Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-05-28

my seal oil hope ana the ancnOr, anu the
Voyages of Captain Cook To my sister
Clara leave my canarles, my pet squirrel,
my flowers, and all my fairy story books.
To my brother Walter. l give the rest Of
my library, my chessboard and men, my
battledores and shuttlecock, my rabbits,
my dog, and my white pony; and when I
am dead, hope he will believe | have
loved him dearly.
CHARLES HARRISON"
Waller wept bitterly over this will (; but
when he had grown calm, he said, "May
go to him, mother2' ar you will prom
ise not to disturb him." she answered.
Waller promised, and stole softly into the
dim chamber where Charlie was now alone,
sleeping quietly. lie knelt down by the
bedside, hid his face in the counterpane,
and silently prayed to God TO forgive him
his sins, to give him a better heart, and TO
make his brother well again. Suddenly he
felt soft hand laid on his head. He look
ed up and Charlies mild blue eyes were
smiling on him. "Come and lie by my
side," he said; and Walter laid himself
down there, and the two brothers again
embraced and kissed each other.
As thus they lay, talking softly aud
sweetly together, they heard some unusual
noise below, and then their mother coming
up stairs with some one who stepped lit
| tie heavier. II was their father, returned
from his longest and last sea voyage Now
he promised to stay at home with them al
ways.
| The return of Captain Harrison did more
than medicine to cure his little son, who,
soon became stronger than he had ever
been before.
One afternoon, when Charlie had been a
fortnight about the house, ii was arranged
| that he should take a short ride on his
white pony, soon after beak fast the ne xt
day.
| When Walter came down in the morn
ing, his mother kissed him more tenderly
than usual, and his father, shaking hands
with him heartily, wished him many hap
| py returns of the day. Walter looked as
though he did not know what to make OF
this, and his mother said, "Why, my son,
is itApossible you have forgotten this is
your bhthdayH"
"Ah, yes, mamma" he answered 81
only remembered it was Charities first day
out
"And So" said his father, lyon are to
give him a ride; pray, what are you to
| do9"
go, I'll trot along by his side, on foot.
believe can outrun that pony now"
When break fast was over, Walter helped
his brother into the saddle, and was arrang-
ing the bride, when Charlie called oul
joyfully, "Look there brotherW pointing
| xpith hia rfItnU kpl In, In
ny, somewhat larger than his own, stand
ing on the other side of the yard. Walter
ran TO it, took or slip of paper which
was pinned to the rein, and read: "Wil
Walter our first born aud beloved son, ac-
cept this birthday gift from his psrents?"
Walter laid his face against the slender
arching neck of his beautiful horse, and
burst into tears. But he was too happy tC
weep long he soon ran into the house
thanked and kissed his father and mother
ran out again, mounted and rode off will
his brother.
They had a fine ride. They had many
fine rides together in the years that follow
ed for Charlie continued to improve til
he became quite strong and vigorous. Al
for Walter, he always kept his robus
health; be did not grow to be handsome
but he became what is far better, truly
amiable and agreeable. Even Aunt Han
nah Perkins grew to liking him, at last
and Uncle Walter Rogers, who sent him t,
college, has been heard to declare that h,
shall leave him all his fortune,-knowinI
that he will not hoard 1t like a miser, 0
waste 1t like a spendthrin, but SO use ii a
TO do a great deal Of good, and make
great many people happy. But l do no
believe that the writing that gives to Wal
Harrison large sum of money, land, AM
houses, will ever he SO dear to him as lit
tie scrap of paper, which he keeps anon
his most valuable and sacred things in hi
private desk, and on which he has writer
LITTLE CHARLES WILL."-Grdce Green
rood in "Recollections of Childhood"
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