Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-30

was silent. Alice protested loudly against
+ Joe's treatment, as she trippcd along by
| Bessies side, with the can in her hand, con
Guiding with
Giles theawfulest, dreadfulest boy / ever
saw / wouldnt.mind him bit, Bessie"
But Bessie was not thinking Of Joe.
The little voice kept saying stole
stole " and then, Did she did she 2" UNI
I'll at length Bessie answered, impaliently.
Yes, she did !" Not aloud, but inside. to
the persistent little voice. She gave me
the milk and things, and she would have
given me the tarts but she was in q hurry,
so just took EN-; that's all She'd give
me forty any time course she would. She
lets me have everything want
That's so :" Whispered another voice.
louder than the first one. Don't mind it.
It's Of no consequence. She'd laugh il She
knew what q fuss there was about two tarts
when there are dozens OF them in the pan
try, aud Bessie, partially comiorted laughed
and chatted with Alice.
They tucked the basket and can away in
a nice place. aud went hunting about the
woods till their aprons were filed with the
pretty toXberry vine and sprays OF checker
berry. Then they sat down 10 arrange
them. Let's save these long vines with
the berries TO put around our dishes ON the
table" suggested Alice.
"What do you mean, Alice Wehavcnt
any dishes, or table"
"Oh you don't know about picuics &"
said Alice laughing. ave must have a
stone table and leaf dishes. that's the fun of
it the stone You are sitting on win do. Come.
let's get supper now I'm real hungry, amt
You ~
81 don't know :" said Bessie, slowly. as
her thoughts went back 10 the lunch basket.
which she had almost forgotten in their
play The little voices began to whisper
again.
Lets go back farther into the grove,
where it is darker" she said, as she thought
of the tarts. Perhaps some will see ms
here-,Ioe may come again"
ooh no, don't" pleaded Alice It's
beautiful here. | hate dark, don't You 2"
Bessie yielded. She was good-natured
little girl and liked TO please her friends.
She worked busily. gathering leaves aud
arranging them, under Alces direction, on
the napkins which she had spread upon the
rock, but the little voice would make itself
heard, now and then. Stole-stoe. What
was it You told Joe -
The foxberry vine was trailed round and
round the stone and all was ready tor the
| food.
"Now bring the basket" said Alice, with
| q flourish Bessie brought 1t and opened It
with dash, rs if in that way to silence the
! little voice. But no, II cried louder and
louder as the tarts were exposed to view
ooh N.Y." cried Alice, "what elegant
tarts do put them right in the middle, so
we can look at them all the time Amt
they lovely Bessie 90
" don't know" said Bessie slowly. 81
thought they were at first. hut somehow, it
makes me feel sick 10 look at them now"
Stole" cried the voice, 80 loud that She
started and looked all about.
"Why, Bessie how funny you act what
are you looking for? Did You think bear
was coming p
1t seemed as though there was something
right behind me-, said Bessie laughing ner-
vously. Maybe I'm hungry. Lets eat just
as fast as we can
IAN right" said Alice, wen take turns
drinking" and she poured out some milk.
So they muuchcd snaps and drank milk but
the little voice in Bcssies heart would not
be drowned or smothered.
You can have the rest said Bessie,
when all had disappeared bat the tarts. Il
guess hate tarts !"
" Oh Bessie, they are beautiful said
Alice, with great emphasis, aud a sparkle of
satisfaction in her eye.
One Of the tarts quickly disappeared.
Bessie felt as though great load would be
lifted from her heart when they were fairly
out of sight. Alice seemed in no hurry.
Would she never begin on the other Bessie
watched her with feverish Impotence.
ooh Alice, do eat that dreadful thing
quick" she cried, at length. " / don't want
to see another tart ever in my life |
hate 'eml Alice stared at her with round
eyes. Why, Bessie, what ais you? You
said you liked everything this morning"
80 dear seems as though that was a
year ago" sighed Bessie. 81 did them dc
now-everything but tarts I'm so glad it,.
gone - as Alice put in the last mouthiul.
"Why, Bessie, it was splendiierous Why
don't you like em :"
Maybe I've seen too many of EN- lately
said Bessie. Poor little Bessie, so she had
Just two too many
"Well, little one, how went the picnic OF
small dimensions ?" said Winnie Spaulding
when there was a little lull in the talk at
the supper.table Bessie started. She hes
tated moment and then stammered
Pretty well-not as good a. | 'spected
though" Then Tom, Wnnie's brother, be
gan 10 banter her little but Aunt Abba
eve OF bursting into tears, made some re
mark turning the attention away from her
81 must give her good, mothrrly pettiue
tonight she thought. am afraid the
dear child is homesick."
So when the twilight fell, aud she was al
: liberty, she seated herself in a low rocker
and took Bessie upon her lap, smoothing hel
hair gently, and now and then WHISPERING
tender words in her ear, uuheard by an,
other. Poor Bessie her heart was in tn
I mutt, the two voices kept up such a colloquy
inside. What would Aunt Abba think i
: they should speak right out? At las
she could bear it no longer. aud the sob
burst forth
Mrs. Hall led her up stairs aud took hel
again upon her lap,
Now tell aunte all about it, She said
with fond kiss
ooh oh! want my mamma 4" sobbs,
Bessie.
Dear child, you are sick 2"
, ooh don't know guess am Il,
/ want mamma so, she sohbed
/ "Wherc do you feel bad 20 asked Auut
, Abba.
"ln here !" placing her hand upon hei
t heart. ooh Aunt Abba, you'll hate me
, if | tell-l'm dreadful bad-oh wan
mamma so much :"
, What have you done, darlneg Did
you and Alice quarrel 2"
"Oh no, wOrse-wOrse- lob deal
dear my throat won't let me tell" Tn,
good auntie was troubled, perplexed. and
oh so sorry. She let the child weep awhile
, aud then drew the story from her 80 ten
Derby How motherly and good she was
/ My little girl is very sorry for her sin
, isn't she :" she said after "A long talk with her