Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-11
Joe's Likeness.

Mrs. Peach and her son Joe set off one
Saturday afternoon to do some shopping at
their nearest market town. The purchases
TO be made we're chiefly for Joe, who was
leaving home the next week to 20 and set.
tie with his uncle, who was a glazicr, and
had offered to bring the boy up to his trade
Joe was but rough country lad aud had
only hitherto worked on farm, 80 this
seemed to him a rise in life, and his mother
was anxious to start him respectfully as far
as clothes went.
You'll want a new cop and jacket for
Sundays, let alone shirts, stockin's, and such
like But I've saved enough to buy what
is nocdlul,' said the good woman as they
walked along You must have a pair oil
smarter boots, too"
You'll be spendin vast amount o.
money on me, mother" said honest Joe
more mindful Of the drain upon the slender
family means than Of the prospect Of his
grand new clothes "l'm thiukn' as it
will pinch you sore for yourself and the lit.
tie 'lns"
Necr mind US, lad," answered Mrs
Peach cheerlully, "we'll do well enough
But YOU must not 60 and forget on US"
Forget you no fear o that" said
Joe, warmly. Maybe as | might forget
Just what you look like, though" he ad.
dcd with chucklc, for he had scheme
in his head, aud this was his way Of open
my it TO bis mother and gaining her con-
sent
d" don't think as I'll forget the look o.
you, joe she said, q little reproachiully.
Joe chucked again, d" But might Of
you he persisted, " and woudua' like
that So mother, I've saved up a shilliu',
and want you to come along wi me to
the likeness man, and have your pictur
took"
my piciur Why, what should an old
woman like me have her pciur' took for }'
cried Mrs. Peach, with laugh, but by 20
means displeased for all that.
"Why, for me, to be sure ' said Joe.
" Aud you are not old, mother, aud you look
han some in your best plaided shawl
This argument had some weight Mrs.
Peach smoothe1 down the folds Of her cot
ton gown, wishing it had been her Sun
day stuff and thought to herself what q
lucky thing il was that she put clean cap
under her black bonnet But she said:
I'D rather have you took, lad, nor me.
Joe was cunning in his answer. Nay,
you won't forget the look o. me, you say,
so why should you want my pictur ?"
I'D like it too, she said.
" But there's ony one shi.Iiu',' was tn,
reply, and it was conclusive; there wa.
nothing further to be said
So, before the shopping was done, au.
while yet the day was bright, the tvs,
3 found themselves in the presence Of Mr.
Jones, the photographer Of the place, auc
: very shy they both felt as they made thei
wishes known. But MIR Jones was so kin.
and friendly, having taken fancy to tn
5 simple couple, that the shyuess wore of
/ aud he soon knew as much about his visit
ors as my readers have learned from thci
talk upon the road.
You'll take me jst as | am sir sal
Mrs Peach, resolving not to be fiattercd
5 Toe would like me best so, wouldn't yo
t joe? On'y for sure be yexed as b
c didn't tell me aiore we set Oft as he wishe
n me to be took, as then could have put o
$ my best gown
q" It's you and not your gownas lwants,
t said Joe and Mr. Jones saw the look G
affection with which the boy regarded hi
l. mother, and set about the work before hii
with more than his usual interest
t. When he had done he turned to the Ia
6 and asked, Wouldn't your mother lik
rs your likeness, too"
is "Aye, that would, sir" cried Mr.
Peach.
h "Ony mothers spendin' all her none
d a fttin' of me out for my journey down
II unce's,' said Joe
III Come" Mr.. Jones said, am tell yc
a what I'll do. You'll make good subjec
as we call it, and I'll take you for notl
lp ing I'll keep a likeness of you for II
window, and you shall have another
a give as a parting present to your mother
st Joe colored and grinned. Me in Il
IT. window, sir2' he cried.
on Mrs. Peach, too, cast up Der hands
delight and surprise. My Joe in Il
nd window Well, never He's bonr
ds face, enough for sure. If only he had h
new jacket an wes,kit ready"
'st 81 shouldn't like him in them half
d. well want him exactly rs be is--rour
Ike hat, market basket and ALL.
Aud Mr.. Jones settled the blushing i
Tst in high-backed carved oak chair, al
gh told him to sit quite still for few IN
PISS ments.
FRS The few moments produced wonders i
IRE deed Never was a likeness that ga
'ly more satisfaction than Joe's His mothc
he was good but his was even better. VIII
u.s. it appeared in Mr.. Jones window many
passer-by stopped to admire the rus
ga figure and frank, happy, boyish face.
ld' As for Mrs. Peach's own particul
'ut copy, it was valued far more than anythi
I'D she ever possessed; more than her fine tC
on tray or even than the glazed picture Of t
yer Queen in her robes and crown, which h
ON hitherto been the pride Of the good womal
* heart
"My Joe's likely lad" she would s
as to herself gazing proudly at her own pre-
es' erty "There's not better nor handsou
w. nor him anywhere. 1t would be hard
ow forget the looks on him now. And sr
lad the basket and boots is just like matt
too That Master Jones is real Gle,
leh chap. But if it had ma been for the dc
on, lads wanting to have his old mother to,
'ad Ia never have had this here Of himself"
AID Joe, on his side, often took out
D. mothers likeness at his uncle's. " I've
IS her after all, the good old mother And
be was to turn cut bad boy, I'd be ashau
Is to look her in the face, | would, though
only her pictur' wouldna' like to see
but if Ia gone and done ought wrong. A
ry' then she wouldna' care to look at my ?
my tur' either
der - 800 -----
The SnOw-StOrm.