Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-07-10
Big Brothers and Little Sisters.


observed that as she studied, the small face
grew more aud more clouded, until at last she
lifted up her voice and wept loud and long,
whereat there was great CONSERVATION, until
il occurred to somebody to ask what was the
matter.
" Because because" - sobbed poor little
Polly. " the verse says, Add 10 your god
illness, brothcriy kindness aud if that's kind
ness like Toms don't like It at all I"
What did she moan Well, [ suspect she
meant that Tom was Just such brother to her
as great many of you are to your little Pol
lies at home. | suspect she knew what il
was to have her dolls hung up 10 the apple
trees, and her kittens tails tied together, aud
to be leaped at from behind doors and growled
at in dark corners imagine she had been
ticklcd and pinchcd and locked into the closet;
she was used TO being called pickle, and a
cry-baby, and a little pug, and trotting with
patient feet upstairs, downstairs, out to tho
orchard into the tool-room, hither and yon,
or errands, for the doing of which she receiv.
ed only a tweak Of the ear, or careless jest
in place Of thanks.
Yet, also suspect that Tom was a gener-
Gus lad, who despised "sneak," and who
if he had seen another boy abuse or torment
Polly, would have promptly offered to bestow
on that individual a black eye. | have nc
doubt that in the playground or at schoo
he was good-natured and honorable, disdain
ing " mean" action and emulous to be man
ly. lie would open wide eyes Of astonish
ment at any suggestion Of cruelty in his con
duct toward his sister, and reply with homes
candor
Why, it's only Polly she don't mind"
All, boys only Polly " has tender lit
tie heart, and it aches many time, whei
you don't know it. with the sting Of you
careless teasing. The words you utter 8
lightly, and forget in ten minutes, are arrow
to her sensitive little soul, and the trick
which seem to you so triaing are weghiy tri
ais to her.
"Well, but" says Tom, its so silly o
her to mind because she knows We don
mean anything"
That is one view of it, | suppose if sh
was a boy, or grown up, or wise, she wou
not mind but being just Polly, little, weak
silly--if that is what you call it-she eau
help it. You know if you squeeze a rubbe
ball tightly in your hand it will expand ogai
into as round ball as ever, aud you canno
even see the place where it was compresso
But if you try the same experiment on
handful of rose-eaves the result will be yer
different. Aud roso-leaves are not muc
more easily crushed fat than Pollys feelings
1t seems absurd to Tom but then it is
Iact aud facts, you know, even if they ar
ever so much in the way, cannot be disregard
ed. Wouldn't Tom be tho truer gentlema
if he accepted facts and spared Poly's fee
ings even at the loss of little fun? Ate
all, is the fun so amusing it cant be replace
with something better2 Then, too, Poll
loves Ton 50 dearly; she is so ready to b.
| lieve in the extent of his strength aud wi
/ dom and ability, if he will but leave h,
faith undisturbed by teasing pranks. To
has warm heart under his jacket, and
think be privately enjoys Pollys love aud a
! miration but | also think it is a pity
covers up his feelings SO carefully, and rath,
: suubs Polly's kisses. For the day will con
r when the little sisters love will be valued
, its WORTH and, it may be, wished for in val
Once We were going on grand fishing e
/ cursion from Cherrywold, and word W
$ brought that certain famous traveller wou
e like TO join US. He was man that had ri
den elephants in India, and polar bears
e the North pole, for all know He hi
+ hunted lions, and been lost in jungles, al
! frizzled in hot countries aud stifFened in Ar
&c regions, and been all over the world
had been soldier, too aud everybody wi
knew about him knew what courage, patien'
and nobility made up the man. You ca
imagine how the boys shouted at the prospe
b. Of having such fishing companion, who cou
a tell stories of everything they wanted
:. know. aud answer all their questions, ar
: who liked boys, too
Well, the reality was just as delightful {
G we all expected. which is saying great dea
3, as every one knows who has ever belonged
debating club and discussed the questiS
n about the pleasures of anticipation. Aft
we came home | said to the famous traveller
. (Which Of the boys did you like best ~
c And he answered promptly Jack"
So asked why, because | thought
e would have said Tom, or Dick or Harry, AT
5 this is what he said
Because he went back after we we
0 started, 10 MISS nls llltlc slaleTf hhu WASH
n ashamed of it either"
Thcn this brave, wise man-the brave
| man | ever kncw-told me secret. Sa
i he:
Il The real promise for boys future
e shown in the way he treats his little sisters
II Dear me - thought |, what a love
e time your little sisters must have had -
e But 1 didn't say that. only wonder
1t how many of the Toms know would be wi
e ing to have the hope of their future man
e ness measured by their treatment Of their !
d tie Pollies.
e But oh, my dear boys, think my tray'
d er was right for the most truly brave so
10 is tender toward the little aud weak I
= most manly heart is the one that loves most
At the greatest are the most patient aud I
/. ST. Georges who are sure to conquer I
st da ,ons abroad, are gentlest with the Polli
,e at home. Christian Union.