Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-09-19

GU anu Sdlu ~ Dec WnaJ comes Ol klCh-
ing when you're hit" Just so I've
seen one cross word set a whole fam
lily by the ears, some frosty morning
Afterward, if my brothers or myself
We're a little irritable she would say,
"Iakc care, children. Remember
how the fight in the barnyard began.
Never give a kick for hit, and you
will save yourself and others a good
deal Of trouble"
That same afternoon the sunshiny
dame stepped into Aunt Hetty's rooms,
where she found Peggy sewing as us
ual, with the eternal switch on the
table beside her. II am obliged to
90 to Harlem on business" said she.
:" feel rather lonely without company,
and always like to have a child with
me. If you will obIige me by letting
Peggy 60, will pay her fair in the
omnibus"
"She has her spelling lesson to get
before night repied Aunt Hetty. II
don't approve of young folks going
pleasuring, and neglecting their educa.
ton"
"Ncither do I, rcjoined her negh.
bor; "but think there is a great
deal Of education that is not found in
books. The fresh air will make Peggy
grow stout and active. prOphesy
she will do great credit to your bring
inc up"
The sugared words, and the remem-
brance Of the sugared pie, touched the
soft place in Miss Turnpenny's heart,
and she told the astonished Peggy
that she might 90 and put on her best
gown and bonnet. The poor child be
gan to think that this new neighbor
was certainly one of the good fairies
she had read about in the picture
books. The excursion was enjoyed
only as a child can enjoy the country.
The world seems such a pleasant place,
when the teatters are off, and nature
folds the youn@ heart lovingly to her
bosom. A flock Of real birds and two
living butterflies put the little orphan
in a perfect ecstacy. She pointed 10
the fields covered with dandelions, and
said "See how pretty! 1t looks as if
the stars had come down to lie on the
grass" All our little stinted Peggy
has poetry in her, though Aunt Hetty
never found it out Every human
soul has the GERM of some flower with
in, and they would open if they could
only find sunshine and fair air to eX.
pand them.
Mrs. Fairweather was Il prcftct
philosopher in her own small way.
She observed that Miss Turnpcnny re-
ally liked a pleasant tune; and when
winter came she tried to persuade her
that singing would would be cxcellont
for Peggy's lungs, and perhaps keep
her from going into the consumption,
"My nephew, James Fairweather,
keeps a singing school, said she, "and
he says he will teach her gratis. You
need not feel under great obligation
for her voice will lead the whole school.
and her ear Is so quick it will be no
trouble at all to teach her. Perhaps
you would 90 with us sometimes.
ncighbor Turnpenny? 1t is very
pleasant to hear the children's vol
ceS."
The cordage of Aunt Hetty's mouth
relaxed into a smile. She accepted
the invitation, and was 50 much pleas
ed that she went every Sunday even
inc. The simple tunes, and the sweet
young voices, fell like the dew on her
dried-up heart, and greatly aided the
genial influence of her neighbours ex-
ample. The rod silently disappeared
from the table. If Peggy was inclin-
ed to be idle, it was only necessary to
say, "When you have finished your
work, you may 90 ask whether Mrs.
Fairweather wants any errands done.
Bless me, how the fingers hew Aunt
Hetty had learned to use tlunips in
stead of the cudgel.
When spring came Mrs. Fairweath.
er busted herself planting roses and
vines. Miss Turnpenny readily con,
sented that Peggy should help her,
and even refused to take any pay from
such n good neighbor, But she main
tanned her own opinion that it was a
mere vase Of time to cultivate flow
crs. The cheerful philosopher never
disputed the point; but she would
sometimes say, 4 have no room to
plant this rose-bush. Neighbor Turn
penny, would you tie willing to let me
set it on your side of the yard? 1t will
take very little room, and will need no
care At another time she would
say, "Well, really, my ground is too
full. Here's root of lady's delight.
How bright and pert it looks, 1t
seems pity to throw it away. you
are willing, will let Peggy plant it in
what she calls her garden. 1t will
grow of itself, without any care, and
scatter seeds that will come up and
blossom in all the chinks of the bricks.
l love it. 1t is such u bright, good ma
tured little thing" Thus, by degrees,
the grabbed maided found herself sur
rounded by flowers and she even de-
clared, of her own accord, that they
did look pretty.
One day, when Mrs. Lane called
upon Mrs. Fairweather, she found the
old weedgrown yard bright and bloom
ing, Tab, quite fat and sleek, was
asleep in the sunshine, with her paw
upon Pink's neck, and little Peggy