Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-02-09
An Old Child Made Young Again,

An Old Child Made Young Again.
rHorenrs ron FArHERs AND SoTHKEs.
The widow Denison was strong and hope
full, aud not very sensitive. She could work
sixteen hours a day on her machine and not
feel weary and she wondered why Mary,
who inherited her fathers delicate constitu.
ton and natural refinement, did not sing at
her work. The girl was eleven years old,
and did nearly all the housekeeping
Mary was very fond of reading and study.
But since she had taken her from school, her
mother looked on books aud papers as
thieves that were stealing her time from
work. While her sick father lived, he used
to say, Try to sit down with your book
and rest awhile, Mary, dear !" but when he
was gone, the only cry she heard was,
Come, come, Mary, hurry up there, so as
TO sew the buttons on to all these overalls
before night !"
Mrs. Denison meant TO be kind, but this
was her nature. She would have sat up all
night to earn bread for her children but If
she had failed, she would have bound them
out without very much grief.
During the second winter of her widow
hood, the price of provisions rose, aud her
work failed She only said We shall live
somehow never heard OF anybody in this
town dying Of starvation. III trust good
luck till spring comes"
But little Mary wanted to know how they
were 10 live; and she lay awake many hours
contriving in some way to fill the -four
barrel and the coal bin. She wanted surer
and more satisfying support than "good
luck 4" but no one had led her TO the Friend
Of the fatherless.
Mary had been a great favorite at school,
and her little friends did not forget her now
in her trouble.
On Christmas evening, two of them
slipped in by the back gate to see her.
They felt that her mother did not like to
have her hindered by company. But only
the mother was there.
"Mary is sick" she replied, in answer to
a question. /" She takes all the care OF
everything and everybody on her mind
and do believe she's fretted herself into a
fever, and that'll make great deal of trouble
for me, now that haven't any work. You
may 60 up and see her If you want to; you
won't hinder her, for she isn't doing any
thing now"
"Mary,' said one of her little friends,
taking her hot hand, "we've brought you a
little present We're having a Christmas
tree, and fair, and everything nice at our
house, and we felt so sorry you couldn't be
there"
aim glad you're having a nice time" said
Mary, as she opened the box her little friend
placed in her hand. 40, earrings But
don't wear such things, you know. They
wouldn't match my old dress and hat But
III keep them TO remember you by as long
as live. 1t seems as il am too old to have
such things, even If had good clothes"
"Why, Mary, how old are youY"
"Almost twelve that seems so old, and
the last year such long, long onel" she re-
piled, with sigh.
"Isn't there anything in the world that
can make you feel as young as you did
when we used to go into the woods and up
the mountain, after school ?" asked the
sweet little girl
40, yes, in the world but | can't have all
there is in the world, you know"
"What would make you young and happy,
Mary :" said the little girl who had not
spoken before.
81 think to see your father, and get some
medicine from him, Cassie, would make me
happier than anything tonight. What in
the world will become of mother and
the little boys if I'm going to have fever p
"You shan't have fever" said Cassie,
with the air of one who might hold life and
death in her hand "I'll bring papa; and he
never lets folks be sick any time, il they
only send for him soon enough"
Cassie ran home with mournful story,
and said, "Now, mamma. and all the girls,
don't you think the best thing we can do
with our charity fund, that we made at our
little fair will be to make Mary young