Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-04-29
Che family Circle.

April 10 Ii, 1874

What beautiful snow-storm, thought
Millv, as she stood looking Wistfully out
of the window She did so wish she was
out! If she, too. were only little street
sweeper 1t was so hard to be kept care
fully within doors,-S0 hard. She was 81
lent for full ten minutes,-busy with her
thoughts At last, a happy one struck her,
and she turned quickly to her mother, a
prettv-faced Young woman, who was deep
" interested in re-trimming Il last year :
bonnet. and who at this moment exclaimed.
triumphantly, Really, it will be as good
us new"
Mother" interrupted Milly.
"Wen?"
- Then | cannot skate?'
No" deeply cngrossed in the bonnet.
" Nor slide down hill?"
"No. child, not in this snow-storm.'
But can put on my cloak, and new
fur tippet and gloves, and take m umbrcl-
Ia. and fill basket with goodies for poor
Miss Fanshaw. Can't |? For she is 50
porcrty poor, You know"
Millv had one thought for Miss Fanshaw
and two for herself. For, in reality, She
thought herself very hardly used to be kept
indoors: while she deemed it rare fun to
be poverty poor" like Miss Fanshaw, in
her little playhouse room.
Her mother smiled wisely. and gave her
permission to 90. So Milly, like the little
woman she was, equipped herself for the
walk She then went into the storeroom,
and put into Il willow basket a loaf of
bread, Jar Of sweetmeats and four red
apples. After which preparation, she start
ed forth with as happy 4 face as one could
meet in Il day walk; and the face was no
happier than the little warm heart beating
beneath the warm cloak. No wonder the
snow WAS not cold to her,
"Oh, the snow, the beautiful snow"
the little heart kept repeating to itself, as
she watched the star-like crystals alighting
on her dress and gloves. Even the old
board fence, with its clinging vines, shorn
of their summer beauty, was draped : !!
the beautiful snow. Oh. it came down so
quietly and comfortably, rs if it had Il
world of leisure and world of its wealth
to hestow,
All too quickly, Milly was at Miss Fan
shaw's door In answer to Milly's rat
tat-tap ut the door. it creaked and wrig-
gled and groaned little, and then swung
wide open, and there stood Miss Fanshaw,
a little shriveled figure, the shoulders pin
ned tightly up nan antiquated baby-blank-
ct, embroidered all around in herring
bone " and various other marvellous stitch
es. From under the shawl peeped two
arms, clothed in the neatest leg o NUT
ton sleeves On one finger was a-ring,
no, something Just rs dear to her, and it
betokened Il lifelong engagement. too,
1t was an old brass thimble, worn full of
holes. and Us bright as gold itself,
Rn+ T ,,,1ct NOT f,rrot bor f,ra A ,y-i,ita
face, with white hair, white eyebrows and
eyelashes, and two deep-b!ue, bright twink
ling eyes, which seemed to say, " All, me,
what a dear, delightful, merry, busy world
it is; and I've young heart for it vet, if
the wrinkles are in my face.'
Bless the child" she cried, in her short
crisp way Did she come down in the
snow?n And she drew Milly in, and took
the long broom and swept her from head
to foot. 8 Now, my dear. I've swept the
way to your mouth, must have a kiss
So, giving one emphatic embrace, she
whirled her along the hall of the tenement
house. into the least atom of a ROOM
perched her up in an old, rickety arm
chair.
If any one presumed to suggest that Miss
IL
larger room, she laughed within herself
g No, no, my dearies; you see
| have only to sit in the middle of my
Bible, and there's my bread jar, and there's
board, and there's the stove, with the tea
pot on it.-so handyrn And her hand
pointed around the room rs if it were a
. Besides, as for the wood, why I'm warm
rs toast with burning two sticks and a few
kindlers day. Then | can tidy up the
than wink O time"
Milly thought this housekeeping won
derful affair." and Miss Fanshaw "a sort of
divinity.
A happy thought struck Milly, us she
sat perched in the armchair, and Miss
Fanshaw fitted like u humming- bird about
her
Miss Fanshawr'
"Well, dear?"
Lets play tea.''
you shall"
And she buzzed over to II little cup
board and brought out shining tea-ket-
Tie, ana put IL upon tie tlhy Stove, over
the tiny blaze. 1t began to sing and sing.
She then whirled little round table crest
ing on one leg with three carved claws)
into the centre of the room. Over this
she spread strip of old white. homemade
linen. Upon this she placed one plate
with dot of butter, another plate with
lot of cheese, and another with dot of
= sass" Then she brought two crusty
pieces of bread. and two marvellous little !
;hina cups, and two ancient plates, figured
with red
Then came Milly's turn. She climbed
lown from her perch; drew the basket