Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-03
Fnr the Nnung.
Only Play.


and girls following her.
Now, Katie was as pretty and lovablc
child as you could find for miles around, and
the atmosphere which surrounded her was
like the warm air Of the summer time, full OF
sparkle and song
Nobody could be unhappy long when
Katie was near her very motions, blthe and
free as birds in the branches, invited one
to laughter.
Such odd, merry words dropped from her
nimblc tongue such joyous sparkles leaped
from her bright blue eyes such funny little
smiles came aud went among the dimples IN
her cheeks
Aud then she had her tender moods as
well, when the tears would creep to her eyes,
like silver mists kissed by the sunshine and
the story Of a stolen birds nest would make
her grave for half day. But she had ono
fault which you will soon discover
Katie had wrinklcd her face all up like an
old woman, aud put on a pair Of green spec
taclesupd a mnslin cap Of her graudmother's,
with a wide fril that quito hid the wealth Of
sunny curls that usually aoatcd about the lit
l lie fair face, aud in her hands she carried a
piece Of knitting, which she had borrowed from
her mothers work basket, while on her arm
hung queer looking satchel, which she had
found up in the garret
/ 1ign't any wonder to me you've broken
your dolls nose, Sarah Cecilia, for more
harum scarum piece never come across -
The only wonder is, you didn't break your
own :"
There was shout Of laughter, in which
every one joined ard in which little Jack
/ Dunhams voice was loudest.
In an instant Katie had turned and seized
him by the shoulders shaking him with all
her tiny strength.
always told your ma you was born
to be sassy, Jack Durham How dare you
/ laugh in my face like that? You'll come to
some bad end if you begin by laughing at
your bctters !'
Come, you lazy girl" she began again,
whirling around so fast that her spectacles
tumbled from her nose, and the cap border
stood straight up in the air. do believe,
Melina Jones, you was rocked in a snail shell
for cradle How anybody can crawl along
through the world as if they had a thousand
years to live beats me Now, toes out
aud hands before you my dears. Look at
me l'
Aud wild, thoughtess little Katie Fair
banks walked along, faithful copy in minia-
ture Of Miss Keturah Dobbius, who lived all
alone in the big house at the other end Of the
village, and who was noted more for her odd.
ity than for her good looks.
Isn't it splendid fun, now 2n said Dick
Lathrop 4" tell you, boys, there isn't any
thing our Katie can't do !"
Dick was Katie's own cousin, and was very
proud Of her too. He thought there wasn't
another girl in the whole wide world worthy
to stand in Katies shoes.
b" That so 90 said little Jack, who had only
Just recovered his breath after the shake
be had received. But what do you sup.
pose Miss Keturah would say if she could see
you, Katie 2"
She'd Just straightcn herself up like
la Maypoe and say, Wei, well I've
caught you at last Now, walk home, every
one Of you, and you'll find out what the
techy, peppery old Mis- Ksinrah has pot in
80. .saduiu tns...- &c would be incre7ikely
to cry said little Rose Arthur, with flush
Of red on her soft check and tear dim
ming the lustre Of her own bright DARK
eye.
' That's too good Co. laughed one Of tn,
older girls. Only think Of Miss Keturat
Dobbins sharp eyes being wet with real tears
When that happens | shall believe that rose
grow on thistles and that vinegar is sweetel
than sugar"
= But Rose only said, 81 know how | shoul,
feel if had lived long enough to be old an,
homely, aud maybe cross grained too, an,
, I54tl, ,aLtl | al 4,
laugh at me and mock me- believe j
would just break my heart"
And dear little Rose began to sob.
. ! wish | could show you Just how Kat
Z Fairbanks looked at that moment when Ros
r. began to cry With one hand sue snatche
of the old fashioned cap and with the othe
the green glasses, and fash Of tears cam
into her eyes, like summer rain.
Then she smoothed back the shining wave
: Of her golden hair, and with sorrowiul shy
! ! ness which no one had ever seen on her youn
face before, and which was half pathetic t
see, she reached out her hand to Rose.
I'm more than half ashamed Of mysel
Y now she said with repcntant accent o
80 he words, and shouldn't wonder if
~ ID feel awiully sorry whnu 60 to be
so-night and try to say my prayers. | al
= !. real glad you stopped me, Rose"
! Rose wiped her eyes aud drew little neaT
y er to her friend, for they were friends in spit
= Of the vivid differences in their character an
opposition, aud were never so happy as whe
they were together.
, " I'll tell you what made me think Of i
/, Katie. Right over my bed at home MANN
,s has hung up card with the Golden Rul
!. printed on it : Whatsoever ye tooltld tho
I. men should do 10 yo,t, do ye euea so 10 them
70 and all like fash it came before me, such
!. sorrowful picture. | thought how it woul
n seem if | was an old, old woman, cross an
;s disagreeable perhaps-though | don't thin
10 Miss keturah is ever cross inside--and tbi
: nobody loved me, but everybody made spoi
"a of me. And then | couldn't help crying"
A more sorrowfu shadow crossed Katie
: face, and she was about to reply, when the
7 were all startled by the sound of soft voiC
- near them, and turning round, they sa
' Mrs. Fairbanks watching them from the graz
10 arbor
& Come in here, children" she said, an
| will tell you a story"
There was not one who waited to be aske
second time for Mrs. Fairbanks was iamor
NJ for her beautiful stories. But this time
. was true story which she told.
,g They all clustered about her like be,
~ about some sweet blossom which each desire
g e. to taste, while Katie threw herself on tn
r. - bench, hiding her face against her dear mott
20 er's shoulder.
- | did not see your masquerade" bega
~ Mrs Fairbanks, but | can guess from these
u touching the cap and spectacles which Kat
- - still held in her hand, what your amusemei
.a or has been, and want to tell you story whiC
os | am sure you will all like to hear"
Soi Yes, indeed" cried each one, in an Gag,
~ ~ voice Mrs Fairbanks smiled, pressed XII
y down on Katic's brow, and then began
~ ~ When | was little girl, my father al
i" mother both died, leaving to my care two Ii
tie sisters aud a brother younger than mysel
loved them very dearly, and when N
Is mother, just before she died, whispered in n
d. car, Be kind to these little ones, Netti
a. l.