Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-05-21
WILLIE.

| neTs IN u tSsinR lOneiy pasture BrOuuu
we saw little basket lying ahead Of us
upon the grass. We made race for it and
Ed captured The prize; a little farther on
we picked up small hat which we at once
recognized as Willie Dedrlck's. Then we
turned the angle of a zIg-zag rail fence and
there in the corner, jammed close under
the bottom rail, was beautiful little Willie,
only Ave years old.
His clothing was torn aud bloody, and
he did not move; we felt little afraid be-
cause he was SO still, but we went up 10
hln. He was dead, and his plump little
| features were all blackened with great
bruises.
II shocked us very much. Only three
hours before we had been playing with
| Willie al the pond. We felt that Il was a
terrible thing to find him dead in this un-
look ed-for manner. We asked each other
what Walter aud Mary would do when
they should hear Of this; Willie was the
only boy they had. And then the question
came up what ought we TO do under such
circumstances. There was no one In sight
TO tell us. 1t was suggested that we might
take up the body and carry 1t home TO
Waller aud Mary IL was not far through
the lot and down the bank TO the pond
where they lived. II seemed natural and
right at first that we should take the chub-
by little boy and carry him home. Butwe
shrank from the presence Of death even in
the form Of little Willie; and beside that,
we had certain dim and confused ideas, as
country lads do who read the city news
papers, that somehow a coroner was neces-
sary, and that it would not be lawful or
safe for us TO meddle with Willie, thus
| strangely found dead from an unk known
cause.
So we sat down upon the large stones
near by Willie and held a council. There
was no chairman appointed, and no secre-
tary, aud none OF the surroundings that
ordinarily belong to dellberative bodies
nevertheless, In all the essentials OF a great
council this occasion was very eminent.
Here were three lads, seated upon three
fragments OF the ancient granite which
| strews the northern slope ofthe Adirondack
mountains, and below them stretched the
wild woods, away to the valley of the
| mighty ST. Lawrence aud In their midst,
| upon that bright summer day, sat the sksl-
eton king, with his awful sceptre and his
iron crown, pressing upon their young
hearts those maichless terrors which have
ruled the world since time began.
II was AN august presence, aud the boys
felt their responsibility more than men,
bers Of council ordinarily do. Their final
conclusion was, that one OF their number
must go and tell Walter aud Mary, while
the other two watched the body. 1t re-
| quired quite az much courage a. wisdom
TO reach this conclusion, for to tell the pa
rents was task the boys dreaded.
The lot was cast, country-boy fashion.
with three blades Of grass, TO determine
who should be the messenger OF evil It'd
ings. The lot fell upon Phil, and he Inn
| mediately rose up TO start. Ed suggested
at this point that In sending word the death
ought 10 be ascrlbed to some cause. The
boys had been very much pu zzed from
the first to know what could have done it.
They gazed about the pasture ground to
discover what suggestion could be made.
There were a couple OF horses, some cows
aud some sheep grazing in n distant part Of
the inclosure. As soon ~ 1t WAS suggested
that one OF the horses might perhaps have
done II by kicking Willie, the boys accept
ed that as the natural and undoubted solu-
tion of the mystery. And 50 Phil took the
word with him.
Phil went upon little trot through the
lot and down the bank, moving rapidly,
50 that bis heart might not quail or shrink /;
and In less than five minutes he stood by
tue little house near tho pond.
He looked In at the door, which was wide
open upon this summer day, and there lie
saw Walter and Mary. Walter sat clean
| Ing the lock OF his rife, while the gun it.
self was lying acress his lap. Doubtless
| PhiPs face was somewhat palo as he went
In at the door, for Mary looked at him as II
she saw something there, and dreaded 1t.
| The lad had good sense he did not blurt
out the sad news suddenly. He said to
Walter, in quiet way, "Will you please
to step out of the door with me wish to
BEE you"
II was the earnestness of the voice, per-
haps, that caused the man to put aside his
gun 80 quickly.
When they were out of the house Phil
said, 81 have bad news for you; we have
found your little son la the lot, kicked by
a horse, and we are afraid that he Is 80 bad
that he Is dead.''
Phil had thought of this way OF saying 1t
before he got TO the house. When he said
dead, Walter gave a little start, and said,
sis he dead?"
Phil had to say, "Yes, we are afraid lie
Is, and we think he Is.
Walter stepped into the cottage, and Phil
Stood at the door to see how he would tell
Mary. Walter said without any preface,
"Mary, our little Willie is dead r.
"That was not a prudent thing" the boy
thought, as the tragic words fell upon his
ear, and fixed themselves in his memory.
The effect of the words upon Mary, re-
minded the boy of the way he had seen q
rifle shot tell upon a rabbit or partridge.
Tho woman passed through kind OF hut-
ter or shudder for a moment, and then
sunk straight down in little heap upon
the floor. Then followed y series OF quick
gasps and catching for breath, and short
eXclamations Of "Oh, dear oh, dear I" and
then the stitied shrieking began.
Walter took up his wife In his strong
arms, and tried 10 undo in part the sad
work which had been accomplished upon
her by the few words he had so suddenly
and imprudently uttered. He said thai
Willie might not be dead, afler all, but on.
ly hurt. And 30 he placed her upon bed
and he and Phil lefl her there, and started
TO go and see Willie.
Not many words were Said as the mar
and boy climbed the bank, and Strode has
tlly along to the fatal SPOT As thew n0areC