Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-01-23

Tots, the Peace Maker.
Tots was Just upon the point Of stepping |
into bed when an idea struck her. 1t had
been irving day for Tots all the way
through. From morning until night this
insignificant member of the family had
oeen in difficulties, and II source of much
discomfort to herself and other people. 1t
was hot, everybody was cross, and Tots,
whose resources in the way of entertain
ment were limited, had had great trouble
to dispose of her time. In the morning
she had gone fishing in the duck pond,
with n crooked pin for hook, and n ball
of worsted for line. After waiting pa-
tently for her prey for some time, she
had tired of this amusement, owing to its
non success, and determined to 90 after
some water-lilies. When Tots grasped
the water-lly, the board upon which she
rested her tiny feet slipped from under
them, and Tots was summarily preclpta
ted into the pond When she appeared at
the farm house, her bedraggled condition
brought down such Il storm of denuncia
ton upon her head that the unsuccessful
angler, who had expected nothing but con-
graduation upon her narrow escape from
drowning, WIS disguised. Aunt Susan
dressed her, and Tots suffered SO much
during the operation that she vowed she
never would 90 near the pond again.
After dinner she had wandered out to
the arbor, underneath whose leafy roof
Flo Stanton was playing with her clergy
man lovers heart, as if there was so little
pain in the world that she could afford to
Manufacture ,.lore. Tots listened to the
whole interview, and watched the young
minister 90 away, too well-behaved II
young woman to interrupt the tttc-d tee.
But after having furtively watched Aunt
Flo cry as if her heart would break, for
the two hours after his departure, Tots
thought she might venture upon little
consolation 1t really was too bud that
her well meant efforts only resulted in II
pair of boxed ears, and abrupt orders to
go away"
Then life became burden. Tots began
to look upon the world as II melancholy
place. There was nothing to do, and ev-
erybodv WAS too full of their own afftirs to
pay her any attention.
1t was CLEAN ofhappinesS when the bell
rang for supper. In spite of her WEAKNESS
and general disgust with sublunary affairs
Tots still retained her appetite, and her
bread and butter and straw berries certain
ly did their part toward raising her spir-
its But after supper came the culminat-
ing disaster of the day. In II thoughtlesS
moment Tots, in spite of the warnings Of
past experincec, wandered into the kitch-
en- The kitten lay under the stove, and
| 'H,t do 81 tn tll n
pet plaything. Her foot slipped, size fel!
against u table, and big china dish went
humping, bouncing and crashing, on to
the floor. The altar upon which burnt
sacrifices were daily offered was broken
| in II hundred pieces. Aunt Susan witnessed
the whole transaction. and in two minutes
Tots was siczed, spanked and sent to bed
| There is nothing to do but TO yield to Fate
and Aunt Susan. They are combination
too strong for Tots to overcome. SO she
toddles up stairs lays aside the garments
she has worn during the day, and buttons
herself into her bfurcated night dress.
Then it is that the idea comes to her:
Tots, Notwithstanding her tender years. is
devoted to fictitious literature. She cannot
read herself, hut she takes great pleasure
in listening to Aunt Fanny, who some
times enterUains the family by reading
aloud Their last author was Dickens,
and Tots Imagination had been greatly
excited by the beautiful story of David
Copperfield and his child wife, little Dora.
"If" said Tots tG herself, Il could only
marry some body. Now Dora was just as
good for nothing as am, and yet Dodo
loved her, and nobody called her nui-
sance and boxed her ears, 1t must have
been very nice to have lived in the little
house with Dodo and Jip, wonder if
could find any body to marry me?
Then, all of sudden, Tots thinks of the
minister His name is David, and he lives
all alone in the cunningest little cottage,
with an old woman for II housekeeper.
at would be Just the thing thinks
Tots. "Ill ask him
With Tots, to plan is TO execute. She
withdraws the foot with which she has be.
gun to scale the heights of the bed, and
goes to the window. The moon shines
brightly. She isn't II bit afraid, In two
minutes she has scrambled over the roof oi
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
in his study on the ground floor of his
house, and lighting manfully with the
hcart.ache caused by II girls careless
words, is suddenly startled by two white
legs tearing their way through the vines
that grow in front of his window, and u
small body turning somersault into the
middle of the room.
II caught my toe and tumbled," ex
plains Tots, assuming an upright position
and caressing the injured foot.
"What are you doing here Mt this time
of night?' asks the clergyman, beginning
to smile.
II want to get married.
ITO whom"
Your
This time the grave man laughs, anC
seating himself in his arm chair. takes th
child upon his knees.
, "What forp"
, Cause Aunt Sue spanks me, Aunt FL
boxes my ears, and I've been hearin,
about David Copperfeld and Dora, and
want to get married and be child-wif