St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-03-28
Flying Dolly.
Friday, Mar. RI, 1878.

Dolly Darlington was ii little girl,
but she was So full of fun and mischief
that she got into Il great deal 81 tr"ub-
lie. She WAS Just eight years old. and
had Il great many curious notions III
her head. one of which WAS that she be
lievcd she might fly III the air like the
birds. She thought about il. dreamed
about it. and tried IL great many times.
She climbed the great applc-tree i'll the
garden, and jumped of the branches
without the lciS fear of bumps and
thumps. She jumped off the fences,
the arbOIs, anything where the hight
was not too great. rejoicing III the dcllgt-
full sensation of being III midair, and.
though her flight WAS always down
ward and ended always with dread
full jouncing. still she pcr>cVcrcd. TAX
ing advantage of the windy weather,
she always flew her kite secretly, hoping
it would pull her up. If it only would.
she could float around 81 nicely, But
nothing of the kind ever happened.
Still Dolly chung To the idea that She
could fly, and have il splendid time
looking into birds nests and touching
the trce-tops. Perhaps she might touch
II cloud! And what if she should meet
an angel, Dolly trcmhlcd with hope
and fear while She imagined these
beautiful things which were sure to
happen some day. hut just hor. she
didn't know. But this notion WAS one
of her private ones of which She never
told anybody.
Dolly's grandpa, who lived in the
country, sent to have her come and Wis
it him, saving AUNT Mary would take
good care of her" A> mamma WAS
quite i'll and could not watch over her.
and the servants only laughed at Dol
ly's funny WAYS, it WAS decided that it
would be i good thing for her to go
Aunt Mary and grandpa we've delighted
to see her. hut they didn't know then
that they would he AZ glad when She
went away.
Escaping into the garden. Dolly 1T
once began Il combat with the bees 10y
pokimg the hive with long pole. and
finally ovcrturnimg it. The bees flew
out. buzzing amgIiiy. Away ran Dolly.
frightened ont of her wits. the bees all
after her. She rushed into the barn
shut the door, and scrambled up int"
the hay-lofl. where she buried herself
under the hay. Here she lay and lis
tened, but hearing no buzlimg sound
she venturcd forth to explore She had
gone but il step. when she cSpicd Il
turkey sitting quietly in the hay. hut
it flew off with Il loud noise on her APP
proach. and. to D"ll,'> delight. there
was large nest of eggs,
"Oh oh ~ she cried ''what Il sur
prise for Aunt Mary - 80. putting the
eggs into her apron. she started to go.
when she saw Il large hole in the floor.
and went to see what il was for. Look
ing down into the stalls. old MOLLY"
the horse and "Brinullt" the COW were
soherly eating hay. Il guess I'll SUI
prise EN-. thought Dolly. and, taking
an egg, she dropped it upon Molly'>
back. The horse started and whinnicd
That ticklcd her. and She thought the
horse was laughing because he liked ii.
80 she dropped another and another.
until poor Molly WAS covered with Il
saddle of broken eggs streaming all "v-
er her. Then treating the COW To the
remaining eggs. she finished the whole
by sprirkling meal and oats over them.
Hearing voices outside and approach
ing footsteps, Dolly hurried. down tine
ladder and reached the door lust as
Tom the hired man went into the stall
to harness the horse for grandpa to 90
to the city. She caught the look of
dismay on Toms face, and heard him
exclaim. BY the holy poker>. what
has happened to We. old mare ," Then
spying Dolly. he called out angrilv.
''I'll he after you, you Young spalpccn.
Let me catch We at the likes of it again.
Dolly stopped t" hear no more. With
Il frightened look She turned and fled
Away she went down the lane. past the
brook, through the meadow. never
stopping until she reached the woods
Here she sat down on a stone and
watched two squirrels lcaping and play
ing i'll the branches of tree. Then
she wandered around. gathering Wild
flowers and MOSES. making Il pretty
playhouse among the rock. all the
time thinking. III never. never. never
go back again" At noon She ate her
dinner of berries and drank water out
of the brook running through the dark
wood. Then the thought came. IF |
should die. would the birds cover me
with leaves. like the Babes in the
Wood :" In moment She was
lying on the ground, with her eyes shut,
keeping quite still. and expecting the
birds to come, each with leaf in its
tiny bill. The air was soft and sweet
and filled with hum of insects. Dolly
forgot her trouble and fell fast asleep.
Late i'll the afternoon she awohe
quite refreshed. But it seemed to he
growing dark. She started and ran
towards home. 1t WIS the wind-clollS
that made ii 81 gloomy, and on reach
ing the lane it blew IL perfect gale
There was Il storm coming up in the
west. Hurrym% up the lane and past
the barn. she peepcd out through the
crack III the door To see if there was
any one around. But no. it WAS very
quiet and still, nobody to he seen. The
slde-door stood open. 50 She stole care
fully up To II and looked through the
hall into the sitting -rnom-no one
there. Dolly lett gloomy and lonely.
Nobody cared for her. she thought. and
she was So hungry, The wind was
still blowing. Selling an umbrella
from the rack, She hurried across the
yard, dragging ii after her. some
body would he sorry" Her face was
set and determined. She mounted the
tall ladder that leaned against the car
riage-h"use. ON reaching the roof. She
went close t" the edge and opened the
umbrella. Nobody cares anything
for me, and I'll fly away" said poor
Dolly, with wild eyes The wind had
Increased i'll its fury. Il terrible murri-
cane swept through the village In
the fields the corn and grain bowed
and broke, the trees whirled their
branches, the cattle huddled under the
trees, shingles were torn from houses
and barns. blinds and doors slammed
III great fury, people We're hurrying