Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-27
VOL Xix. NEW SERIES. VOL XXI.


10 Daws0n's lane lived Tillv Tilson, Nick
Jones and Jerry Gimble. The boys gathered
shayings from the ship-yards for their wom-
en- folks to wash by, but Tilly had no parents
and staved with Mrs Sullivan, who kept an
apple stand and sold ballads. When it rain-
ed Tilly had to tend shop, because tie old
woman was rheumatic At such times Nick
or Jerry, whichever could get away from
/ the maugie. acted as sentinel about the low
/ hut on wheels, and many manly set-to thev
had in protecting Tilly from unruly pur-
! chascrs. Now and again the urchins spared
lnstily without gloves. because one wouldn t
/ let the other run beside lilly with the fire
/ engine.
vt night Mrs Sullivan beguiled herself
with bad rum. 1t was cold in the seyen-by-
nine room the stove smoked terribly, and
tie frost found its way past the rickety win
1 dow-SaSh. Tilly didn't mind She cared
/ little for the beating she often got when the
day hadn't been prosperous. Bat Nick
Jones swore revenge. Once the children
had a "bang-up' holiday. Nick stole hen
I (this was overt. .of course, but this must be 4
strict chronicle). lie ran Of errands for
huskcr, whereby he obtained corn 10 fatten
her Adyship. lilly polished her face and
hands at the hosiery pump and braided her
halr very tight, as She said, to be "iashion-
cry. Jerry got into clean Jean trousers
and galloWsed them high with string. Nick
supported the luxury Of neither garment,
and with the fowl chucked into a tin pail the
three started up the tow-path as merry as
grigs. When they had footed it beyond all
thc glue factories and tanneries they stopped
beneath some scracgy trees. 1t wasn't much
shade, but 1t was heaven to the outcaSt emil
drcn. Tilly had fooled her friends all the
way. for concealed in her rocket were three
bans and q. a.smidgcn of salt in a brown pa
per Jerry gathered sticks and leaves and
Mex made a rousing fire in an improyised
oven morti>oj with fiat stones. Then he
-cooped up a quantity Of earth which was
molstenod with water dipped in hrimleSS
bat. The hen died hard then was plastered
with this and set a-boiling. The mass began
20 simmer. "Dcar dear =" cackled lilly
ITS so nice TO cook dinner independent.
She twisted together some dusty leaves for a
-alt-cellar and produced the buns with flour
i~h. Nick was head cook, but all wished to
turn their savory prize that her back might
be wei Drowned VIXEN proper time had
sped, Nick tore down the oven. put out the
fire, and removed the clay coating when,
10 tho feather, took leave with 1t and there
was "old barlcy-corn done to a beautiful
turn. "Uarned cl it don t take clbov grease,
said Mex, as he help,l Tilly to a wing. Jer-
~ preferred ga walker" 50 they compla-
Gently ate down to the gizze-d OF rather up
10 the crop-lnd decided that they had had
enough. They we're charmed with tie feast,
and while dcyouring it some tales of horror
were related. also some curious topics discus
sed. lilly told her chums that most Of all
things she wanted a carriage and pair.
What would you DO with Mother Sullivan
innoecutlv asked Jerry. "When I've bought
that carriage, said Nick, "she j be plan
ted
"fic g" hri1ied Tuly coquettishly You
ain'toat % rouuddbouts.
Nick was "-truck" ~ulky, while Jerry con-
flci the secret hope cl his present existence
that be might one day own rat pit, I'D
20 cah5otS with the cops, concluded ne.
After dinner" Nick took lilly floating
on the canal. her short feet ripping the wa
ter. Jerry punched the Shiny turtle with
stick, and they bad great laTks chasing the
ducs~ in the -tagnant pools.
"Ef yer get trouncei somebody VIII hcy
head put on en-. whispered Mex as he Lett
Tilly that night at Mistress Sullivan door.
When she leaves were red and went eddy
ing through the CUTTERS there was planned
chestnuuine. Tilly privately cherished
golden sclcme of gathering ash-berrlcs TO
sell Tor the cathedral at Christmas, but She
got INTO disgrace with the old dame, 80 the
uutting was was put of till next year.
Tilly Practically tod tie boys The old Jade
is uncommon nasty about it, emphasized
Nick In winter they packed snow men IN
the alley and made cthgies OF Mrs. Sullivan
I'm dil rent stages of drunkenness, and lilly
led the van In snow skirmi>hes with the ham
iat-uan. She was good at marbles TOR
keeps. " mumhlc-te pee, and crack the-whlp.
The cold didn't seem TO affect her she went
bar,iootcd nearly the year round. and had
chi.hlains and st0ne-bruIses all over her ieet
The child had merry laugh and dauntless
spirit, and the neighbors liked her IN spite OF
her mi-ChieyouS tricks. One ,leetv morning
lilly tId not come out to play Nick shout
cd for her and threw a pebble against the
window as signal. lie aud Jerry waited
some time before they went up to the lott to
fetch her but they wercawiully scared at
the girl. she looked So Wild and seemed daft.
50 they cut down to the square after the Sui
liyan. who grumbled bitterly at first but
soitened down some when She saw that lilly
was So sorelv stricken. Days passed the
hospital doctor called often. The boys up-
tood in aul out and hung around the door
making awful signs to each other Mother
Sullivan uttered an are over her beads and
strokci the inyald'S elfsh locks Jerry
mother and Mrs McFinn brought up their
babies and c7oonci over the apology for ire
Her matc- wondered why lilly was so stil-
Jerry fumbled with two agateS in his pocket
designed as a surprise for the little girl
against She would get well.
''She was good grl after all, was lilly
said Jcrry's mother, wlplng her eyes with
her apron.
Yes, but the old 'owan wollopped her,
blurted Nick through a choking sob, whHe
jerry whimuered a sad accompaniment.
Tillv opened her brown eyes and extended
her slender hands to Mex. lie knelt beside
her. and with big round tears patterlng upon
the rags and straw he implorcd her to get
up and 20 out coastlng.
The lass was passing white, and seraph-
ic smile sh0uc upon her face. The priest
was there with the wafer, bnt 1t was too late.
lilly was dead.