Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-04-24
The family Girfls.
" ChiIdren's Half-HOur."

ChiIdren's Half-HOur."
AMY sat at one end OF the porch with a
Moody and Sankey Hymn Book " in her
hand. Robbie, in his little arm chair be-
side her, fixed his sky-blue eyes upon the
page and Joined his little voice with hers.
At the other end of the piazza was gather
ed group of three. two of whom were
buisly engaged in counting the buttons OF
Nellie's summer suit to the old familiar
erich man, poor man, beggar man, thief,
which every child has heard SO many
times.
Nellie herself, who was somewhat
younger than her companion, listened IN
tently waiting for the verdict with anx-
ious eyes. At last it came. =.
ats beggar man! It's beggar man
oh, Nellie Richmond, you're going to
marry beggar man"
81 amt"
"Yes, you are, it says So" -.
81 wouldn't go with any beggar man. "
Hell make you," was Miss Katy's
comforting rejoinder.
IF I'm n big woman, he can't"
But you never will be big woman"
put in Angie. Mother says it isn't Datu-
raj to your family"
Nellie looked very sober. Seeing her
discontinue, her michicvous companions
went on remorselessly:
"Oh. no! You'll never be big wo-
man. He'll just take you up and put you
in his pocket"
Nellie was silent for moment, then she
exclaimed, half relieved: " There's little
beggar men, too"
"But you won't get u little one. know
you won't" said fun loving Angie.
"Why notP"
ooh, because you won't. They're too
scarce. Just think of going about the
streets. with dirty white bag. for bread
crusts!'
~ wouldn't do it-never."
"Just hear those children" cried Katy,
with glance at Amy and Robbie.
And. indeed, it was something to hear
ANY, shrill treble as it quavered and quiv-
cred away up among the high notes of one
of the most popular melodies.
Hold the fort. for we are COM
ing;" Robbie struggling in at the last,
we are .o-ln-i-n-g.'
You won't get there at present if you
| uld2 dlUHS IlhO lbul, ottlu lAdIJ' SSho
here. I'll show you how to sing it,"
No. This good way" replied Amy,
complacently; and This is good way.
echoed dear little Robbie.
Very well; only I'm afraid the fort
won't hold out till you get there, that's all,
quoth Katy, sarcastically; then she turned
to Nellie again.
Hell take you with him always, and
perhaps he'll make you take his arm"
mo, he wouldn't" said poor Nellie
with the courage of desperation.
But you'd have to. People always
have to do just exactly as their husbands
tell them to-"
YES" chimed in Angie. They Away:
have to; but maybe he won't make vol
take his arm all the time. He'll let yor
carry the bag some"
"If you'll let him have all the softes
bread-crusts," said Katy.
"And the best pieces of meat"
"And the newest bits of cake"
Foolish little Nellie! Knowing by sat
experience that her companions were pitt
less leases, she yet allowed herself to b.
tormented. Her large eyes grew larger
yet. Her lip quivered.
| D-t-E-c W UC d o-a-u-l-C-l, Sauk
Robbie whose thoughts were divided be
tween his little friend at one end of the
piazza and his hymn book at the other.
d" You'll see good deal of the world
perhaps" said Angie, unheeding. Ou
old rag man goes down to the beach every
year"
YES" said Katy, land. if we happier
10 be down there at any of the hotels, you
know, we can give you halfa custard nov
and then"
"Or piece of berry pie, perhaps"
Cor some ginger cakes when we'rt
done with them"
"Or cup of cold tea in the kitchen.
II wouldn't drink it; l wouldn't ca
your old pies" said Nellie, Indignantly.
"Wel, he would
YOU'D have to come to it if you wert
very hungry"
perhaps he'd take you up among thu
mountains" said Katy. II And then you't
be sure to take cold. Beggars always
have dreadful thin shawls."
AWAY on the m-o-u-n-t-a-i-n-s colo
and BARE" sang Robbie; then he stop
ped suddenly and listened.
" Yes. people freeze to death up there
sometimes"
- wouldn't CO." said Nellie, almos
with sob.
you'd have to, if he said So" Angie
went on.
Think of climbing a steep hill before
breakfast"
Just for cup of coffee and q slice o
bread"
Cor bit of tough steak"
"Or chicken bone"
"Ifthcy kept dog. he might bite you,
said Katy, with Il sly wink at Angie.
The little girls were becoming uncon
sciously cruel. Robbie felt it to the depths
of his innocent heart.
Away from the tender s-h-e-p
herds care" piped Amy. intent only
upon her page.
Robbie couldn't stand it. He dropped
his half of the book, and rising from hi
little chair. trotted over to Nellie and pu
his arms round her neck. She was cry
ing bitterly now and the girls were look
ing remorsefully at each other.
1--WE were only joking, Nellie; don
cry, said Angie.
" You won't have TO marry him if yol
don't want to-" said Katy.
"And if you do marry him, you needn'
mind him.
I" No, of course not We were only il
fun"
He won't make you take his arm, uu
less you want to-"
4 "Beggar men don't want wives an,
way"
+ " No, indeed. Who ever saw begga
man with wife! They never get mar
ried."
, But all this failed to console Nellie. Sh
thought with reason, that she had beef
hardly dealt with and her little heart wa
| almost hroken She felt the pentle nres