Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-11-01
THE LOST CHILD.

IF We only could get rid of Freddy,
we could have some fun p
The speaker was Oracle Medford, a
bright, impetuous girl Of nine, and the
sister of chubby little four-year
Fred, who was toiling on after her
through the woodland ways, and whose
logging, short footsteps had made her
very impatient for the last hour.
Don't hurry SO, Kitty" she said, a
moment after. eff you do, we shall
lose Freddy; and 1 do feel sometimes
as if wouldn't much care. never
can go anywhere, or do anything, with
him to drag along. There, 1 can't keep
mp with you, and that's the end of it p
Kitty Smith turned round her spark
ling. spirited, brunette face.
" [ declare" she said, "I think it's
too mean of your mother. She might
have nurse for him Just as well as not.
don't know what good staying in the
country is going to do you, if you never
can run, or climb, or anything else, Just
because you've got always to see to that
tiresome boy. | do declare, I'm glad I
haven't any little brother"
" Me owe 90, Kitty" said little Fred,
trying to make peace. Me 'ove 90
berry much, Gracie," .. ..-. Il.
And Oracle turned, impulsively, then,
and hugged her little brother, and
kissed him.
so you do, Freddy; and sister
won't complain of you any more"
"Not amy more ?" Fred asked, with
little culver of hope and fear com
mingled on the "any," which made it
almost sob.
The little Medfords were Kitty Smiths
cousins and their mother had brought
them out from the hot, dusty city to
pass July and August in the pleasant
country home where her sister Smith
lived all the year.
There had been some talk about bring
ing Freddy's nurse with them; but
Mary, who had been confined steadily
for the last four years to her little
charge, wanted two months vacation,
in which to make journey to her Nova
Scotlan home, and see again all the dear
old faces from which she had never been
parted until four years ago, when her
aunt, who was Mrs. Medford's cook,
procured for her the place of nurse girl
in the Medford establishment, and she
commenced her campaign with little
Freddy Mrs. Medford really wanted
to give Mary this pleasure, and, more
over, she was reluctant to incumber her
sisters household with too many in
mates; but she hesitated over the mat
ter for while, because her own health
was delicate, and she knew that she
should be quite unequal to constantly
looking after her sturdy, tireless little
boy. The affair was finally settled by
Oracle.
"You might let Mary go, I think,
mamma" she said, when the discussion
was going on. 81 shall be out of school,
you know, and having nothing to do but
play all day long; and Freddy can just
play around with me, and give you no
trouble at ALL"
eff you are sure you wouldn't get
tired of him." Mrs. Medfordsaid, doubt
fully. "You know Mary has always
taken care of him, and you have never
been used to have him interfere with
any of your pleasures. You know you
do like to have your own way.
L think | do not like it better than I
love my brother" Oracle answered, with
earnest voice and somewhat heightened
color; ard so the matter was settled.
Mary went to Nova Scotia, cook stayed
to keep house for Mr.. Medford, whose
business obliged him to remain in the
city, and Mrs. Medford took Oracle and
Freddy to her sister Smiths house in
Borrowdale.
They had been there three weeks
now, and the mother had been watching
the course of events in silence. She
saw very often that Oracle found little
Fred an annoyance, though she had
never confessed it in so many words in
her mothers presence. At first Mrs.
Medford was disposed to regret the
leave of absence she had given to Mary
but'she concluded, at last, that she had
done the very best thing for Oracle
for what would she or any other child
be worth If she grew up without learn.
ing the lesson of self denial, or tasting
the sweetness of giving up her own
pleasures for some one else? Surely
she had too muth conscience, Mrs
Medford thought, ever really to neglect
Freddy and, even though she might
find it wearisome, the silent struggle
with herself was sure to do her good
But, on this summer afternoon o.
which | am telling you, the tempter hat
a drawn very near to Oracle. She triet
for while to resist his beguilements
Kitty's words reused, for a moment
her sense of justice.
Mamma is not to blame" she said
"She did not make me undertake see
ing to Freddy. She would have brough
nurse, but I begged her to let Mar
go home. / thought it would be jus
nothing to take care of Fred but, oil
dear il is an awful bore sometimes
when / want to do something else"
Freddy did not know what Dor,
meant; but he understood clearl,
enough that he was in Gracie's way
and his sensitive little heart ached jus
as sorely as if it had not been almost
baby's heart. If Oracle had looked o
him Just then she might have seer
some great tears on the tips of his long
curling lashes but he was little NAL
in miniature, and he tried very hard t.
make his voice sound firm and brave
"Feddy been slower than he had to,
said he, sturdily. "Feddy be steam
engine now. SO just go on fast, ant
Teddy keep up. Teddy not pull 90
a'ess, or hold on to oor hand any more
eezer."
" Are you sure you'll keep upP"
Berry sure;" stoutly spoken,