Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-11
My Pocket Knife.

work-basket. II was scarcely concealed
ven loud tramping of four boots and two
ff+sss upon the basement stairs announced
the approach of my regiment.
"Let's see your knife mamma" burst
from three mouths at the opening of the
door,
I'VE don't want to borrow" said Charlie,
the eldest " for see, papa has treated us all"
"Oh, my what beauty" exclaimed
Tommy.
al bet she's sharp as a lightning-rod," !"
calculated Benny. A laugh rolled out, and
dignified Charlie managed to correct the apo
thegm. Sharp as lightning, you mean !;
the rod isn't supposed to be very sharp
81 guess It's, at the point; didn't | see
| grandpa's before it was put upP" justified
Benny.
took occasion to preach a short, i'm
pressive sermon upon my beautiful knife,
and gave the boys to understand it could
not, on any account, be borrowed" fore
warned, forearmed." For two whole weeks
| enjoyed my treasure, cut the leaves of my
magazines, did some skillful ripping without
manipulating the garments, my fnger-nails
were ivoried with careful dressing. / dis
played my knife to my husband several
times he remarked its good uses, and re-
smiled my doubts. One day. soon after,
Tommy came into the sewing.room, and, sit
ting down near me, worked ambitiously at
his bootheels with a hair-pin. His knife
had been lost a week.
Papa said we might go skating on Ridges
pond this afternoon, but I'll never get these
holes cleaned. Couldn't | Just take your
knife a minute | won't hurt it,"
"If you will use it right here" | replied,
and continued my cutting lie took it from
the table, where it lay with one OF its shin
ing blades open--a temptation to any boy.
| thought ! ought not to have left it there.
One hole was successfully freed from ice and
dirt, the other attacked, when" click !" the
blade was broken.
40 mammal"
80 Tommy"
81 didn't-mean to-" There were tears
in his blue eyes how could scold ?
81 am so sorry said.
$50 am sorry, mamma"
was outdone. | saw he felt worse about
it than | did. lie laid the wounded knife
down, and went out. | censured myself for
not telling him not to let the trihe spoil his
afternoon skate. do like them to have a
good time, it makes them so rosy, so bright,
and-noisy. think he skated, and Tommy
and kept the secret That night had
headache, and Charlie offered to bathe
my head-he was always thoughtful-but
Tommy insisted upon leaving his SNOWFALL
ing and devoting himself to me with the
tenderness of triple his years; it was worth
a dozen knife blades.
Well, the poor knife lay long enough in
its pocket to heal if it would, but knives are
not like broken bones, even with the same
opportunities. Time is great healer of the
feelings, at least, so | began to make my
knife useful again. One day took the
boys to see little, lame, sick girl, who had
not walked step for year. While Charley
read a story, peeled an orange for the little
sufferer. Benny nudged my elbow, and
whispered.
Your knife, mamma, you'll spoil it,"
and Tommy gave low whistle to attract
my attention, and by winks ana comical ges-
tur gave Inc TO understand the same. Yes,
the blade was discolored, but the little girl
was happy.
"Guess we can have blade for peelin' ap-
pies an oranges, it's got the shine off now,"
rejoiced Benny, going home. | did not care
To know how many bushels that blade did
encircle would be an arithmetical problem
too difficult for me to solve but it was duti-
full. Then came time for whistles and May
birds. We had great willow in the garden
that supplied the neighborhood with whistle
stock. One might hear their pipings from
early morn to lovely evening while the sea
son lasted. During the time Benny came in
one day, with:
Mamma, didn't you think Elijah was
awful hot when he went up TO heaven p
knew something was behind this question
form little boy who did not like to study
his Sabbath-school lesson any too well.
"Why 2" asked in some surprise.
"Cause my teacher said last Sunday that
he went up in chariot o. fre--the Bible
says So so how could he help burnn'2 An
besides, mamma, couldn't Charlie take dis
est to make me wstle lie says he'll
be very careful-an' you don't low w'ittlin's
in here, so please I'll take it outdoors"
Now, mistrust Benny had knife in his
heart as well as in his hand all the time,
more than the good Elijah's comfort Boys
do have such way of getting around their
mothers. So my knife went out of my sight
for the first time. | knew an hour after,
when Charles arms were about my neck
and his kisses on my cheek, that another
blade had been sacrificed on the altar Of
what shall | say ?-self-denial ? No! it
wasn't any; but gratitude for my miniature
4 ultIs III ,HdIllt blt hnllt, iS 4
thought, another blade gone and a chip of
ivory from the handle. lie did not speak as
he turned it for inspection, until raised my
eyes 10 his; them
s. / shall be a rich man, mamma, by-and-by.
will get you another ] am sorry | Dor.
rowed IT,"
Dear Charlie, believe you, and it is
worth thousand blades TO know you love
me. Couldn't you round the blades by
grinding 7" | asked.
Certainly" he replied, and went out
whistling Yankee Doodle, though it sounded
tremulous. lie ground the blades down
neatly, and now, the charm broken, and the
boys knives all lost, what useful life il
led, carving tops and swords, .ships and
iack-straws, carts and wheelbarrows, and
other useful articles. Although loaned to ont
or the other the most of the time, when the al
lotted work was done it was sure TO be care
fully returned so it was never lost, and alway,
ready. | really loved the trihe ior the hap
piness it brought. The third blade fell
martyr in kite-time, about the days of tn,
June roses--still kites innumerable went VI
from the unfortunate steel stumps, and many
boys beside mine We're made happy. On'
evening | saw my husband searching frs
one pocket aud then another, while an un
cut magazine lay upon MS Knee.
"Wife," he said, will you lend me you
knife, must have left mine at the office.
,. think have done well not to ask for it be
fore"
, | was not to lend to even you, believe,
! answered playfully, at the same time lay
ing the knife in his palm. lie looked hi
surprise as he turned it over. I" Shall TEL
you story 7" | questioned. lie like,
stories as we'll as the children, and | coGl,
! always keep him still that way. gave hin
a little sketch of the knifes history and closes
with
Really, my dear, | would rather hay
this knife, with its scars and rust, than on
:. made OF gold and set with diamonds tina
/. was not hallowed by the touch of the boys
) fingers,
"You are right. So wouli l." He rt
sumed his magazine which noticed he rea
. for some time wrong side upl
9 The next day, going 10 my work-baske
p for a scrap To tie up Benny's bleeding finger
/ A. A.