Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-01-30
The family Cirtle.
Pills New UISler,

am going to tell you to-day, children,
the story of an Ulster coat that was sent
few weeks ago, us birthday present, to
a bright little fellow who lives way down
in the city Of Portland. His name is Phil
ip Henry, but his friends call him Phil.
He is Just eight years old, and a very
manly little chap he is, too.
just us soon us he could talk he began
to beg his mamma 10 let him wear pants
and would say in the most earnest way:
Me amt dirl, mamma, an me don't
want to wear peticoats like Susy, over
there. Mes n boy, an me wants pants,
jess like papa.
As he grew older, nothing could tempt
him to play with II doll or baby house,
or tea-party, or anything else that he
thought was "a girls play and when,
one day, his aunty sent him knit doll,
dressed us sailor, with the message that
it was surely u boys doll, and that its
name was Robson Crusoe," he gave one
pleased look at it, and reached out to take
it, then recollecting himself, he drew back
and said
No, mamma, don t want any kind of
doll. I'm boy, and want skates, and
sleds and jack-knives and tops and mar
bles and kites and drums and clappers and
such things. don't think girls have much
to play with any way, poor things, and
they may have their dolls for all ONE.
am rather afraid that Phil does not
care for girls much, but rather pities them,
on the whole, because they are so uniortu-
nate us to be girls, and if the truth was
really told, think he would feel, as lit
tie boy that knew did the other day,
when his mother read TO him from The
newspaper about little child who had
fallen from window and been very badly
hurt. He listened attentively until the
story was finished, and then, looking
around into his mothers face, asked;
Was it boy Or u girl, mamma? and on
being told that it was dear little girl, he
drew long breath of relief and said On,
I'm so glad it wasn't Il boy!
Well, to come back to Phil You see
his friends all knew how much he liked
things to wear that made him look manly,
and SO one day his Uncle John, who lives
away off in Boston, said to his wife:
Look here, I've u great mind to send
Pills mother some good heavy cloth, and
ask her if she cant make him an Ulster
coat iu time for his birthday; wouldn't he
feel proud of it, though?
And SO it happened that some lovely
dark blue cloth was sent to Portland by
express, to be made into long Ulster
coat for Phil. You may be sure that his
mamma was only too happy to make it for
him. 1t took her quite u long time, though
for she could only work on it while Phil
was at school or play; for it was to be kept
Il great secret from him, and many was
the time she had to Jump up quickly and
hustle it out Of sight, as she heard him
come bounding up the stairs on his way tc
her room.
But it was finished at last, the night be-
fore Phii's birthday, and it was II rea
beauty, lam sure, from what have hearC
of it. 1t had nice little velvet collar
and cuffs of the same, while to " button i
, up and down BEFORE like "OId Grimes
coat" was double row of so large ant
handsome buttons, that it looked like 81
great coat sure enough.
And then the number of pockets
, there was in it was simply astonishing
Phil said after he had had it on, that III
, should never be able to remember wher,
, they all were.
When he first opened his eyes the morn
t ing of his birthday, he rubbed them yer,
hard TO see if he was not still asleep AM
, dreaming; for there right before him
' hanging on the bedpost, was an Uste
coat that looked as if it might belong t.
8 him; while the other post was dressed NJ
I in handsome fur cap with ear pieces t,
it and hanging across the middle of tn
e toot-board were u pair of high-toppe,
. boots.
(. In "a moment Phil remembered that
was his birthday, and that these were un
doubleday presents for himself. It's won
der, his uncle said to me, when he told m
of it, that Phil didn't jump out of his skin
! he was so delighted
y But instead he jumped out Of bed, and
! without stopping TO dress, he tugged ava,
n until he got into both boots. Then OF
. went the coat, never stopping until he hat
reached and fastened the very lowest bur
y ton. Then the fur cap was put on owe
the tumbled hair, even the Eur. pieces be
q ing drawn closel y Gown; and, taking on
q hastY look of pride at his fine appearance
in the glass, with II hand in each side peck
ct of the coat, he rushed with shout o
pleasure into his papa and mamma
room, then across the hall to his Uncl
John-who had arranged his business S,
D that he might spend Pills birthday will
} hm-and only stopping long enough {,
| hear him say: Well, declare, Phil, is thn
4 youP away lie scampered to the kitchen Il
5 astonish Mary with his fine clothes.
t doubt if ever there was happier DO,
! in all this wide world than Phil with hi
| treasures, that day. But above all, tn,
coat was his JOY and pride. lie begged t.
+ be allowed to go out of doors at once, tha
he might show it 10 the boys.