Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-03-12
For The Nnung.
Willie's disappointment.

run his hoe-handle through the haudes Of
basket, threw it over his shoulder, aud
started for his field. His boys followed.
Warren had his basket over bis shoulder,
and John and Willie theirs in their hands.
Having reached potato field of many
acres, Farmer Warren set down his baske
"thrashedn his hands vigorously under his
armpits, and took leisurely survey Of the
field The boys did the same, but their
thoughts we're running in different chan
mel. He was thinking Of the ample crop
and rich return Of this great field they,
Of the many days of hard work before it
should yield all of its hidden treasure.
Farmer Warren looked at them with a
merry twinkle in his eye. He was Puri-
tan of the the strictest sort but if any Of
our readers think that he was therefore
"long.faced, sour, short-waisted" and a
man Of contracted eyebrows in the pres
ence of young folk, they are mistaken
that is all.
boys" said he, "that is big field oI
potatoes"
The sons understood that.
al shall have a fine crop, the most oil
which | shall send to Boston by the teams
That is the easiest way to get them to mar
ket.
The boys remembered that be did so the
last season.
"But mean to harness Charley iuto the
wagon and take small jag of the last Of
them into Boston myself"
He paused when he said this, and look
ing at his sons, added, II say mean to
carry small jag, aud finish out the load
with boys
The boys took !" for if Farmer Warren
could "read" bis children, they were quite
as apt in reading him. These few words to
them were as good as halfa days talk about
giving them ride to Boston. John kick
Ell his basket ten feet for very joy. His
father did not say, What are you kicking
that basket for He thought it much bet.
ter that his boys should be kicking their
baskets from an exuberanco Of fun, than
for him to be kicking them to make them
work.
Farmer Warren led off at once in the
digging and Willie followed him with a
small basket, to pick up the potatoes which
his father was careful to toss with a slight
jerk Of his hoe into heaps on one side.
Warren followed on the next row, and
John picked up for him---but Warren made
the potatoes fly in every direction, keep
ing John jumping, first on this side and then
on that.
We remarked that Warren followed his
father; but it frequently happened that he
was ahead. The way it occurred was
this His father would dodge over to his
row, dig hill or two, SO that when the
boys came TO this place. the jump ahead
was very exhilarating.
There were three wide-awake boys about
the evening candles that night. Even Will
lie declared that he was not tired. They
talked of the wonderful things they were
to see in the city until bedtime, and then
talked about them after they were in bed
and before the light of the breaking day
stole into their room they were talking
about Boston again.
The weeks wore away, and so did the po-
tato rows in the big field. The evening
before the intended start came, the
careful mother laid out in readiness their
clean clothes, for they were to start by
four o'clock in the morning. The load
was all in the wagon, and Charley's break.
fast placed by the side of his stall.
The boys were in the kitchen together
getting ready to retire to bed early, when
they heard the voice Of a caller 10 the sit.
ting-room, in earnest conversation with
their parents They soon recognized il
as the voice Of Mr.. Ross, the father Of
Benny Ross, sweet little boy, an only
child, and Willie's intimate friend. Ben.
ny's parents were poor, and their little boy
did not have a great many playmates,
"Benny's father p exclaimed Willie
80, wouldn't it be splendid to have Benny
60 with us2 He don't have many rides
and he won't take up much room, will he
Warren? III 60 and ask father this min.
ute!" The other boys assented to this
generous proposal, and Willie dashed into
the sittiDg-room to make the request with
more than his usual boisterousness.
When Willie's eyes met those of Mr.
Ross, he paused and shruuk back, without
uttering word. His pale and anxiou,
face betrayed burdened heart.
"0ur friend Ross has come" said Far
mer Warren, "to say that Benny is very
sick"
"Yes," interrupted Mr.. Ross, wiping the
tears from his face, "and the doctor say,
be don't know how it will 60 with him."
"And," continued Willie's father, "Ben
ny desires to have his friend Willie com,
early in the morning and sit by him."
81 do believe" again interposed Mr.
Ross, "Wilie's presence will be better thar
medicine he has talked about him 81
much"
Willie's first impulse was to say, Won
it do just as well day after tomorrow p
But his eye met the calm look of his moth
er, which seemed to say Isn't duty th,
sweetest pleasure, Willie 2 Then turning
to Mr.. Ross, he met another glance whicl
said, My poor little Benny Willie's in
decision was gone He turned to Mr.. Ross
and said with a firm but tender tone
Give my love to Benny I'll come t,
see him real early in the morning, and sta,
all day"
There were three happy boys the mex
day. Two were riding over the turnpik,
into Boston, counting the long line of stage
and carriages which hurried past them
wondering at the marvellous construction o
the bridge over which they ratified calling
each others attention through the Who'll
day to the evershifting scenes which seemed
to them like grand panorama.
The other boy sat by the bedside of hi
little suffering, sick friend. Benny's smile
sent joy to the watchers heart, hoier an,
more endcaring than all the innocent an,
well,earncd pleasure of his brothers.
Three boys sat by the old kitchen fir
tha: evening, talking "as fast as thei
tongues could run" Who was the hap
piest tell me, my little reader --Zioa'
Herald.