Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-06-23

| OhiJ ~ NV wv So
tie 10 talk OF such things u
"Too little and you are so big, you -
said Wolfgang, with tone of affected pity.
"But 1 am bigger than you y said the
little girl.
"By an inch or two; so you need not be
proud of tp answered the boy.
"And 1 am older than your
"By few monthsr'
"By some years, sir. But let us reckon,
and not quarrel about IL - said Frederica,
good-humoredly. 81 was born on the SOth
of January, 1754."
"And was born on the 9th OF January,
1885," said Wolfgang.
"That makes two years ~ said the little
girl.
"All but three daysr' said the boy.
"Yes, all but three daysp' repeated the
girl. "But let us think what we can do 10
help our parents"
"What are you talking about, sisterT'
said the boy; "what can we dor"
"That is what 1 am thinking of o Heav-
en- what can we dor"
"Let us pray to God, slsterj and then,
perhaps, we shall think OF something" said
Wolfgang.
"You are tight brother let us pray"
answered the girl "let us kneel down un-
der this tree God will see usr'
"And hear us too" said Wolfgang.
"Mamma says that God always hears chill
dren who pray for their parents"
"Ah then he will hear us favorably r.
said Frederica, clsspng her hands.
l., =, L. hf ,ta 81
putting his bread on the ground in order TO
join hands. "Sister," he then said, "shall
we not pray also to our great saint, John
Nepomucene, TO assist usH'
ayes, 10 st. John Nepomucener an
swered Frederica.
"Then do you begin, sister, and l will
follow" answered the boy.
The little girl then said her prayer, and
ended by asking for the intercesson Of the
Bohemian saint, the little boy repeating
the prayers after her; and both were so
earnestly engaged with what they were
about, that they did not perceive a man, of
somewhat advanced age and Of noble and
distinguished appearance, who stood at
some little distance from the tree beneath
which they knelt,
"Our prayer is finished, brother" said
the little girl.
"And granted, too," said Wolfgang, ris-
ing in his turn.
"Alreadyv exclaimed his sister.
ayes, thought of something while you
were praying r. answered Wolfgang.
"Then st. John Nepomucene must have
whispered it in your carp replied his sis
| ter.
al do not know whether it was st. John
Nepomucene, or not; but this Is what
ca me into my head: You know have a lit
| tie talent for playing on the piano; but, in
| deed, ii mamma had not so oiten said that
We must not be vain, 1 should say that do
not compose badly. And you, Frederick,
though you have not so much power over
the instrument as 1 have, yet for your age
you do not play so illv'
"There's conceited child T. said Fred
erica.
"Do not in terrupt me, dear Frederica, or
l shall forget what l thought OF. Now, let
us set out some fine morning, and walk,
and walk long way. Sometimes we shall
ome TO a castle, and then, Frederica, you
shall begin to sing, and somebody will
| come TO the gate; and then the people OF
the castle will say, 'Oh the poor children +
and ask us 10 come in ami rest ourselves I;
aud then shall go the piano"
ar there is one," interrupted the little
girl.
"As ir there were not pianos everywhere
in these days answered the boy. "But you
| provoke me with your Interruptions. say
III on shall 60 to the piano, shall get up
on the stool, and l shall play, and play, and
everybody will be enchanted. They will
embrace us and give us sweetmeats and
pla ythings, and to you they will give neck :
laces aud ribbons; but we shall not take
them, and shall say, PAY us if you please,
that we may take the money TO papa and
mamma"
"Ah, you little rogue, how ambitious you
are r. cried Frederica. throwing herself on
her brothers neck.
'But that's not ALL" said Wolfgang; "let
me finish my story. "The king will hear
us talked about, and send for us. shall
wear a beautiful coat, and you will have a
beautiful dress, and we shall go to the kings
palace. There they will take us into sa-
loon full of beautiful ladies, the like of
whom was never seen, and gentlemen all
in embroidery, and furniture all gilded,
and a piano. Such a piano the case all
made OF pure gold, with silver pedals and
keys of line pearls, and diamonds every
where. Then we shall play and the Court
will be delighted. And they will surround
US, and caress us, and the king will ask me
what should like, and shall say, what
ever you please, king And then lie will
give me a castle, and 1 shall have papa and
mamma to live there, and"
A burst of laughter interrupted, in the
midst of his recital, the intrepid young per-
former on the piano. Wolfgang frightened,
looked at his sister, then, turning his eyes,
he perceived the stranger, who, hidden be-
hind tree near to the children had not lost
word of their conversation. Fearing that
he was discovered, he approached them,
| saying:
"Do not be afraid, my children; wish
only TO make you happy. l am sent to you
by the great saint, John Nepomucene."
At these words the brother and sister ex-
changed a look. and then turned their eyes
again upon the pretended messenger of the
saint. The survey was doubtless satisfac-
tory for the little boy, running towards
him, took hold of his hand, and with a
charming simplicity, exclaimed: "Ah, so
much the better; are you going to grant
me my wishesf"
"No, sir not all at once" answered the
stranger; then seating himself on the
spreading roots of a tree, and bidding Wolf