Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-10-29

the sun had scorched till it smelt of heat
The oldest boy-the little lover r-held
the youngest child, and talked to her,
while the tired mother closed her eyes
and rested. Now and then he looked
over at her, and then back at the baby
and at last said confdentally to me for
we had become fast friends by this time)
Isn't it funny, to think that was ever
so small as this baby? and papa says
that then mamma was almost little girl
herself"
The two other children were toiling up
and down the banks of the railroad
track, picking ox-eye daisies, buttercups
and sorrel. They worked like beavers,
and soon the bunches were almost too
big for their little hands Then they
came running to give them to their moth
er.
ooh DEAR" thought, how that poor
tired woman will hate to open her eyes
and she never can take those great
punches of common fading flowers, in
addition to all her bundles and bags"
| was mistaken.
oh, thank you, my darlings How
kind you were Poor, hot, tired little
flowers, how thirsty they look If they
will only try and keep alive till we get
home, we will make them very happy in
some water; won't we? And you shall
put one bunch by papa's plate, and one
by mine"
Sweet and happy, the weary and flush,
ed little children stood looking up in her
face while she talked, their hearts thrill
ing with compassion for the dropping
flowers, and with delight in the giving
of their gift. Then she took great trou-
BILE to get string and tie up the flow.
ers, and then the train came and we went
whirling along again. Soon it grew
dark and little Annie's head nodded
Then | heard the mother say to the old
est boy, Dear, are you too tired to lei
little Annie put her head on your shoul
der and take nap? We shall get hel
home in much better case to see papa il
we can manage to give her little sleep.
How many boys Of twelve hear sucl
words as these from tired, overburdenet
! mothers?
> Soon came the city, the final station
. with its hustle and noise. l fingered t
watch my happy family, hoping to Sc
> the father, Why, papa isn't here
exclaimed one disappointed little voic
after another. Never mind,' said tn
= mother with a still deeper disappoint
i ment in her tone; perhaps he had t
go to see some poor body who is sick.
> In the hurry of picking up all the par
cells and the sleepy babies, the poor dai'
} les and buttercups were left forgotten i
a corner of the rack. | wondered if th
mother had not intended this. May
be forgiven the injustice A few mil
utes after l passed the little group stant
ing still just outside the station, an
: heard the mother say, Oh, my darling
y | have forgotten your pretty bouquet
> | am so sorry ! | wonder if | could fin
lo them if / went back. Will you a
. stand still and not stir from this spot
u l go?"
u "Oh, mamma, don't go, don't go. "
, will get you some more. Don't go
: cried all the children.
. Here are your flowers, madam, sal
: |. =" | saw that you had forgotten the
- and took them as mementos of you an
:, your sweet children" She blushed an
" looked disconnected. She was evidentl
= unused to people, and shy with all b
10 her children. However, she thanked n
as sweetly, and said,
- was very sorry about them. ii
ie children took much trouble to get then
g : and | think they will revive in waite
They cannot be quite dead"
1Aey NillHcVof ult Sdlu L, VIII !
- emphasis which went from my heart
. hers. Then all her shyness fled. 81
@ knew me; and we shook hands, al
u :, smiled into each others eyes with Il
- smile of kindred as we parted.
As | followed on heard the two ch
= dren, who were walking behind, sayil
to each other, ",Wouldn's::..that ha
" been too bad ? Mamma liked them
- much, and we never could have got
- - many all at once again"
" Yes, we could too, next summer
said the boy sturdily.
, They are sure of their "next SUI
mer," | think, all six of these little sou
&c, children and mother and father. TIL
nd may never again gather so many ox-ey
IN daisies and buttercups call at ono,
en- Perhaps some of the little hands ha
no already picked their last flowers. Ne
hd ertheless their summers are certain.
he such souls as these, all trees, either he
ed or in Gods larger country, are Trees
Id Life, with twelve manner of fruits a
he leaves for healing; and it is but lit