Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-26
ADA, win "a Courteou. Mo,her.

other were so beautiful that the pleasure
of watching them was quite enough to
make one forget the dscomforts of the
journey.
1t was plain that they were poor; their
clothes were coarse and old, and had been
made by inexperienced hands. The moth
ers bonnet alone would have been enough
to have condemned the whole party on any
Of the worlds thoroughfares. 1 remem-
bered aflerward, with shame, that my
self had smiled at the sight of its antigua
ted ugliness; bu. her face was one which
II gave you a sense Of rest to look upon,-it
was so earnest, tender, true, and strong.
1t had little comelness of shape or color in
it., II was thin and pale; she was not
young; she had worked hard; she had ev-
identity been much ill; but have seen
few faces which gave me such pleasure. l
think that she was the wife of a poor cler-
gyman and think that clergyman must
10 one of the Lords best watchmen of
souls. The children-two boys and two
girls-were all under the age Of twelve,
and the youngest could not speak plainly.
They had had rare treat they had been
visiting the mountains, and they were
talking over all the wonders they had seen
with glow of enthusiastic delight which
was to be envied. Only a d.for-word
record would do justice 10 their conversa-
tion no description could give any idea OF
| it,-so free, so pleasant, so genial, no inter-
ruptions, no contradictions; and the moth
er's part borne all the while with such
| equal interest and eagerness that no one
not seeing her face would dream that she
was any older than an elder sister. In the
course Of the day there were many occa-
sions when it became necessary for her TO
deny requests, and TO ask services, espe-
cially from the eldest boy; but no young
girl, anxious to please lover, could have
done either with a more tender courtesy.
She had her reward for no lover could
have been moro tender and manly than
was this boy CT twelve. Their lunch was
simple and scanty but it had The grace of
a royal banquet. At the last, the mother
produced with much gleo three apples and
an orange, Of which the children had not
known. All eyes fastened on the orange.
1t was evidently great rarity. watched
to see If this test would bring out SCI fish
ness. There was little silence; just the
shade of a cloud. The mother said, "How |
sha II divide this? There is one for each |
Of you and shall be best of OF all, for |
expect big tastes from each of you"
"oh give Annie the orange! Annie loves |
oranges" spoke out the oldest boy, with |
the sudden air OF a conqueror, and at the |
same time taking the smallest and worst |
apple himself.
"Oh, yes, let Annie have the orange" |
echoed the second boy, nine years old.
"Yes, Annie may have the orange, be-
cause that is nicer than the apple, and she
is lady and her brothers are gentlemen" |
said the mother, quietly. Then there was
u merry contest as TO who should feed the |
mother with largest and most frequent
mouthfuls; and 50 the feast went on. Then
Annie pretended 10 want apple, and ex-
changed thin golden strips of orange for
bits out of the cheeks of Baldwins and, as
l sat watching her intently, she suddenly
fancied she saw longing in my face, and
sprang over 10 me, holding out a quarter
OF her orange, and saying, Don't you want
taste, too?" The mother smiled under
standinely, when said, "No, 1 thank you,
you dear, generous little girl; don't care
about oranges"
At noon we had tedious interval OF
waiting at dreary station. We sat for
two hours on a narrow platform, which the
sun had scorched till it smelt of heat. The
Oldest boy-the little lover-held the
youngest child, and talked TO her, while
the tired mother closed her eyes and rest
ed. Now and then he look ed over at her,
aud then back at the baby; and at last said
contidentiaIly TO me (for we had become
fast friends by this time,) "Isn't it funny,
TO think that l was ever SO small as this
babyH and papa says that then mamma
was almost little girl herself"
The two other children were toiling up
and down the banks of the railroad track,
picking ox-eye daisies, buttercups, and
sorrel. They worked like beavers, and
soon the bunches were almost too big for
their little hands. Then they came run
ming 10 give them TO their mother.
"Oh dear" thought I, how that poor,
tired woman will hate 10 open her eyes !
and she never can lake those great bunch
es of common fading flowers, in addition
to all her bundles and bags" was mis-
taken.
yOuB hOn
kind you were! Poor, hot, tired little
flowers, how thirsty they Look If they
will only try and keep alive till we get
home, We will make them very happy in
some water; won't we? And you shall
put one bunch by papa's plate, aud one by
mine."
Sweet and happy, the weary and flushed
little children stood looking up in her face
while she talked, their hearts thrilling
with compassion for the dropping flowers,
and with delight in the giving of their gin.
Then she took great trouble to get a string
and tie up the flowers, and then the train
came and we went whirling along again.
Soon it grew dark and little Annie's head
nodded. Then heard the mother say 10
the oldest boy, "Dear, are you too tired to
let little Annie put her head on your shoul-
der and take nap? We shall get her
homo in much better case to see papa If we
can manage to give her a little Sleep"
How many boys of twelve hear such words
as these from tired, overburdened moth
ersi {
Soon came the city, the final station,
with its hustle and noise. 1 fingered TO
watch my happy family, hoping to see the
father. "Why, papa isn't here /" e1claim- J
ed one disappointed little voice after an
other. "Never mind" said the mother ]
with a still deeper disappointment in her ,
lone; "perhaps he had to go to see some !
poor body who Is sick" In the hurry of |
picking up all the parcels and the sleepy [
babies, the poor daisies and buttercups G
we're left forgotten In corner of the rack 4