Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1875-06-09
Che family Circle.
Crying for the Moon.


There was little girl once who wanted
the moon. It was SO bright. and large.
and beautiful. that she fairly broke her
heart yearning for it. All the toys in the
world were nothing to that round. golden
thing that shimmered and shone on; and
she begged everybody to get it for her
First her papa, because he was so tall that
if he went out on the roof he could surely
reach it. But he declared that the thing
could not be done. and advised her to be
contented with doll. Il big one, with blue
eyes that opened and shut. and real vel
low hair-a doll instead of the moon-but
he did not understand. She could not
make him see that it was the moon she
wanted, not a doll
Then she went to her mother Best and
dearest mother. who would do anything
for her She was kind She said she re-
membercd wanting the moon herself; but
not one ever got i: for her. 1t was a
beautiful moon. If one had it. one could
60 about lighting up the places where one
went. so beautifully; but. as it was, it
shone very prettily. Could she not look
ut it. admire it. be content, and have in
stead. ever SO many pieces of blue, and
pink, and yellow silk. and needle, and
nuke some patchwork or /, nnets for her
doll?
Mamma was kind. but she did not quite
understand either. Oh, no.
Then there was her big brother who
grinned, and tclsed her; and her bio SIS
ter, who begged her not to cry, and gave
her Il great, sweet sugar plum. The moon
was not to be had, they said; but she
knew better.
That night, when she went to bed, she
asked the nurse, old Dinah, whether it
was true that she could never. never reach
the moon; and Dinah considered, under
the red and yellow turban like a small con-
tlagration, and after considering she said
"Wcll. honey; reckon You cant reach
| lie moon. no wavs-SpeckS datS impo~si-
Bile; hut | tell YOU what: when dat Val
moon gets ready it will come down to Won
Yes. chile; de moon will come down t.
YOU when it gets ready. SO 90 to slecl
and don't bother no more"
The little eirl was happy, and said her
prayers and went to sleep on her little
white pillow. thinking of the happy tim,
when the moon should come down to her
Late in the night, after every one was
sleeping She awoke. The moon had @on,
behind the house. and she could see it nc
longer
"What if it has come down." she said
and She got up and went to the window,
patteriny softly over the floor in her little
bare feet 50 that she awohe no one.
Outside of thc window lay little pond
and there on its breast was the reflection
of the moon She could not see. The beau
tiful yellow moon.
1T has come down to me-" she said
The moon has come down of its own
self" and she danced for Joy Then
knowing Il way out of the house. she crept
down stairs. not even waiting for her
shoes. and ont into the cold. st II garden
where all the flowers boomed and tn
grass was wet with dew. She went down
the path, and opened the gate, and ran
down to the pond Far out in its very
center the moon that had come down TO
her hoatrd on lis back.
Come here" said She: but the moon
di not come.
don't You hear me-" she cried. The
moon made no answer.
There wis nothing for it but to wade
our and bring it in. She tucked her little
night-gown up and started
The moon smiled at her. She wadcd in .
Her feet We're wet: now her little knees :;
but she almost touched the moon She
took one step more: it WAS on the water.
A. she went down she caught at the golden
simmer with her little white hands.
'Moon. have GOT YOU" she cried: and
then her head was under water.
Somebodv in the house heard her
scream. and came ont in Il terrible FRIGHT
Papa. big and strong. walked into the
water and brought the little GIRL out She
WAS choking with the mouthtuls of dirty
water. She WAS all over mud and mire
Oh, her pure white gown. the little baby,
maiden dress how dirty it was The tiny
feet were rs black as Dinah'S and in the
small, dimpled hand We're c!asprd two or
three very long pieces of very rank. i'll
smelling water weeds and she WIS nearly
dead; but rs soon Is she could speak, this
was what she said:
The moon came down to me, aud
went to get it; and then she pulled Inc
down and drowned me. and dirtcd me.
the nasty, wicked moon"
Mortl-All the strong minded little girls
that want the moon, beware. You cannot
reach her. and if she does come down
you II have to wade through dirty water
TO get her Your feet and vour white
garments will be soiled and YOU must
touch evil weeds, and perhaps you will be
less lucky than our little girl; for no one
may come to your rescue, and YOU may
be quite drowned, not only partially so. by
that wicked. treachcrous moon, for which
you pine and speedily.