Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-03-31
What Nellie Did.

What Nellie Did.
Nellie .Iudson stood looking out of the
window Ia very Disconnected state Of mind
The new dress her mother had promised for
the commencement was not 10 he 50 hand.
some ~ she expected. Her mother, after
talking il over with father. had told her that
he thought palmer dress must do, as bust
ness did not warrant so expensive a one.
"Wel then, if / can't have ms good a one
as the other girls, ! don't want any" and
she walked off 10 the window pouting
As she stood there, the same little girl she
had seen so often picking cinders out OF the
barrels from door TO door, came along. Her
dress was ragged, her feet bare, and no hat
on. But what a complexion she had as fair
as a lily, and her hair was one mass of curls
Nellie thought a. wonder why she has so
pure a skin while mine freckles, and my hair
would never curl like that if ! kept it in pa
pers week" The little Cinderella had her
head in the barrel just then. and the sun was
touching every curl with gold Nellie's
mind was entirely off herself; if it had not
been she would not have called out the
window
Little girl. come here; want to speak
10 you."
Cinderella looking up and seeing pretty
young lady dressed in fresh clean frock
with ribbons in her hair so early in the
morning, thought she must be going some
where.
What's your name 2" asked Nellie.
Salie Bridges"
" Are you so poor that you have to pick
cinders %
I'VE are now, since mothers been sick
and can't work"
Is there no one to help her but youY'
That's ALL ma'am."
" DO you live far from here ?"
Not very" and she named a neighbor
hood full of tenement houses.
" DO you think your mother would care il
| went to see her 2" said Nellie, carried
away by the thought ofpoverty and suffering.
"Oh, do come, know she would like to
have you"
In a moment Nellie had her hat ON and
was hurrying along with Sallie. She was
out of breath when she reached the house
and climbed several flights Of stairs, and
Mrs Bridges looked at her in surprise while
she was trying to get breath to speak but
sSallie, more used to such exertion, was tell
ing her mother all she could. The room was
small and poorly furnished but neat; nor
was Mrs Bridges more i'll than many another
woman but to Nellie out of her home with
its plenty of food and nice furniture, this
room looked dreary enough. Nellie went to
the bed, somehow she had forgotten all about
herself. She had never seen such want--a
sick woman with no one to do anything for
her but little girl No money, no clothes,
no food She had heard of such things, but
to be brought face to face with them was
| quite different thing.
What can do for You, Mrs Bridges "
said Nellie, in her gentlest tones.
have eaten nothing to-day II had D
cup of tea could get along very we'll"
Nellie's hand went for her pocket-book,
but before she touched it she thought of the
ribbons aud flowers she had to buy for the
commencement Ii she had been hungry
She would not have hesitated moment, but
her good breakfas made her selfish, and
then this money she had saved out of her
pin-money; so you see She would not have
been like any little girl you know, if she had
not stopped to think of these things. But
it was only for moment though a hundred
good promptings came running 10 her mind
She called Sallie. aud they went to the
first grocery Tea, bread, butter, eggs and
rice altogether dollars worth, she put in
Sallie's basket, and sent her home.
Not until she was alone, going home, did
Nellie realize what had happened in an
hoUr. How should she tell her mother after
her bad conduct about the dress? Not that
she was any more willing to give it up, but
She was Just little sorry that she had LOST
her temper, especially since she had just seer
how much the poor are constantly deprived
Of. She went in quietly and commenced hei
practcing, but her mother had missed her
and with the first note she came into the
room.
, "Where have You been have beer
looking for you all over the house. have
some good news Tor you"
81 went out for a minute, and staid Longer
than ! expected"
oh very well. While you were gon,
father came in and said he guessed he coulC
, afford that new dress, rs he had had stroke
! of luck, so | shall 20 ont and buy it. You
have money for ribbons and flowers 7"
| have not now, mother" and then Nellie
told of her visit and the result.
Her mother was more pleased than she
dared TO say. She put her arm about Nellie
and kissed her. My dear child, you ar,
: better than you thought yourself. If | has
= asked you to do such kindness two hour
ago you would have refused, | am afraid
and now, of your own accord you have givel
= the money you saved for the ribbons anC
flowers you can hardly do without"
, "If have the dress can't we manage t.
1 do without them? | could not have fel
= happy to have kept my money in my poke
I, for such purpose while Mrs Bridges has
nothing to eat"
Mr.. Judson was delighted when he hear'
, of Nellie's self-sacrfce, and came prett,
: near spelling her with praise.
:, As for Mrs. Bridges, she was quite over
= whelmed with the help she received iron