Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-03-18
Little Bellies Mullins.
Miss Marriott was tired.

The low ceiling seemed fearfully low
the close air Of the little room seemed sti-
fling even the stuffed birds on the mantel
shelf filed her with overpowering WEAKNESS
with their Stiffness and stiffness.
STAY" said little Belle, as Miss Mar.
rieit arose to 90. You are tired supper
will soon be ready stay"
But though the odor of mullins crept 10
through the cracks, and she realized how
uusubstantial was ga cup Of tea" dinner,
and "a cup Of tea breakfast, she would
not stay; she had stayed sometimes and
had been thankful, but she could not always
accept Of little Bellies invitations.
She stood on the door sill.
"Wait," said Belle, and the kitchen door
opened for an instant as she fitted out,
and the smoke of mullins came nearer and
stronger.
Mamma said Belle, breatbless with
haste, "please spare Miss Marriott some
mullins to take home for her supper she
has none, know, and she looks SO hungry
aud tired"
"Why, Belle, there are only few to.
night just for Bess and you and me-"
Give her mine, then, mamma give her
mine bread will do me tonight. would
rather give her mine"
So mamma did some up in haste, and
kissed Bellies bright face as she handed
them to her, and Miss Marriott felt as she
stood on the door sill and held the little
package in her hand, not only the pleasure
Of adding muflins to her slim supper, but
felt the warmth Of the little heart warming
her own, and felt the freshness of the little
face as breath Of fresh air in the close
room, and felt even the walls less narrow,
enclosing as they did, such an open, free
little heart.
Miss Marriott was over her time late
in getting home to her third story room
across the way; aud the one wearied, hun.
| cry body at home had meuded the fire
and scalded the tea set the cups and plates
IN row, and sat waiting, grooming to her.
self:
Tea and bread for dinner and tea an
bread for breakiast---tca and bread for sup.
per oh, for bit of an egg and scrap Of
grease to fry cake and make some good
cheer"
The weary hungry body across the way
IN the third story room, where the light
hickered about, had listened on the stairs
and listened at the sash, and grown crooked
and crusty in temper by listening and wait.
ing; so when the door opened and Miss
Marriott came, hiding her little package
under her shawl, the first words she heard
were:
"A pretty time it is to come to tea
The kettle has gone dry, and the tea has
steamed all its goodness away, and the FIRE
is dead
Hush, - said Miss Marriott, briskly step.
ping over to the patch of cloth with its
cups aud plates. Hush. and open the
packagesi | have brought by waiting what
will make the tea good.'
Sophia! Muihns2 | declare Smok.
ing and hot muifus from across the way
for who would think Of sending them but
little BELIEF"
And it was astonishing how the Ere
flashed up in minute 10 keep them hot,
and how the tea pulled fragrant steam from
the cups TO prove it was moro than good,
aud how the kettle danced on the top of
the stoye it was astonishing how rested
aud comforted the faces were over the plates
with their few steamiug mullins; while lit.
tie Bell across the way ate her bread and
butter with greater relish than many a
one eats mullins refusing to share her
pleasure OF giving with mamma or Bess,
declaring that she would not for anything
deprive others Of theirs, although she
would thousand times rather eat bread
than have not had the pleasure of giving
away her mullins.