Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-05-20
Did She Love Truly !
A STORY FOR rnE GIRLS.

Ida don't you know papa is not rich2'
" cannot help If be is rich or not
want it,
"Yes, but we want lots Of things
"And we cannot get everything, Of
course, but can and will have party
"What even if papa cannot afford III"
"Of course. He cannot afford to give
US new bonnets, but then he has to, aud he
cannot afford to do lots Of things, aud yet
he makes out to do them
He tries to do everything for US and
everybody
swell, he can give me party, then"
lie would have to buy heaps Of things.
Il know. People always do"
Candies and cakes and -"
OF course"
Papa said he could not pay the bread
bill this morning"
"Oh he meant not to-day"
a. do not know, but he seemed very
sad"
The little ships Of things won't cost
much. | don't want a great party, you
know, only the girls at school and every
body nice around here, and Sophie and
Rosy Moss from Middleton, and, let me
see-Matilda, and Josie and for boys
Oh my, | cannot tell about them, but
mamma will know"
Don't you think it will make lot
when you count them all up ?"
"No, Of course not | believe | know
about big parties as well as you. Won't
it be nice know papa will not say no. "
He's awfully good, don't you think so,
Ida"
YES"
81 love him more'n tongue can tell"
so do |, Janet"
Il don't think could ask him anything
to give him trouble"
You seem to think you are very good
yourself, Janet"
"No. was only thinking about what
Louise Oracle said-that if you loved peo.
pie truly, like we love papa, we ought to
show our love-"
Well, oh dear, | cannot wait to phi |
Josephine, as Aunt Roney would call it
am going to write everybody's name on
piece Of paper"
"Maybe it won't be any use'
"Yes but it will be use for if papa
says no. I'll cry and cry and cry till he
says maybe, and that is just the same as
saying yes"
Janet tied dollys sash and looked down
in her pretty face, saying nothing, but wish
ing to herself that Ida could glove papa
truly" enough not to ask Just then to have
party, and wondering to herself if it would
make him Sigh as sadly as he had done at
breasfast time, when the baker had de-
manded the amount of his bill.
what did tell you !" cried Ida, rush
ing up stairs and into the room, holding her
heart and painting for breath, what did
tell you! l pinched his cheeks and
pulled on his slippers and told him my heart
would break if | did not have party, and
he told me to have it,"
Didn't he mind It'll"
"Of course not"
"What will mamma say, | wonder ?"
=" She won't care, if papa does not she
will never say no, after he has said yes"
ave will have great fun | expect" said
Janet, fixing feather in dolly's hat and
holding II off to look at, thinking, however
Of papa, and wondering why he was so sac
about the baker, if he did not mind having
party.
Mamma shook her head grayey when SHE
heard that papa had consented to Ida'i
wish, and coaxed papa to take back hi,
words, and told Ida afterward that fol
reasons she knew nothing about, she wa,
sorry for the promise; but after all the
list Of names of all the "nice people and
the girls at school, the Rosys aud Matthias
was made out, and the invitations sent tn,
flowers and the good things ordered. anC
at the appointed season Ida smiled at hei
own image in the glass so pretty with it,
rose-colored silk, while Janet tied dolly,
haxen curls with their ribbon, for the TWEEN
tieth time, aud got it right at last A
prettier little party could not be found thar
that playing blind mans buff" and al
sorts of things for fun, and everybody
face was bright in the fash of the many
lights.
Nobody knew that feet halted outside OF
tho pavement; and inquiring eyes peeped
through the lattice, on past the damasE
curtains, aud nobody knew that lips were
saying, low but firmly, am too poor to
give feasts, and yet see this extravaganza
in man not rich enough to pay what he
owes / did intend to give him his time
but he has deceived me this piece of ex.
travagance has opened my eyes tomorrow
l shall proceed against him."
Nobody knew it, and so nobody was sad
except papa, as he walked in a room alone
his hands clasped behind him, feeling the
weight on his mind Of affairs that hung
with him as in balance, ready at any mo.
ment to bring him ruin.
The lips that whispered at the easement
were true to their promise On the NOR.
row the first blow was given that brought
anguish of mind, and finally poverty, to the
father and bis household
Then did the little girl, being told how
1t had happened, wish she had allowed
truly" and not brought such trouble t.
the father always ready to give pleasure tc
those around him and especially to his chill.
dren and she realized how sad thing il
is to bring to those we love, not pleasure
and rest, but work and sorrow.-Neg YorI
Observer.