Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-02-10
Thinking Of Mamma.
Mamma was weary.

Mamma was weary.
Annette watched her at the table attend
ing TO everybody, but never attending to her
self
Every one was off to school or to work but
Annette. Mamma, exhausted from hurry
and labor, sat rocking and resting.
Annette looked up from her school of dolls,
and saw mamma pale and tired, and remem-
bered the untasted food on the plate at
mammals place at the breakfast.
" She is tired" she whispered; she is
hungry; she has so many to tend, aud no one
to tend 10 her; if | was only bigger; if
was a woman like Jo'phine, or big girl like
our Ted " and she sung n low lullaby, I'M
consciously to the doll in her arms. II
wonder ii j could' she thought, " if could
make her anything good. wonder what
could make /" and light as air her little feet
flew over the stairs, down to the kitchen and
pantry below.
IL don't dare to ask about anything" she
thought, because mamma would say, No,
little daughter, you can get me nothing;
am not hungry, and you are too small >"
and she peeped into this jar, and that pan,
and dishes without number, to decide at last
that she only could "guess about making
broth. which was easy, and which it was quite
certain mamma would like"
Never had a luncheon tray so much fixing
before from the napkin white as snow to
the polished spoon, everything was arranged
and re-arranged, till the kitchen was redo
lent with the vapors Of broth, and Annette
decided it was ready and done"
But mamma was asleep oyerpowered by
WEAKNESS, on the chair where she had rocked,
and Annette sat on the door-sill to watch
and TO wait.
Boots rang on the sidewalk and ON the
steps, and before Annette had time TO do
more than think, 1t sounds like Rob, but
what can he want? ?" Rob had banged the
door behind him, and was whistling up the
| stairs
Hush said Annette, on tip-toe. "Mam-
ma is asleep"
"What's the use of hushing? I've lost
my lunch and come for more"
Mamma stirred in her sleep at the sound
of the voice and the creaking boots.
"Please " pleaded Annette, "she's Sc
tired" And Rob gave Annette's curls love
pull, and turned to clatter down stairs.
lie will get something In the pantry,
she thought, and sat down on the door-sill
to watch If mamma slept or woke TO the
creaking of boots.
Mamma woke in little while when door
banged down stairs so Annette scampered
away for the wonderful tray. But, sad tc
behold, Rob had treated himself 10 his lun
cheon, and put the tray in disorder the pars
ley leaves gone, and the drippings Of souI
told tale oyerpowering 10 Annette.
"Oh, Rob Rob" she sobbed, "every one
thinks Of himself"
Rob tapped at the window and shook hi,
head and was off, whistling as he went; but
Annette was burning her fingers with tn,
steam as she lifted the boiler to the light ant
behoId---O happy sight that there wa
enough for mamma yet.
Mammals face was bright as She TASTED
her soup and looked at Annette.
Annette's face flushed when Rob cam'
home and said, " Mamma, nobody comes VI
TO you in making soup"
SO Annette knew that, though she was moi
so big as Ted, nor a woman like "Jophine,
yet she could do something TO helpi anC
mamma felt how pleasant Il was TO hav,
some one think of her while she wal
thinking of others; while Annette, without
knowing it, grew to be in the house as th,
rays Of sunshine.-G. Kringle, in Observer.