Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-08-16
Jack Robbins History.

There was more than the usual life and
stir in the little village Of Nestleton Que hot
July day, aud the village children had been
standing about the street, dressed IN their
Sunday best, with clean holland pinaiores
aud well-scrubbed shining faces, for at least
an hour already. Every now and then
busy mother would come 10 the open door
Of her cottage, with sleeves rolled high aud
soap-sudded arms, and, looking once up and
down, return to her washing or scrubhiug,
with an Injunction to the nearest child 10
"call out Directly She saw dust in the lane
Another fifteen minutes, the prophetic
cloud Of dust foretold the approach OF the
long-looked-for carriages.
No wonder that the hearts Of the simple
village folks gladdened at the coming of
Lady Emily Vance, for il was q fair and
beautiful face that looked out upon them
that bright afternoon. Her coming meant
something 10 each aud all who greeted her
This fair queen of society reigned in q
higher. loftier sense. In little Nestleton, be-
cause she was queen of herself everywhere
and as she passed out OF their sight through
the great iron gates that formed the out
ward barrier between the lives of the high
born lady aud the humble village women,
they did not feel shut ont by them for they
knew that rs true a woman's heart beat I'M
der her silken robe a. throbbcd beneath their
own coarse cotton gowns
Another cloudcss day arose upon Nestle.
ton IL was the day for the great holiday
which Lady Emily gave every year to all who
cared to share it. Passing through the long
Struggling village street, and getting nearer
to the Hall, the shouts Of merrimeut grew
louder aud louder. Men, women, and chill
ur'ni even INFANTS III arms were there gaih-
ereu, whose one OBJECT IN ne was 10 Toe as
happy, and, apparently to make as much
noise as possible, III one day Lady Emily
moved about with her own peculiar grace
ana winning manner all day long, until at
iast ialiIy trcd out, she had char placed
Tor her III her iaVoilte corner oil the paddock,
under the SILVER birches, and surrounded
! 10y held MOWERS from whence she could see
everything mat was gong ON, while she
rested herself
IL was not long before she saw her own
hltie Ethel coming toward her with one end
OF her sklppng-rope IN her hand, 10y the aid
oil when She helped along httle fellow,
who held tightly ON to the other, and liinped
painfully after her.
Who have you here, Ethel ~ asked her
mother,
Jack Bobbin, mamma
Ethel did not answer at once. She had q
feeling OF delicacy In her little soul, which
she could not have described II called upon
against talking about Jack Bobbn while he
was standing only at the other end OF the
skipWng-rope; so presently taking the has
SOCK from her mothers ieet, aud putting 1t
at her side instead, she mounted IT, and whls-
pered into her ear Jack Bobbm's little tale.
They are newcomers, mammal and
Jacks mother was sure you would let him
come, and Anna that's his sisters i'll,
and lies down always, and his father is dead,
and he cuts sticks for iire-wood, and they
are very poor and he has hurt his foot
1t was "a pitiful little tale, aud, al
though almost as lame as poor Jacks foot
went straight to Lady Emily's motherly
heart. Very gently she spoke TO the lad
aud lifting hun into her own chair, She took
the cruel thorn from his quivering little foot
and, placing cool leaf upon the place
bound 1t up with her own handkerchief
then she sat down 10y his side ON the has
sock, and gradually won from him, will
Ethels help, ms little history. so tenderll
: was 1T all done, that Jack Bobbin, looking
into her sweet face, aud answering her sim
pie questions, found his grateful little hear
g suddenly melted; and when she asked hin
T. why he cried, answered, and with truth
that he didn't know
, She and Ethel were henceforth good anC
true friends to the boy, and not only to him
but to ms mother and sister Finding GU
his tastes first, she gave him employment
under the gardener at the Hall, and iron
= one place TO another Jack rose TIL ther
Ia