Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16
Mi9fellanu.
How the Geese Came Home.
EY KATE TANNANT WOODS

girl. That's ALL" SAID Jack, with con
tcmptuous toss of his brown head.
There's plenty of kinds of girls" re
piled Spiflie, with spirit. Maybe you dom
know my kind, if you are my brother
They don't always know"
Don't always know what?"
"The kind of sisters they have" sale
Spiflic, in a grieved tone. She didn'
mind being called u Tom-boy. She WA!
used to that. In fact, she was rather fonC
Of the name, ever since her good unclt
had taken her in his lap, and told her she
must run, romp, race, climb trees, dig
bait. sail boats and do as the boys did, i
She wished to grow up to be q strong
woman. Her uncle was doctor, and h,
knew.
1t grieved Spiflie to think she did no
exactly suit Jack, for she was very fon6
of him, and more than once had she beer
punished for doing something he haC
dared her to do. Jack never said, "rl
dare you!" He always said, "rll STUMP
you to do it! y And Spifiie wouldn't be
stumped. She was alive to the very tip:
of her toes, and was rs ready for mische
rs Jack was.
Some of the boys admired her very
much, and often she would receive pres
ents of molasses candy, done up in brown
paper, or find on her desk roll of loZen
ges, an apple or an orange. Jack enjoyet
his full share Of the gifts; but he never
failed to say something about the boys
who made them. Spif1ie was all his, ant
he didn't care to have the boys liking hel
too much.
One morning, after the snow and rain
had been falling for several days, and the
family were all snug in their home in
town, Mrs. Martin said, in the presence
of the children :" wonder how things
are going on up at the farm. am quite
anxious to hear, the storm has lasted SC
long"
"Couldn't we send some one upP u
asked Mrs. Buddy.
Il don't see how we can. Every one
is busy. We know now how convenient
it is to have Il man about the house."
1t has frozen and thawed so," said
Mrs. Buddy, feel quite concerned about
the cutters. The cave troughs may run
over and spoil all the plastering again in
the lower rooms under the balconies
"Oh. mother" said Spiflie, " let us &C
urday, VIXEN it was pleasant. And We
have our sleds, and somebody will give us
II ride; and we went almost there, ont
day. Please say yes. 1t will be sucl
fun"
Mrs. Martin looked at the sky, LOOKED
into the street, and then said: . l don
know but you might. Everybody knows
you on the way, and if you are tired, yot
can 90 in and rest | am very anxious
about Solomon and his wives. | canno
feel any confidence in that new man since
heard about his drinking. He may neg
lcct his duties again
"Will they need II lunch?' asked Mrs
Buddy. -.
"Oh! no." said the mother. 1t wouC
only trouble them. They can call at Aun
IIannah's, on the way, and she is sure tC
feed them well; while up at the farm
Gbson's wife will give them II lunch be
fore they start back
Then the children We're ordered to g
carefully to avoid the snow on the road
SIDE and especially when they reached th'
farm 10 rest Il good while, and bring back
II report of the pet chickens, the doves
and Solomons wives. solomon was very
wise looking old gander, and his wive
were three handsome white geese.
1t was soon after breakfast when Spitlit
and Jack started away, each dragging !
sled, and both feeing very important
The sun srew warmer and warmer rs the,
toiled up the long hills, and every team
was going the wrong way.
of course they are said Spitfic. |
is Saturday, you know, Jack. But some
body will come pretty soon"
mo, they won't When they 90 int
market, they stay until after dinner. Blu
we can Slide down when we get chance.
-" 1t is all up hill to the farm salt
Spllie. d" But we don't care. Comins
back we can ride down every one of thes
hills. 1t is such fun to do things tha
everybody else doesn't do Isn't it pretty
jack, with snow on the ground? Doesn'
the smoke curl up nice over there?
would rather do this than 60 10 six parties
| hate to be kneeed 10, and kissed and d.
lorfeits. And when grow up will no
have such parties at my house"
" You may never have house"
" Yes, will Didn't Susan say If yo
passed by pin and didn't pick it up yo
would never own house" And haven
| picked up over Il hundred since then?"
Jack was silenced, and they trudged o
together.
The call at Aunt lIannahs was fai
ure. The good woman had gone away o
:. visit, and the new girl never though
anything about asking the children in
rest; so on they went.
Mean thing" said Jack
Never mind" said Spitlie, hopefully
"we can eat more Of Mrs. Gibson's dough
nuts. You know she makes nice ones"
At last the farm was reached.
L" Let us 90 in the carriage gate an
surprise them, said JACK, who was drag
ging his heavy overcoat and still con
planning of the heat.
So they went softly in. What could |
the malterP No pretty chickens pickin
about the door, no smoke came from II
kitchen chimney.
Where can they be-" asked Spiffie,
tired voice.
Jack climbed up and looked in viii
dow, No human being was about, al
the door was fastened. The key to Il
barn hung on II nail near the outer krcht
door. Spif1ie saw it, and begged Jack
come out to the barn.
Il am half starved" said Jack.
So am l." said Spfiie. " And tt
snow melts SO fast we shall never e
home, unless somebody comes to take Il
But let us find Solomon"
"Oh. oh. OH" exclaimed the little gil
as she opened the barn door. What W
mother say? Here are her darling chic
shut up, with nothing TO drink, and Il