y whipping, and sent her to bed
without her supper
Poor little Peggy went 70 sleep that
night with lighter heart than she hnd
ever ict since she had been al orphan.
lie first thosght in the morning was
whether the new neighbor would want
her services during the day. Her desire
that it should bo 40 soon became obvious
to Aunt llelty, aad excited au underlined
jealousy and dislike OF a person who so
easily made hcrsel. beloved. Without
exactly acknowledging to herself what
were her motives. she ordered Peggy to
gather Il the swcepings of the kitchen
and court into a small pile, and leave it
on the frontier OF her ncighbor'S prcms
cs. Peggy venlursd to ask timidly
whether the wind would not blow il
about, and received box on the ear for
her imperlinence.
1t chanced that Ms. Fairweathcr,q quite
uninicnlionally, heard The words and the
blow. She gave Aunt lleiiy's anger
time 10 cool, then. stepping out into the
court. ami afer arranging divers little
mattlers, she called aloud TO her do
mestic:
sally, how came you to leave this
pile OF dirt here? Didn't tell you Miss
Turnpenny was very neat? Pray. make
haste and sweep it up. | would not
have her to see il OH any account. told
her that would try to keep everything
So nice about the premises. She is so
particular herself, and it is comfort TO
have tidy neighbors."
The girl. who had been previously in.
structed, smiled rs she came out, with
brush and dust-pan, and quietly swept
away the pile, that was intended as n
declaration of frontier war.
But another source of annoyance pre-.
sened itself, which could not be quito so
easily disposed of Aunt Hetty had q
cat, lean, scraggy animal, that looked
as if she was oiton licked and seldom
fed; Mrs. Fairweather also had fal,
frisky little dog, always ready for a ca
pei He took 3 dislike to poor, poverty
stricken Tab the first time he saw her,