Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-10-18
AELLA GAEESE


At Church.
Jack and Annie stood looking out the win
dow at the unfamiliar prospect
II don't like Sunday when you've Just
moved, said Jack, dolefully.
Nor L. chimed in Annie's gentle voice.
"You can't do anything, and you don't seem
to belong anywhere
"Your clothes don't seem to belong any
where either" Jack went on, looking dubi-
ously around the room.
They'll find out where they belong when
mother gets WE'LL" said Annie, more cheerful
ly.
IF it wasn't Sunday I'd go and hunt up
some boys" said Jack.
IF it wasn't Sunday I'd go with you per
haps they might have some sisters"
"Oh, dear" growled jack Il wish no.
body ever moved"
That's a funny wish, y" laughed Annie
Children" called a querulous voice from
an adjoining room.
"Yes, mother
put on your things and go to church."
The hstonished children looked at each 9TH
er, as if doubling the evidence of their ears.
What things 2" inquired Annie.
ANY things you can get hold of.
"What church 2" asked Jack.
"Any church you can find. I'm almost
crazy with my head, and l shall be quite so
| if you stand there grumbling much longer.
If anybody has right to complain | think t's
| me-"
Poor mother" said Annie, soothingy.
"Dress yourselves, now and be on
Couldn't bathe your head little while -
No; you'd make me as nervous as witch
| Go and find some church; don't care if it is
a Catholic
Annie cast dubious glance ut the little
| straw hat which hung upon nail in the front
entry.
Couldn't just lock for my new"
"Annie Lawson! Do you want TO drive
me wild? Put something on your head and
start, quick
II will. Wen be good Come on, Jack;
| Take care of yourself, mother
| The generous words smOte the heart, which
was not such very hard one, after all Take
care Of yourself, mother"
u haven't any self left worth taking care
of, she said, bitterly, as she listened to the
retr'ating footsteps. Il lost myself years
| ago" Then, rs she thought Of the trouble
and the losses which had brought her Mt last
to this bit OF house in disagreeable street,
she exclaimed, vehemontly; What wonder
| if did II it wasn't for the children, Id like
10 die and leave it all"
II it wasn't for the chillrcn-gcnerou, lit
tie Annie and sturdy, natter-of-fact Jack
She did love them, then. All if she would
only let them help her. as they might, to find
| that better self, which care and trouble seem-
cd to have frightened away. They were good
children. Her heart praised them even while
her tongue scoldcd. Annie could always SEE
the love behind the sharp words, but Jack
couldn't.
Il don't see what makes mother so cross, -
said he rs they walked soberly up the street.
"Sick headache" was Annie's prompt re-
ply.
But Aunt Laura has sick headache, too,
and she don't scod a steady stream"
what church shall We go to ?" asked An
ME, abruptly changing the subject.
How do know"
Here's one" And she read from a large
placard, m. f. church. Seats free"
What's an NJ. L. church 2" asked Jack.
Il don't know. Let's go in and find out
Jack hesitated. Seats free" he repeated,
doubtfully. did you ever hear of any body,
paying to go to church, -
''Yes, indeed; everybody pays something
Mother paid her pew rent every quarter Al
| K"
"Did she l thought church things wer,
always free"
mo, sir Shall We go in :"
Jack nodded One or two gentlemen stood
talking in the vestibule, but to Annie's great
relief, they took no notice Of the two chill
dren. She walked timidly up the broad aisle
followed by her half-reluctant brother.
She did not go far up, however. A pull a
her dress brought her to a sudden stop.
Don't go up so high" whispered Jack
'come in here"
They went into a pew and sat down. JUS
before them was a boy of about their Owl
age, and Jack, who was of an intensely in
quiring turn of mind, again agitated tn,
question of the free seats
''You don't have to pay anything here, do
you Z" he asked, resting his elbow comforta
bly, upon the back of his neighbors pew.
"We don't send in any pew-rent bills. We
take up collection every Sunday" was thu
somewhat pompous reply.
ITO pay for your seats :"
Yes"
Jack looked at Annie.
Never mind. she whispered, consolingly
they won't make us give up anything"
Annie Lawton :" exclaimed Jack, majes
tically do you spose I'd be SO m-e-a-n
I've got the ten cents Aunt Laura gave me il
my pocket"
80 have I, but l shan't put it in the box,
said Annie who had no idea of contributing
from her small stock of pennies to increas
the wealth of the NJ. Z. church. I'm g
home first"
Hush there's the minister"
lAC lBAu l'lANh lAn Hbltlll blANAAAbf AIN
the hymn was given out. After n deal o
hunting the children found it and rose witt
the congregation.
"Why don't you singf" whispered Jack
who had stumbled through one verse, mucl
to his sisters discomfort.
Il don't know that tune
"Never mind try! wish you would. ."
"And l wish you wouldn't" replied Annie
you make such a noise"
t--the--world's- -luUieRt-snare,
sang Jack unheeding. Then he suddenl.
discovered the painted dove in the window
to which he pointed with an enthusiastic =
Look Annie, look !"
b BE still, Jack" But she turned, and, be
tween them, the hymn-book fell to the hoo
with bang.
"Why didn't you hang on to it? Here
the place" and Jack sang on, undaunted
''And 1rre-e-tch-ed Si-i-iH-ners cO-O-Me to thee
That isn't it" said Annie.
'"'Tis too"
''Tisn't either it's over here"
And it was. The six verses came to an en-,
at last. The long prayer was over; thel
came the collection. Jack and Annie looke'
anxously at each other, as the basket cam
their way.
''What -clean-looking man that is" sat
Annie cycling with much interest the serup
ulously neat, little old gentleman who wa
coming slowly towards them.
That wasn't Just the word she wanted, a
she knew very well, but her small vocabular.
offered none more appropriate. Jack tool
exceptions at once.
"Clean SO are you clean. Who's goin
to church dirty, I'd like to know"
''But I'm not stiff, shiny clean, like that
couldn't laugh"
| Rnt II conid as XVaa nroyed a few seDond