St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-11

withdraws the foot with which she has
begun to scale the heights of the bed,
and goes to the window. The moon
shines brightly. She isn't bit afraid.
In two minutesshe has scrambled over
the roof of the shed, seized bough OF
the old apple-tree, let herself quietly
down to the ground, and is on her way
to the minister's house.
The Rev. David Thornton, sitting
glOOmily in his study on the ground
floor of his house, and fighting manful-
ly with the heart-ache caused by a girls
careless words, is suddenly startled by
two white legs tearing their way through
the vines that grow in front of his win
dow, and small body turning a somer-
sault into the middle of his room.
II caught my toe and tumbled," ex-
plains Tots, assuming an upright posi-
ton, and carressing the injured foot.
"What are you doing here at this
time of night ?" asks the clergyman
beginning to smile.
81 want to get married"
"To whom ?"
'sYou!"
This time the grave man laughs, and
seating himself in his armchair, takes
the child on his knees.
"What for 2"
"Cause Aunt Sue spanks me and Aunt
Flo boxes my ears, and I've been hear
ing about David Coppertield and Dora
and | want to get married and be g
child-wife like Dora, and have a dog
named Jip, and I'd like you" Tots
accompanies this statement with a kiss
"Thank you"
"And Tll call you DOdo, and hold
your pens. They are all so cross al
home, and there is nothing to do, so
thought I'd come and ask you to marry
me. | wish | had thought of it before
| got undressed :" and Tots surveys hel
toilet, realizing for the first time that
she has committed breach of the pro
prieties 10y appearing in public in pant
alOons.
"What did Aunt Flo box your ear
for ?"
''After you went away this afternoon
she began to cry so that l thought you
had been pinching her. 1t hurts so
you know, when you take little nip
But then heard her say she had beeI
SO wicked, and done something to you
that you never would forgive, and
that you would never come back again
so then l thought it must have been
she that pinched you. So she cried fol
an hour awful hard. Then l took hel
some jam. When l cry, and they give
me jam, | always stop. But she boxed
nay ears and sent me away.-Don't
skeese me SO it hurts"
''Tots," said the minister, "you are
the dearest child in the world, and
am going to take you home"
81 won't go. l want to stay with
you only | must have some clothes"
"We1l go for the Clothes"
Aunt Flo is sitting in the parlOr wip-
ing 4 very red pair of eyes when the
Rev. David appears with Tots Oh his
shoulder.
"Florence," says the clergyman
"may forget all the harsh words spok
en- this afternoon ~
"Can you forgive them 7"
"Were all the tears Tots tells abou
shed for me7 1 have just had a visi
from the little lady" The clergyman
looks tenderly down at the red eyes
and Flo's hand feels its way into his.
Poor Tots here are two more people
who won't pay her any attention.
"You are going to marry me, you
know" tugging at the Reverend Da
vid's disengaged hand.
mo, Tots, not yOu-Aunt Florry."
Tots begins to cry.
"Never mind, pet;" and Aunt Flo
takes the child in her arms. ''You shal
have your reward. Blessed are the
peace-makers,' Tots, and I'll give you q
big cake in the morning. Now Aunt
Sue will pat you to bed"
81 don't know what peace makers
are, and don't want a cake. L w-w-want
ito g-g-get married."
Tots is borne screaming away.