Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-11-03
A Sweet Surprise.

from the sea came the long, cool pfcalu OF
the southwest wind, 1t touched the green
grass Of the sedge along the sandy shore,
moved the meadow daisies on the upland,
and then went singing away across the land,
turning every curl of blue smoke from chin
ney top toward the northeast.
1t was Just eight of the clock in the morn
ing, when that southwest wind met Mr..
Robert Malcolm's face, as he opened the |
door Of his house, looking towards the waters |
Of Long Island Sound.
"Please wait one minute, grandpal" were |
the words that caused him to stay his foot |
steps long enough to feel the wonderful |
beauty Of the morning.
A little girl came quickly through the |
hall, bearing in her hands a small basket.
Here is something for you, grandpa |
when business tires you awful to-day. Don't |
open it till then win you promise ?"
And | am to carry that basket all the
way to my office, just to please you, Nell p
he said. =" well, if it must be, promise"
"Don't forget, grandpa, and leave it in
the car" called Nell, at the same instant that
voice from the highway shouted
Train is coming, sir
Mr.. Malcolm made what haste he could,
thereby reaching the railroad station just
as the train came to it, As he dropped into
a seat with a sigh of relief, he thought thus
of his grandchild " That little rogue
came near making me miss my train this
morning wonder what she has put into
this basket. Let me see | promised to
wait until business tired me awfully before
opening it. | must wait"
The June morning grew into MONDAY. Mr..
Malcolm sat in his office alone. Now for one
moments peace and rest, he thought, taking
up newspaper and beginning to read. lie
had been interrupted at least ten times be-
fore reading as many paragraphs, and had
said, Not any, thank you" TO three or
ange women" who had appeared at his Of
fee door.
The day was exceedingly warm. Mr.,
Malcolm thought with a sigh of the GOODNESS
down by the sea- and Involuntary closed his
eyes a minute to try and feel the breath Of
the southwest wind stealing over his face.
As he did SO, quietly, almost stealthily, two
children were going up the stairs leading to
his office. They whispered as they went,
pausing on nearly every step.
Do you dare ?" said one.
She said so Sunday" was the reply.
"You're sure, Sally" with an eager ques-
tioning doubt.
"Of course, | heard her. She said it, and
she meant so, too, She believed it, and I'm
| going to-"
"There now That's his door, I've seen
him go in there many times, and it s wide
open, too" whispered the little girl whose
name was not Sally. And she gave her com
panion an encouraging push that sent her al
most to the threshold, and then deserted her
and ran as fast as she could down the stairs
to the street below.
Sally fingered an instant, and then went
over the threshold and was at last face to
face with Mr. Malcolm. The gentleman
| glanced at the child without laying down
his paper and seemed to be waiting for her
to speak but she only looked at the bright,
fresh carpet on the floor, and wished she was
safe on the street again.
! as it penny that you want ?" asked Mr.
Malcolm, seeing that she did not look up
ooh, sir !" began Salle, and then she
looked down again
"Well, my child. Let me know what it
is that you want" Mr. Malcolm was think
ing OF Nellie at home, and the thought made
him gentle toward this little ono of the
street
" She said sir, that Goblin that lives
up in heaven-can do everything
THAT is true, little girl" said Mr.. Nal
colin, dropping his paper and looking at
| Sallie with interest
"Then he can give my sister Kate some
Strawberries" And the child looked up
into his face.
"Who is your sister Kate, and why does
she want Strawberries to-day? 2"
Oh, she's white, as white as anything
and she's got to die, and they'll come, the
men will, after that, and carry her off some
where, like they do all the folks. But, oh,
sir, if she only had some Strawberries to-day
before she goes. She wants em awful bad,
and Rates hitler than be, and better, too
And why did you come to me about it ?"
She said, sir-the nice teacher in the
school--she said good folks were all a-work-
ing for God-and-and," the child gathered
up the hem of her dress and dashed away
tear from her blue eyes, and then looked
out fresh again, and said 81 thought
maybe you'd be working for Him to-day,
and He'd tell you to send Strawberries to my
Kate, if He can do everything lie has mind
to-"
"Come nearer, little girl" said Mr.. NAL
colin.
Sallie went forward and stood by his chair.
"Now toll me where your Kate lives.
Look right in my eyes and tell me the very
place"
Sally told him.
Do you know where there are any nice
strawberries to-day 2" he asked.
"Down to Fulton Market" she said.
Lots and lots of EN-"
"Wait one minute and Mr. Malcolm
wrote the address she gave him infinitely.
snow, little girl, tomorrow | intend to
go and see your Kate for myself; it is too
late to-day" As his eyes looked at the hour
on the face of the clock and returned, they
rested for an instant on the basket that had
very nearly made him too late that morning.
lie had forgotten it until then. lie reached
forward, took it up, cut the string that held
the cover down, and, 10 the basket was
filled with delicious strawberries, covered
with fresh grass
Nellie had begged them Of the gardener
as a surprise to her grandfather. They were
the very finest that had been picked at
Homeland that June. And Nellie had said,
many times during the day, perhaps she
was saying it at that very moment of time,
81 wonder If grandpa is eating Strawberries
now ?"
"Ihis is curious, he said, a smile of sweet
surprise going over his face. "Come, little
girl, and take peep into this basket"
Sally went and took peep.
con, oh, sir Did God make them Der
ries grow right in that basket since I've
been in here, cause lie heard me ?" she
asked, the brown of her sunburnt face fading
INTO white, and then glowing with surprise
and hope into vivid coloring
{" lie might as well. 1t would not have
been His work more surely" said Mr.. NAL |
colin, quite to himself. Then, aloud he told !
to Sally the story OF the berries where they |
grew in his garden in a village near the sea- |
and how his Nellie had given them to him
that morning.
A." If my Kate only had Nellie" said
f,,llt e..