Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-11-16

OF her pretty locks, and the purpose that was
brewing to cure her of her folly
Don't have any halfway work about il,
Molic," said Mr.. John. do the thing thor
oughly, if you undertake IT," "Oh yes in
decd .' said Molie
"lfyou should need an occasional reminder,
1 will try and help you" said he; for Of
course it won't do to be of guard at all. But
now get your hat, and wen go for some ice
cream. | know you need cooling of this
warm evening"
Mollio skipped about to run toward the
house.
BE careful of your steps" he called and
she tramped as boyishly as she could
mo, don't take hold of my hand" rs she
came back and slipped her fingers in his
Put your hands in your pockets"
"Ive only one pocket" she answered meek
ly putting her right hand in it.
Difficulties at once, aren't there - said
Mr.. John. "Your clothes want reforming
you see. You'll have to put on Bloomers."
"Oh :" said Molie.
''pm afraid you're not very much in earn
est - he said You surely are not frightened
by trifc like that Z" Molle looked up in
quiringly.
Must / 7" she asked.
"Well lie answered, her eanestness max
ing him fear that she would actually appear
publicly in masculine array, Il don't know
that it is necessary just at present A few
days won't matter; and, after a while, it will
seem to you the natural way to dress
He was so faithful that evening in remind
ing her of her shortcomings that their tetC-a-
tete over the little table in the ice-cream sa-
loon, which usually was so cosey and delight
ful, was quite spoiled. She went TO sleep re-
GREETING that she had taken Mr.. John into her
confidence and made it necessary for him to
treat her as a boy.
She did not see him again for several days ;
and meanwhile she had taken her lessons in
bookkeeping practced ele writing hours on
heavy masculine strokes, learned to walk
without dancing little whirigigs OH her tiptoes
every other minute, and made some progress
in the art of whistling. She felt that she had
done much to earn his commandation, and
was anxious for a meeting.
On the way home from school one after
noon, she saw his sisters baby at the window
the roundest, fattest, whitest and sweetest
of all the babies that had taken up an abode
in Mollie's heart, whore babies imumerable
were enshriued There il was being danced
in somebody's hands before the window, and
reaching out its ten dear little fingers to beck
on her in.
She was quickly in. regardless Of her gait.
In a moment from the time the tempting Wis
ion appeared she was cuddiing il in her arms,
gGbly talking the nonsense that it loved 10
hear, and kissing and petting it TO her heart
content. She was so absorbed that she did
not hear Mr.. John come in and he was close
by her when she looked up and saw his face
not the genial, welcoming look she had
been in the habit of receiving since he be-
came her friend. but one of grave disapproval.
Il am ashamed of you, Mollie," he said.
Boys of you age don't pet babies in that
way"
Mollie dropped it-she hardly knew wheth.
er on the floor or the stOye-and flew. When
she got home. she ran into the little back
room that used to be her play-room. She
was all ready for good cry, and she closed
the door. Then, she thought, what if Mr.
John were TO see her crying like girl-baby
-sud she marched to the window, and
through the dimness in her eyes tried to see
something cheering. Her nature was very
social, and need of companiOnship great al
that moment so she turned to the friend who
had been brother, sister and child to hei
through most of her little girlhood-her big
doll Helena, who sat in chair in the cornei
beholding her agitation with fixed, compass
sionless gaze.
Come h,r, you dear" said Mollie, fold
ing her tenderly in her arms and finding com
fort in the contact of her cold china cheek
She had loved her so long that she had given
her a soul and to Mollie's heart the doll wa,
as iit for loving MS if She had had breath and
speech She did not play with her any long
er, but Helena was still her dear old friend
an almost human confdant and crony.
Asshe heldher closely, suddenly she thought
of Mr.. John. If he had objected to the pet
ting of babies, what would he say TO dolls
She gave her frantic kiss, put her away, ant
turned her back on her to reflect for she die
not mean to shirk the most disgreeable refec-
tions in the new line Of duty she had choser
to follow.
If it had really been human friend who's,
dcstinies Mollie considered, she could no
have been more serious and if it had been
human friend whom she at last decided mus
be put from her, she could hardly have suffer
ed severer heart-pangs. But she would hav,
no compromising with inclination in this mat
ter. She would be brave and strong, as it be
came her mothers son to be. So i'll the low
est depths of the deepest trunk in the garre
she mentally consigned Helena. There, be
yond the reach of her loving eyes and arms
she should be in banishment until her hear
became callous.
But there was something so repulsive il
the idea of smothering human Helena unde
layers of old garments. that Mollie. finally
thought of a better way. Helena should nj
longer be Helena, dear to her heart in all he
little feminine adornings and her sympathetic
tender traits of character. She should under
go n change radical reform. She, too
should become a boy. and her name shoulC
be Thomas Thenceforth Mollie spent he
leisure moments in manufacturing garments
suitable for the change and at last she saw
bOy-doll in roundabout and pantaloons, occu
| pying the chair where Helena had so long sa
in dainty dresses. The sight was n perpet
ual offense to her eyes but she bore it brave
| ly, keeping in store for herself reward o
merit in Mr.. Johns approval, She did no
fail to mention to him Helenas reform tn
next time they met, which was one morning
before breakfast. She was sweeping the from
steps when he came and leaned over the fenc'
| and called her.
She shouldered the broom as she had seeI
men shoulder implements of labor,-hoes
rakes, etc, and tramped toward him. Mr.
John watched her with IN expression of dis
gust under his moustache.
well, Bob" he said, "Im glad to see yol
out so early. Form good habits before YOUR
grown, and when you come to manhood you'll
make money by it. Where are your Bloom
ers to-day 1t isn't possible your mind ism
made up to them yeti"
There was something in Mr.. Johns ton,
and manner which did not seem quite courte
GUS to MOlle but she had hardly hung he
head when he began to talk in his old half
fatherly, half -brotherly fashion and then, il
the lively conversation she found chance t.
introduce Thomas Mr.. John gave her long
solemn, searching look.
"Mollie," he said, "Tm very much afraiC
you will never succeed as boy. 1t seems t.
me that even an ordinarily masculine girl o
your age would have been clear-headet
enough TO see the absurdity of your lttl
farce. 1t is nothing but farce, mere baby
ishness. You have been playing with your
self and your doll. No boy could have dom
it,"
There was short pause them Mollie'
voice piped out into a humble question as Il
what course boy would have pursued in tn
matter.
..NNL,. thn4 e. nlonr o,,n,,o,l, y snid Mr. John