Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-10-20

finding a solution. Had he been strong.
minded, he might have called convention,
and declared that, IN the present order OF
things, little boys have no rights big folks
are bound to respect, aud drafted petitions
Tor change; but he was sensitive and sub
iiissive, and LET people snub him and tramplc
on his toes without remonstrance.
The tea-bell reused hin from his cup Of
bitter, puzzliug thoughts.
Bob, come to supper"
lie wouldn't have TO wait, that was some
consolation
At the table Mrs. Moves was telling Miss
Somers about troupe of performing mon
Keys. "One smart monkey, with striped
tail, played on violin, and -
Mamma. it was ring tailed" inter
rupted Bob, eager to have the account exact
Bob, how many times have | told you
not TO interrupt ?"
Bob subsidized, but he knew it was ring
tailed, for he had counted the rings and
watched it half an hour while mamma
gossiped with Mrs. Layton.
All the monkeys turned somersets when
their keeper played Captain Jinks," CON
tinued Mrs. Noyes.
Mamma 1t wasn't Captain Jinks, it was
Q ware is my We little toy"
Bob, il you talk any more at the table,
i'll send you to bed"
Bob was correct, and he knew il he could
Whistle like a mocking-bird, while Mrs.
Noyes did not know one tune from another.
The two reproofs in the presence Of Miss
Somers were too much for his sensitive,
bashful temperament, and mortified him be-
you'd selfcontrol. His little fingers trem-
bled aud dropped glass Of water, spilling
its contents upon the cloth.
Bob, where's your manners Leave the
table instantly" commanded his father.
The children laughed. and Jenny called
Bob an ill-mannered little boor, and the
mortified little fellow crept sadly into bed
aud sohbed until he fell asleep.
The days experience was q fair sample
Of Bobs whole boyhood. lie must not sing
whistle, shout, talk, ask questions, or pound
yet he must keep himself handy to run on
srrauds and pick up chips; he must not
talk TO company, for little boys are to be
seen and not heard he must not have any
company of his own, because he did not
know how TO behave properly. The idea
that Bob had any feelings or rights was not
tolerated. The family did not intend to
act unjustly; they loved Bob, but they were
selfish, and did not want to be disturbed
and Bob was noisy, and such an inveterate
talker and questioner, if given liberty. lie
was clothed and fed, and sent TO school aud
to church aud Sabbath-school; surely that
was all duty required.
Bob made II discovery after while. lie
could pound, and saw. aud bang as much as
he pleased, in Tom Smith's carpenter shop.
smiths wild, half-di,sipated apprentice,
made discovery, too-that bashful Bob
Noyes had wonderful faculty Of saying
witty things, and for whistling and singing,
when he became acquainted-and they
coaxed him off more than once 10 enliycn
the evenings at the Excelsior" saloon.
They were blind as moles at home until a
reckless. almost criminal deed, committed
during the tumultuous period between boy
hood and manhood, showed them that Bob's
young life was being stepped in degradation
and sin. They wept bitterly, but not in
sackcloth and ashes. Wrapped in self
righteousness, they shifted the responsibility
from their own shoulders, aud as he went
from bad IN worse, washed their hands Of
that unavoidable family atiiiction-a black
sheep--C rusader.