Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-01-08
Johnnie jacques Cross.
by ELEANOR BURR.


On beautiful day last week Johnnie
came home from school with a very sober
face, and step not nearly so cheerful as
usual. He neither shouted to Britz, his
own pet squirrel, nor wbistled to the canary
as he opened the gate and came slowly
around to the sitting-room door. 1t was
very small, but very neat aud pleasant
room, this sittiug-room, and Johnnie's
mother sat in low rocker near the window,
sewing patches into his rough and ready
week day suit This little boy called them
rough aud ready" because they had grown
old and rough with time and use, yet were
ever ready at his pleasure. But to-day the
sight of them seemed only to deepen his III
mood. His mother looked up brightly as
he entered, aud was about to speak; but
seeing such forbidding little face il the
doorway, thought it could not belong to her
Johnnie, so she bent over her sewing again.
Presently Johnnie coughed, then drummed
on the door post with his two brown fists,
then coughcd again, but his mother did not
seem at all disturbed At last he deter
mined to have it all out and over with, 50
he began
al wish | had plenty Of money wish
was in Ike Sedcn's boots !"
Now Ike Seden was boy Of about his
own age, who lived across the street in
large, fno house, with rich curtains at the
window, and a greyhound carved from
stone crouching on the broad doorstep.
This much Of the strange boys home
Johnnie Jacque had discovered, but the lit
tie stranger himself be had never seen, ex-
cept now and then at window, or astride
the stone hound.
Perhaps be was shy, and could not make
friends as easily as be could, Johnnie had
thought but be would soon get over it,
and how nice it must be to live in such a
large house, with long curtains, and a stone
greyhound on ones step And johnnie,
receiving no answer from his mother, re-
peated his wish.
Ike Seden can have everything he
wants; Just ererytting' Catch him eat
ing brown bread and apple sauce, or wear
ing clothes like mine! Oh dear !"
Still, Mrs. Jacque did not answer by
word or look, aud the little boy began to
wish she would say something, if it we're
no more than, " Hush !" After little
she rose from her seat, saying quietly:
These are ready now, Johnnie; will
you want them tomorrow, do you think ?"
don't know"
81 think you will if you 60 Mating as
you expected | will take them to your
room" aud Johnnie was left to his i'll, mis-
cradle, little self Yet not i'll to himself
either for Chirp, the canary, hanging in
his airy house against the wall, had quite
overlooked master Johnnies Indifference,
and now burst out into SO hearty a song
that the boy actually smiled, in spite Of
his mood.
The following morning he woke up bright
and early, and after breakfast was over and
his morning duties were out Of the way,
started with number Of playmaies on the
nutting expedition 1t was such clear,
beautiful day, and Saturday, too! You
would have thought Johnnie's ill-humor
would have flown far away from him, but
1t did not, and-I am sorry to say it-that
night when he looked out from his window
it stood at his side aud looked out, too.
Well, about three weeks after this Grand
pa Lime brought Mrs Jacque letter, and
she read it over carefully, and when
Johnnie came in from school she read it to
him, and be was very much delighted, for
il was from an uncle who had plenty OF
money, and who wanted that Johnnie
jacques mother should let her son 90 Ia
live with him in his large, fine house, which
was too large for such an empty one. He
had had four little ones in it once, but they
had left him aud the old place, one by one
and now be wanted his sister-in-law's child
with him, for the present, at least.
Everything 1 want !" exclaimed John
nie, when he had heard this letter through
81 shall be well contented in my owl
boots now" and he never noticed the tear
in his mothers eyes, but danced and whirleC
around the room for an hour, so overjoyeC
was he at his "good-fortune." Foolisl
Johnnie!
At last it was decided that he should 90
and then he found his mother still oftene
by the window, sewing-not patches into I
" rough and ready suit, but fresh stitches
into fresh suit. Then the last day came
and Johnnie bade his mother good-by tw,
or three times over, and Grandpa Linn
took him down to the station and foun(
him seat in one of the cars, near an opel
window, and when he left him, said in
low tone johnnie, my boy, l fear th
cross you take up is heavier than th
one laid down"
After a long ride, rather tedious on th
whole to Johnnie, the train arrived at NJ.
e and here his uncle was waiting for him
, Very tired was Johnnie, aud cared nothing
at all for the /" fine house and long cur
tains " that night, but went to bed quit
1 early. In the morning the tinkle of lit
: tie bell awoke him. "The cows" h
4 \ thought, as he opened his eyes /" they ar
already on their way to pasture" But th
next minute he saw his mistake in ever,
strange thing about him.
After breakfast he went with his unc
to the barn to see the horses, then returne,
to the house to iud plenty of picture book
and amusements Of all sorts awaiting him
With these he busted himself all the fore
: ! noon, and in the afternoon went out Il
drive but after a few days spent thus, an,
the novelty had partly worn Off, Johnni
!, found himself thinking oftcner and oitene
of mother" and the brown cottage 0
home. Every night he wondered owe
Grandpa Lines parting word, and 6nall.
when few weeks had rolled away, he de
T termined to write letter, asking his moth
! er to send for him. Now, real letter h
had never written or sent in his life, only
make-believe school exercise so when thi
bright thought came to him, he hurrie'
!, into his uncle's library and with paper, ipl
and pen, seated himself at low table an,
commence
DEAR MoTuER Il have been thinking grand
pas words over and over, and guess | kno,
now what they mean. Do please tell me T.
come home, aud to come quick
Your own JOHNNIE.
I This he sealed and directed and carrie,
G to the office himself. And when he hande,
a IL tn n clerk another letter was handed oil