Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-04-09
.BEcAUsE MAMMA SAYS sou.

Grandpa Giles has laid down his
newspaper. and is taking off his specta-
cles. The children all know what that
means-they are to have story: When
l was a little boy lived on farm.
We had horses and cows and chickens
but best of all, We had long hill that
slOped from the grove back Of the house
away down to the river. There we used
to slide by the hour together. some of
the boys from the village, and your Uncle
Seth and Aunt Rosa. and your grand
mother too. She was little girl then,
and wore a scarlet hood and short dress
es. One day my mamma said to me,
sr'i1ahnny-.you are not to 60 and slide
to-day; will you remember - --why
not, mamma? It's only cloudy, and the
snow is as hard as can be ?" "You
cannot go, Johnny, because mamma says
she does not wish you to. Isn't that
enough? ?" 81 think might" said.
whining and beginning to cry. II
don't see why can't have a good time
as we'll as the other boys. don't want |
to sit rolled up on the rug all day, just
like the old cat" Ny mamma looked
very sober, but did not say any more.
She left me, and went into the back
kitchen to churn. l could hear the
splashing Of the cream, and the regular
turning of the dasher. She had asked
me to ravel out piece of carpet for q
rug she was making. The carpet lay by
me, but could not touch it. sat with
my arms on the window sill, looking out
at the snow. AS | sat there l heard
voices and footsteps. They came nearer,
and soon Henry Jones and Luke White
came up. l beckoned them to the win
dow. "What amt you going sliding
to-day, Johnny" said Henry. "No."
answered gruffly. "Why nOt?" says
Luke; "yOu sick ?" 81 can't 60, because
mamma says can't" said. didn't
she tell you why ?" said Henry. "NO;
she thinks it's enough if she says So"
"Hm-ml" said Luke. 81 always make
my mamma tell me the reason why. I'm
big enough to know what ought to do"
and Luke drew himself up and stood
on his toes but just then a SNOWFALL
hit him in the back, and be came down
fat, and we all laughed. The boy who
threw the SNOWFALL came up then to the
window. "Why, Johnny" he said, "why
don't you come out and have some fun +?
Are you playing prison =? You amt sick.
are yOu?" Il did have little sore
throat last night, but don't feel it any
now. My mamma says 1 can't 60, and
so 1 shan't." al tell You what" says
Luke, you just slip out the front door
and come down for an hour. She'll new
err know. Making butter. amt she ?"
hesitated. Just then happened to look
towards the fire. The cat lay there
purring. l remembered what had said
about lying around just like her, and j
jumped up, took my cap and Overcoat,
opened the front door softly and went
out. Ny wooden scarf entirely forgot
in my hurry. That's jolly" said
Luke; IL never do anything cause my
mother says l must. If she don't tel
me why. catch me" Ny rcd Antelope
never seemed heavier than when drew
il slyly around the back way that day
and the air never felt so cold. My nam
mas face seemed to be looking at M
from the clouds, the river, and the trees
1 thought heard her calling me two o
three times. but the boys said it wa
only the wind. Luke" | said at last
81 am sure mamma is calling me III
going" went back as I had come.
went into the sitting-room. 1t was a
still as had left it. The old clock in tn
corner was ticking, the miniature shi
rocking on the top, and the cat lying o
the hearth. How | wished then that
was the cat in truth. l went out int
the back kitchen, but mamma was ne
there. just then Hugh, the hired maj
came in. "Sakcs alive l'' he said, "JOhr
ny. what have you been about? "
mother was going to take you to sleigh
ride up to Aunt Hannah's. She wa
going to surprise you, she said; but 81
saw a boy who said he saw you goin
down the hill. So you see she left n
TO look you up. She won't be back be-
till after dinner" So lost a sleiel
ride, and from leaving off my scarf, toe
the scarlet fever. After this "becau
mamma says SO" was enough. And no
am old have learned greater le
son "Thus saith the Lord. and VIII,
don't see the reason why he has sa
il. 1 still trust Him.-ISanadoy- .Sehc
Times.