Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-05-24
Grandmother's Little Workmen.

in the uld-iashioncd garden were gay with |
summer nowers-ro roses, lilies, pennies and
marigold great lunches of violets and
mignonette in abundance; a garden where
you could make any number OF bouquets, ana |
the flowers would not be missed. Around |
each bed was a prim border of box, and |
winding between them were neatly graveled |
walks. In one corner was Nellie's bed, and |
there stood little Nellie herself a large sun |
hat on her head, her white dress covered by |
a bingham apron and in her hands a trowel, |
basket and small rake. She had a very de |
termincd expression on her little face, which, |
Judging from her trowe and rake, meant |
work. First she gave several kicks at the |
box border, and looked as if she expected !
something to make its appearance, but moth
ing came. Then she gave several pokes to a
neighboring peony, but still nothing was 10
be seen so Nellie, with a happy sigh of re
lief, commenced 10 dig up the weeds with !
her trowel and put them into the basket, !
smoothing the ground with her little rake.
The bed began to look very nice, and old
John, the gardener, stopped to admire and
praise her industry.
There was another pair OF eyes watching
Nellie not admiringly, but with the fear
that her busy trowel would unearth and
compel him to seek new quarters This was
| a little toad, who, finding the morning quite
warm, hal kicked the earth away with his
/ hind legs, till he made little cave, into
which he had backed, till only his head and
fore feet were visible, and they were 50 near
| the color of the ground you would not notice
him only his eyes shone bright aud black,
as he watched Nellie's approach.
Would you believe that Nellie. who was
five years old, aud such sensible girl about
other things, was really afraid Of the " hop
toadies,' as She called Them Well. ! am
sorry to say she stood in great fear OF the
harmless little things, who never hurt any
one but hop about, and eat bugs, and do a
great deal of good,
Mister toady had seen the kick Nellie had
given the box. and the shake the leaves of
the peony had received, and he congratu-
lated himself that he had not taken refuge
under either; but soon he heard the rake
coming, and with jump he hoped out OF
bis cave, and made straight for the shelter
of a rosebush near by.
Down dropped the rake as soon as Nellie
discovered the toad, and, with a scream of
fright, off she ran. Nellie knew very well
that it was foolish to be afraid OF the toad,
and felt ashamed so when John asked what
was the matter, instead of owning up brayely
and acknowledging she was afraid, she only
said she was tired of wedding, and would
take her wheelbarrow and beIp him draw
rravel for the walk So she borrowed the
y Kitchen stove shovel from tbe cook. and
. trudged off through the orchard to the gravel
- pit. She wheeled two or three loads, and
then amused herself making garden and lay
ing out little walks in the fine gravel. Thi'
; was great fun, and she was quite happy
o By.and-by, Nellie thought she would loaC
. her wheelbarrow again, but when she cam,
= 10 roll IL nm the narrow patb. there sat ,
i "dreadful hop-toad right in the road. ant
/, there was no other way of getting ont o
Il the pit.
What did Nellie do? 1 am sorry Ia "a,
she ran back and commenced CRYING
Grandma. waking through the Orchard
heard sobs and going 10 the edge of th,
r. gravel nit saw poor Nellie sitting on he
:. barrow and CRYING as if her little hear
II would break. Dear. kind grandma wa
Is soon down by her little pets side. and find
u inc the cause. kissed away the tears an,
IS taking her hand. led her past the toad. an,
, then grandma, after some trouble. caught i
" in her handkerchief.
W "Whv, grandma What are Won roin,
s. to do with that ugly thing?"
k "You will see. presently" said Grandma
10 "but first | want Won TO come into the gar
den saw one Of my little workmen YER
Is busily at work. and want TO show hin
ii Ia Won -"
At tbe hack of tbe garden was sumrne,
house. and over il climbed a grapevine
Ono larr,e branch had heeu emf IN close 4
= the root and the sweet SAP had not vet dried
IS Hundreds of ants we're running over the cut