Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-12-10
alonth's Column.
LITTLE NELLIE's CRADLE.
BY ANNIE ARMSTRONG.

came INTO the WOriu CWO uICIe new
foundland puppies at the second farm
house above; and farmer Brown, who
owned them, offered to send one down
for a present to the little new baby.
And so, as soon as it was old enough to
leave its home. the cunning black dog
was brought down eight miles in bas-
ket, under the carriage-seat, and was
named Tip, the same day that the little
baby was named Nellie. That was be-
cause the first time he entered the house
he tipped pail of water all over him.
self.
The two babies grew up together,
but Tip grew SO much faster, that when
Nellie was tiny girl who could just |
run around and talk, he was great
large dog, and besides being a playmate
he took such good care of her that her
parents always felt safe to trust her
with him.
One day, when Nellie was a little
over three years old, her father went
away to be gone few days and took
Tip with him. For day or two Mel
lie did not seem to mind it very much,
but the third day after he was gone,
her mamma found her crying on the back
stairs. Now, as she was one of those
sunny little girls who hardly ever cry,
her mamma was afraid she was sick
but when she asked her. Nellie sobbed,
30 mamma, do want to see Tip SO aw-
fully much"
Mamma told her he would be home
the next day, and after supper that
night she heard her saying to the large
rag baby she was rocking to sleep,
"Shut up your eyes and go to sleep
quick, Mary Jane, and it will be next
day soon. And let's be just as good as
ever we can be, and p'raps Tip II hurry
tup and come"
The next night at supper-time, her
mamma called Nellie but she did not
come; but as they lived on large farm,
she thought she must be around playing
somewhere. When, after some time,
Nellie did not come, she began to won.
der, and all at once she cried, 81 really
forgot that Tip is not with her How
could have been SO careless ?"
Just then one of the hired men came
in and said that when he was rakine
hay he saw her going across the felC
with her large doll in her arms. Their
her mamma remembered that she haC
heard her tell the doll that morning
: if she would be good she would take he
to meet Tip. She turned very whit
indeed, and asked all the men to he'll
) her hunt.
; In about fifteen minutes they ha
u searched over every part of the house
}. and barn, and grounds, and stood for
d moment looking at each other in silence
j Mrs. Gray thought of the little chill
If that was lost few years before by on
d of the neighbors and never found, the
10 of the woods, and the gypsies that migt
'r be about, and the night that was comm
IF on; then she looked at the sober face
around her, and said, "She must ha,
70 kept right on in this path and wandere
r, into the woods" and Immediately star
ut ed in the same direction. The me
it said that she almost few. They ha
lr to come back to get lanterns aft
D f; awhile, and left her at the house viii
b, they started again.
h. Oh, what long, sad night it wa
The nearest farmers wife, who was vi
on iting there, stayed with Mrs. Gray, b
of the poor mother did not lie down q
of night. She walked the floor and d
'e- not speak, excepting once in viii
NO she would cry, "oh, my darling I"
I'm But the longest night must end, a
Ike by and by in the early morning s
alf heard loud bark, and Tip came
ed with her husband. The sight of tht
has gave her fresh hope, and she cried. 30
nj baby is lost Tell Tip to find her."
1t did not take Tip long to und
or stand, and he started off shifting I
IN ground for his little companions tracl
I'M He did not take the path to the woods,
I'd; bounded out over large meadow to
est right of the path where the ground re
i'm ed along like prairie.
hen They followed breathless after hi
one and after racing about for some time
the stepped at little hillock among W
Igs, they called the "cradle hills" q
ion, barked, and whined, and leaped arOr
gh, wildly. They came up as quickly
} of possible, and there, on the other side
safe the mound, where the earth rolled do
in cradle of the softest moss, lay lii
The Nellie sound asleep, with her rag b
ing on one arm, and the other arm thro
to over her head; but the barks and
um- resses Of Tip soon awoke her, and
'es started up and cried, "Oh, l coined
4 meet you, Tip, and did, didn't | %
ces. What joyful family sat around
alter table that morning Mrs. Gray CO
hen not allow her child away from her a
to for moment, and Nellie looked up in
ture face and said, IL guess you loves m