Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-01
Che family Circle.



Bessie and Deacon Fox.
HOW TO MAKE REAL NICE APOLOGY.
Please, sir, give me ride.
Deacon Fox stopped his horse and peer
ed round the side of his old buggy. On
the road stood little girl, the top of her
head about even with the wheels of the
deacon's carriage. and by her side was a
big basket much too heavy for her little
arms.
What's all this, what's all this? cried
the deacon sharply What are you stop
ping me on the road for? eh!
l thought perhaps you would give me
ride, said the little girl looking rather
frightened. We are both going the same
way, and my basket is awful heavy just
lift it and see.
The deacon stared.
May I get inp she continued scrambling
up, basket and all, and taking the empty
seat beside him.
And never word did the deacon say.
but he gave old Dobbin. who had been
placidly switching the flies off with his
tail, such sharp touch of the whip that
away they went rafting along the road,
and almost bouncing out of the carriage.
| Then the deacon turned and looked at his
little companion, beginning with the pink
sun bonnet, and confiding blue eyes be-
meath, and ending with the little dusty
boots that were resting on the lid of the
basket.
Hunt said the deacon, are you one of
the school children?
Yes, said blue eyes, looking up, | am
Bessie Bly,. Don't you remember l missed
in the multiplication table when you ex-
amined US? But | knew it; it was only
because you hurried me so.
Well, well, well, said the deacon to
himself, things have come to a pretty pass =;
and he shook his head sadly. l wonder
what this generation will be up to next.
You see the deacon had no little girls or
BOYS of his own, and the school children
generally crossed the road when they saw
him coming. for they all felt an awesome
dread of Mr. Fox 1t was he who exam
ined them at the end of school. 1t was he
who punished the naughty boys, and re-
primanded the naughty girls; and it was
he who always asked them terrible ques-
tions when he came to call upon their
mammas. So it was a strange sight to see
the old eeacon, with his keen eyes twink
ling beneath his bushy eyebrows. and his
stern, hard face, driving in his old buggy
with one 'of the school children and a
market basket by his side. They drove
along some little distance in silence, and
then the deacon felt his sleeve pulled by
gentle and rather timid fingers. He look
ed down and two large, blue eyes met his
Are you cross, said Bessie, cos 1 asked
for rider
Tut, tut! child, said the deacon.
Then, if you amt, why don't you talk tc
mep continued Bessie, and ask me who
discovered American You always ask u
that.
Then it is to be hoped you know by thi
time, said the deacon. Do you so t.
Sunday school, child9
Oh, yes. said Bessie, folding her hand
e and crossing her thumbs as though sh
n were about TO repeat II lesson.
What do you learn there? asked thu
!, deacon.
d | learn to " do unto others as | woul
It they should do unto me-" replied Bessie
: gliby, land to love my neighbor us my
Il self"
b So you learn all that, said the deacon
d Well that's something; and who is you
d neighbor? Does he 90 blackberrying witt
$ youp
e Oh, yes, said Bessie, laughing. but thel
y he is my real next door neighbor, yo
h know 1t don't mean am to love him
y for of course l should do that, but it mean
am to love everybody. Even you.
Well, said the deacon, looking down a
=, her, how are you going to manage abou
" that?
T. r. Why, must love you of course. reptile
=, u Bessie. Do you mind very muchp
~ We must do as the Sunday school says
!" replied the deacon, and then he laughed
!. though what there was to laugh at Bessi
II couldn't for the life of her think.
On they went, old Dobbin. Bessie, an
y the deacon, now up hill and now dowl
e y till they came to tiny cottage standin
" under the shadow of a big house.
T. Here's where live, said Bessie, an
- there's where you live. Isn't it CONVEX
o. lent? and she kissed her hand to the de,
~ con and skipped down. He handed he
=, the basket, and Bessie, opening the gat
- and calling out. "Good-by" walked IL
A. \, the path that led to the cottage door.
- On the step sat n boy, II little bigge
", - than Bessie, whistling to himself. Tur
Q, around, he said to her as she drew near,
.S want to look at your wings.
- Wings? repeated Bessie, her eyes wild
20 with amazement.
Yes, wings. Haven't you been ridin
with the deaconp Iexpected no less.
(. have had very pleasant ride, sal
re Bessie with dignity, and she passed by he
y brother and entered the house.
al Well, Bessie, said her mother, who, tei
e, kettle in hand, was busy making the TEL
T. am glad to see you back. have bee
re thinking of you all the afternoon, walkin
L. so far with that heavy basket; sit dowl
= child, and rest.
t. But before Bessie could answer, Aun
Jemima rushed in with the cap string
lie flying. She had been sitting in the vii
n, dow, and saw the buggy drive up.
it Sakes alive! sister, she cried, Bessie
e been driving with the deacon, and /
e. handed her the basket with his own hand
NJ With the deaconp repeated Mrs. Bl
er WE'LL Bessie, what an honor! hope yo
al thanked him prettily. Whatever mao
so him think of inviting youp
re He didn't. said Bessie, untying her boz
at net and sitting down; l invited hin
g. Mrs. BLY, let the tea-kettle almost dro
to Aunt Jemima held up her hands and san
Al speeches. into a chair, and Jack standin
so in the doorway gave vent to whistle
OF Shrill rs small locomotive.
of Bessie stared from one to the othe
What's the matterp she said.