The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-02
CHlLDREN,S COLUMN
Helen CaldwcII's Triai.

BY JOY ALLISON.
"a new family are moving into the brown
house," said Helen Caldwell, standing at
the window.
There was rush of Young feet and five
heads crowded round iielens above, and
below, and on each side, for a peep.
''One, two, three wagon-loads They
have piano" said 'Tom.
That, good. Free concerts Tor us!"
said Helen.
There goes splendid sofa,' id Su-
san. "And a-what's that? Mother, come
and look. 1t can't be bureau; it must be
a cupboard but such handsome one!'
"lt's sideboard," said mother. looking
out. but don't make yourself quite So
conspicuous at the indow. There's a lady
moving about inside. She will think you
very curious "
ave are,' said Helen, laughing, but
drawing back. IS Isle, come away. Tom
you can take peep now and then, and tell
us. The lady won't mind the little ones;
will she. motherp She'll see that they are
only babies."'
So Tom did as directed. He drew back,
and ouly took an occasional peep, the re-
suit OF which he reported to his sisters.
After dinner, when the dishes had been
washed and the room made tidy, Helen
came to her mothers side.
''rhe wagons are all gone now, mother.
Don't you think it would be kind and neigh
borly if should go over and offer to help
that lady about getting things to rightsp
could save her q great many steps, you
know, and"-after little hesitation-"I
should like to'-coming out frankly with
the truth.
Mother looked up and smiled kindly.
Eyes, dear you can go if you wish. l
think it would be kind and neighbor,y, and
quite proper"
Susie wanted to 60 too, but her mother
thought it best that but one should 60. So
Helen put on her bonnet, and went over to
the brown house.
The lady was very busy putting filings
in their places. The carpets were d,wn
already, and all the heavy furniture in
place; but there was still much to do, and
she accepted Helen's modest offer of as
sstance very gladly. and all the afternoon
the willing feet of the child went out and
in, up stairs and down fetching and carry
ing, till the lady said they had done enough
for that day, and with a smile and kiss
and hearty "Thank you, DEAR" dismissed
her little assistant.
They were watching for her at home,
and the door was opened to admit her be-
fore she got into the yard, and the eager
group looking out welcomed her, and wait
ed to hear her story.
"Oh!" she is such beautiful lady, moth.
erP Helen began as soon as she was inside
the door. "You will be sure to like her.
She has such sweet smile and such pleas
ant ways, and she thanked me so kindly
when l came away, and said l must
come and take tea with her some other day
when she was not too tired to enjoy it.
wasso glad she didn't offer ME any money
Why she treated me just exactly as if
had been a lady like herself"
''If she'd given you money, you might
have bought those bronzed boots you want
ed, instead of the PLAN ones,' suggested
Tom.
Helen couldn't spend time to answer ex-
cept with scornful shrug of her pretty
shoulders, but went on:
Sand. o mother! we shan't get any free
concerts after all, for the piano was her
little girls--just about my age-and her
mother can't bear to touch it any more,
and they only keep it because it was Nell
lies. Isn't it queer that her name was the
same as mine too2 l wish you would call
me Nellie. Why don't you ever"
1--WE have always liked Helen" said her
mother with her placid smile.
"And, mother"-for Helen was ''too
full' to give any one else chance to talk
much at presently is only six months
of her on the wall. l helped hang it up,
and it is just as lovely-like an angel"
The acquaintance thus begun ripcned
ranitlv and Ualap la;e
hours with Mrs. Kerlin, the charming new
neighbor, and the lady soon came to love
dearly the little girl who was always as
gentle and modest as her own Nellie had
been-never pert or curious or ill-temper-
ed
"You must come o!ten-just as often as
your mother can spare you; for | can al
most think have my own little Nellie back
when you are here" she said. DR.. Kerlir
too, grave, dignified gentleman thought Ii,
was, made much of 'Nellie,' as her new
friends chose to call her, and always seem
ed pleased to see her there. Helen never
spoke about the piano, but perhaps the lad,
guessed how much she would have liked il
for one day she opened it and ran her whit,
fingers over the keys Then she sat dowr
and played tune Then she turned t.
Nellie, who was sitting by in enrapturet
silence, and said, 81 almost think coult
bear to teach you to play and have you
pactice here. Should you like it?"
"Oh! very much. Dear Mrs. Kerlin
you are too kind!' said Nellie, overcome
with delight at the bare idea.
swell, o.morrow you shall begin An,
Iwant you to dine with us. Doctor shall
get some oysters. and we will ave mic,
time. Win you ask your mother to allow
you stay all day for oncep"
OF course there was no objection OH moth
er's part. When did she ever stand in tn,
way of her children's enjoyment unneces
sarilyf Helen could hardly sleep that nigh
for joy.
Dressed in her best-a gray poplin mad,
over from her mothers-with her SATIN
hair braided smoothly, Nellie crossed til,
street next day to take her first music
lesson and to dine with Mr.. and Mrs. Kcr
lin.
An hour of instruction, an hour Of prac
tice, and then came dinner. Helen hat
never been in tn, dining-room since thai
first day when she helped unpack the beau
tiful cut-glass goblets, and the delicate
gilded china. and put thom into the side
board. Yet she gave proof that she was {
lady born; for the presence of the appur'
tenances of wealth, and luxuries to which
she was unaccustomed, served rather to in