Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-02
How the Little Clades Behaved.

Now, Sophie aud Mamie, remember that
you must behave your very best at Mrs. Bell
goods, il let you spend the afternoon with
Maude. Mrs Bellgood is very particular
She does not like rude little girls and if
hear of any rough behavior there. | shall
certainly punish you"
And little Mrs. Glade, their mamma, went
on dressing the two little girls very quickly
for, with her five children, she seemed to be
constantly busy.
The two Oldest, Sophie and Mamie, had
been invited to spend the afternoon at a
neighbor's, to amuse Maud, a baby of two
years aud it seemed to them that mother
talked Of nothing but behavior all the time
they were getting ready.
They were healthy, hearty children, full
Of life, and little wild at home so they
were particularly charged to be gentle at
Mrs. Bellgood's, and not to hurt Maude.
It was winter afternoon, and the little
girls wore checked wooden dresses aud very
clean white aprons, with such tightly
braided hair that their eyes seemed to be
strained wide open and Sophie, who was
dark, had a top-knot Of scarlet ribbon, while
NAMES fair hair was tied with blue.
They felt rather solemn and subdued
after all their mothers charges; but visit
was a visit, and Mrs. Bellgood's room was
very large and pleasant, and had many pretty
things in it. The lady herself was very
pretty, too, and wore earrings and dangling
things that the children loved to look at,
while she seemed TO be always painting aow-
ers or doing fancy work of some kind.
She was making some beautiful pansies
this afternoon with her paint brush and
AIaude was tumbling about the floor, and
a. 1,,,.l Ia. al
Mrs. Bellgood told Sophie and Mamie that
she was glad to sec them, and asked after
their mammas; then she placed three little
chairs for the children, and telling them
that she was very busy, aud that they must
amuse themselves, she sat down again to
her painting.
Sophie and Mamie seated themselves very
demurely; and little Maude, following their
example pulled her chair directly in front of
them, and sat down, too. Then She laughed,
by way Of attracting their attention; but
the little visitors glanced solemny at each
other, and did not even smile.
Then Maude got down out of her chair,
and went up close to each of the little girls
in succession, and gazed up in their faces,
and punched them, as if to see what they
were made of but never a word said they.
Finally baby took to the floor again, and
turned a kind of somerset, and looked to see
what effect that had but neither Sophie nor
Mamie appeared 10 wink an eyelash.
"What good children said MIR. Bell
good without turning around. How very
quiet you all are She had rather dreaded
this afternoon; but she felt that she ought
to invite the little Clades there, and that
Maude who was an only child, would be
better for some chldren's society
But some one else looked in upon the
scene just then, and laughed heartily at the
funny picture before her. This was little
Maudes amt, a very pleasant-looking young
lady, who liked to see children enjoy them
selves and when she saw that funny row of
serious little faces all staring hard at one
another--for AIaude was as quiet now as the
others, from sheer surprise-she could not
tell what to make of it.
"What are you playing 2" she asked
Sophie looked at Mamie, and Mamie
looked at Sophie, and then the Oldest little
sister said, very solemnly, We are behav.
ing; mother told us to-"
Then the young lady laughed again, and
what do you think she did? Just spilled
the children very gently out of the chairs on
the floor, and told them to roll around and
do something, and not sit there as prim as if
they were IN school.
The spell was broken, and they laughed
and talked, and really did enjoy themselves
and baby Maude brought her beautiful great
picture-books; and one, called "The Cats
Tea-Party," was perfectly delightful.
And when Sophie and Mamie went home,
and their mamma asked them if they had
behaved themselves, they said that they
tried, but a lady, who was Maude's aunt,
wouldn't let them ouhs Companion.