St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-09-19

flor the children.
Mary's Heroism.
by MRS. VIRGINIA c. PHoEBrs.

Bates in her country home. She loved
to tell how she searched for eggs and
made dandelion chains, or stood in a
chair by the kitchen table watching
grandmother'S skillful fingers as they
made cakes and pies, happy as king
{ when Il lump of dough was handed to
/ her for her own amusement. She was
not likely to forget the times when she
went nutting under the grand old chest
nut trees attcr,thc frosts had made the
/ burrs fall, and caused the rough, prick
! " things to show their velvet Innings
and expose to every pasSer-by the
/ brown nuts they had been so carefully
/ guarding. But those days were past
/ The farm was rented now, aud other
/ children gathered dandelions or went
nutting there, while grandmother lived
/ in town with Mary's parents. The old
lady was changed too. Her eyesight
had long been failing and now she was
blind: but the blindness only made the
grandchildren love her more. How
eagerly each child would spring to
guide her footsteps when she rose to
cross the loom how eagerly each one
would plead to be allowed to roll her
| invalid chair round the garden walks
when she wished to breathe the fresh
air
Mary, being the only girl, was her
most frequent companion. She often
sat by her side on the shady porch in
the summer mornings and listened to
her tales of other days. while the busy
fingers that could not learn to be idle
shcllcd peas or prepared the string
beans for the cook. She always went
to her room in the morning before
breakfast and read the morning chap
ter. which grandmother had always
been accustomed to read before joining
the family and in the long winter eve
ming>. when Mary sat alone 10y her lit
tie Study-tablc i'll one corner of the
large sitting-room that she might he
uninterrupted in her studies. it rested
her to look across the room and see
grandmothcr's placid face and shining
needles as they went briskly to and
fro in her knitting work. When she
came home from school with budget
of news to tell, or with n sore heart and
a heavy trouble. and found mother
busy with visitors in the parlor or with
baby in the nursery, she always knew
where to find grandma, aud never fail
ell to find i'll her an attentive ear and
sympathizing heart.
Examination day was coming; prizes
were to he distributed. One Mary felt
almost sure of winning-it was med
al offered for the best map of the Tn
tied States. There were several very
good map-drawers i'll the class, hut all
the class spoke of Mary Us the one who
eXcelled i'll that particular. How pleas
ed grandmother was to hear of Mary's
hopes and plans. When the child
went out to buy her sheet of drawing
paper for the new map, she gave her
money for new box of paints. Every
day she inquired how it progressed,
and sat by the study-table while Mary
drew. Mary would say, Now, grand
ma, am drawing the Atlantic coast"
and, as she slowly progressed, would
name the points. 80 grandma! I've
got Cape Cod so nicely Now I've
come to Cape May. Such a time as
I've had with this Chesapeake Bay. |
have drawn and erased till I'm afraid
of wearing out the paper. It's all right
now"
Grandmother knew when Florida
was reached, what progress had been
made along the Gulf, etc, etc, and she
had to learn geography anew when lit
tie Mary came to the state boundaries
Il cant tell where you are now" she
would say as Mary worked on Arizona
/ Nebraska, Idaho, etc.
But the map was at length cOmplet-
ed. Mary had seen the others. AL
agreed that for neatness and accuracy
/ Mary's would certainly gain the prize
from the committee, and, though Mary
demuncd, she thought 50 too-at least
she hoped So with all her heart.
The evcntful examination morning
came. The treasured map was laid
upon the table in the sitting room by
Mary while she put the last finishing
touch to her toilet. Unfortunately
grandmother had just laid upon the
same table Il sheet of stiff brown paper
Il part of which she WAS about to tOlt
to wind some yarn upon. She knew
nothing of the whereabouts of Mary.
map. Mary had laid it Immediately
upon the brown paper. Grandmother.
fingers picked it up her sightless eye.
gave her no warning of the mischie
she was doing she tore it across, ant
when Mary came bounding into tn,
room she was folding it for her wind
ing.
Mary saw it all at a glance she die
not speak. but slowly sought her moth
er while the tears streamed down he
face. Mother comforted her. wiped til,
. tears away, and Mary started off say
ing:
Don't tell grandmother; she will h,
SO sorry
Grandmother listened for the cage
feet of her darling as the hour for he
return drew near, thinking only of tn,