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

for our fire." he said. ''They have all gone
but you"
She went but not without giving him a
look that actually made him blush for his
rudeuess. She went with the aspect Of a
tragedy queen, and by the time she overlook
the boys she had calmly made up her mind to
two things; never, never again 90 be friends
with Mr.. John, and to give up her boyhood
just 10 spite him.
Bat one more temptation still held her
There was little cliff over in the next lot,
stony and steep and high enough to make "A
leap which il was some credit to n boy to
achieve The boys stood on the edge, meas
uring the distance with experienced eyes and
preparing to 80 over.
Now Mollie as girl had always been a very
good jumper, so she resolved at once to try
the leap, and have the report of her valiant
deed carried back to Mr.. John. She Joined
the boys, an Is cling that one after another went
down safely, she soonaskedfor turn. She was
grayely demonstrated with. She was over
whelmed with sage masculine advice, but she
swept her way clear and jumped-with all the
reckessness of her reckless mood. She knew
well enough the backward inclination proper
for her head, what the relative positions of
her knees and chin should be, and if she had
taken the least forethought might have re-
deemed the declining reputation of her boy
nDob L ne hllOWltOBb HhhHtu ht1Obh nb1 IN
her swift descent that her spine had not pre-
served the proper perpendicular, and that she
was coming down wrong. Chin and knees
were knocked together rs she fell in a heap
on the grass below.
1t was a caving in of skull, she thought,
that made that horrible crashing pain and that
sent lightning on a Black background before
her eyes and blinded her quite. Nothing but
a general chaos of skull and brain could make
such terrible pain. She wondered if her
friends would be able to recognize one dear
lineament in the tumble of her features. She
thought what a sad fate it was to die young.
She wondered how Mr.. John would feel now
and then she found that light dawned upon
her and that she had an eye open. In mo-
mont she discovered that the sense of hearing,
too, had not abandoned her for the boys had
reached her by this time, and she heard Mr..
Johns nephew, John, saying:
shes knocked her teeth through her lip,
that's all. did it once when l jumped wrong
and hit my chin on my knee. She'll soon be
all right"
Two eyes open now, and she saw bloody
frock, and what seemed an army of boys for
there was something still the matter with her
vision
Boys, boys, nothing but boys !" thought
Mollie, dropping her lids. Where did they
all come from, l wonder? There must be a
| thousand. / never want to see another.
wouldn't be one for the world wish they'd
90 away"
Then she felt some one bathing her face
gently. and when the water had refreshed heI
she ventured another peep at the world. Boyt
around her still but she could see now that
their number was only four, and the faces
| those of friends.
Cheer up, Mollie," said John, jr. ''You
got a hard knock, but you're coming on.
| Bobs gone for the phaeton, and Wen have
you home in no time
They propped her up against n tree, and
continued to bathe her head with water from
Jcrry's felt hat filled at the little brook close
| by.
All this while Mr. John had been account
ing for their absence by supposing that Mol
| lie was taking some sort of revenge on him
and he would permit none of the girls to &C
in search of the wanderers. Not until Bot
and the phaeton appeared did news of Mol
lies valiant deed reach him. Then he went tC
her at once, and saw her pale and bloody.
But to display weakness now might be tC
lose all, reflected Mr.. John 80 he kept bacl
the words of sympathy that were on his lip'
as he kneeled down and offered to carry hel
to the phaeton.
Il prefer to walk. thank you." said Moliie
her pride giving her strength to rise and tak'
the arm which John jr. stood ready to offer
| However, Mr.. John forcibly made an ex
change, and in spite of Mollio, half led ant
half carried her to the road.
Don't be discouraged, Mollie," he said a.
! he put her in, while Bob was busy at the hal
ter. The next time you'll jump like man.
That nonsense is all over, thank you,
said Mollie very loftily, though not very
clearly, because of her swollen lips. ''Thinl
what you please OF me, she mumbled. Il
is all ended; and it might have ended sooner
| too, if I'd taken better advice"
with better advice itnever wouldhave end
ed, you contrary little mink, said Mr.. JOIN
to himself as she drove away.
The doctor came and Mollie was ordered t.
bed; but even his opiate did not make he
sleep. 1t was soothing, indeed, TO lie there il
the twilight with her hand in her mothers
and feel that she was her little girl entirely
no more to be her boy while life should last
And pleasant visions of Gothic school-house
where she should some day be mistress o
sweet, rosy-cheeked children, rose GRACEFUL,
on the ruins of her manly aspirations.
By and by the bell rang, and her mothe
brought lamp, and a package which Mollit
sat up in bed and opened. There, with not
pinned on the left leg of her trousers and {
box of Mollie's best-beloved candies claspeC
on her jacket, lay Helena.
Il have never been to the ash-maus house
Mother Mollie," said the note. Il have beel
visiting Mr. Johns cuffs and collars in tn
bureau drawer. l want my girls clothes ol
tomorrow. claim it as my right. We al
have our rights. Put me in dresses and tax
Inc home TO the play-room. You have you
rights too, and wouldn't let any one tell MI
that hadn't right to be a girl. 1t is m.
opinion that if you had been meant for a bo.
you would have been made one. Come
mother, cuddle me up, and let's go to sleel
and have sweet dreams, and blithe waking
to girlhood in the morning, when We will max
up with Mr.. John for he sends these choco
late-creams to let you know that he is sorry.
so we will, dear" said Molhe, tuckinl
Helenas head under her chin. You wer
always wiser than your mother child. st
Nicholas f0r NOr6mJer