Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-02-26
The Swing Money.

four fifty, and twenty makes four seventy
almost five dollars, and father says he'll get
us one for six"
"Hurrah for the swingl" shouted Frank,
while Hattie gave little jump, and Emma
caught Baby "a little boy of three years
old-up in her arms, promising he should
have the first swing.
Black berries will be ripe next week. and
then we must all be up early to pick them.
Dan says he'll take all we've got"
80, we'll soon get one dollar and thirty
cents, and then we'll buy the swing. DO tell
us again Just how it wi ! look, Charlie !"
Charlie, the elder brother, had been that
spring on visit to some friends where he
had seen and enjoyed boat-swing and be-
ing anxious that his brothers and sisters
them, and promised to help them with his
earnings if they would save their pocket
money to buy one.
All the children now trooped after Charlie
except Emma, who suddenly remembered
that she had promised to go to read and
talk with her lame friend Phoebe Brent
Though Phoebe was cripple, she was not
sad or gloomy, and Emma enjoyed making
her a visit She had found though, that it
tried Phoebe little to tell her much about
their games and fun, for the little girl had
not always been lame; only two years before
she had injured herself in some way so that
she could not walk, or even sit up long
She remembered the pleasant times she
used to have; and though she tried not to
let Emma see it, she felt badly when her
friend talked about any new games or fresh
plans of amusement. So, though Emma's
mind was full of the swing and of plans for
earning money for it, she resolved not to
speak of it to Phoebe.
The little girl had a fashion Of walking
along looking up into the sky and forgetting
to look where she was going; and now, just
before she reached Phnbe's house she al.
most ran against something's baby's car
riage she thought it at first-and looked
about for the mother, to apologize. But a
sweet voice from the carriage said, " | hope
you're not hurt, my dear. tried to steer
out of your way, but you were not looking
To Emma's surprise young lady was
sitting in the wagon, or rather chair, as she
now saw that it was. Emma had always
lived in small country village and had
never seen an invalid-chair, so now she quite
| forgot her manners in staring at the strange
continuance.
"Ah you are wondering at my chair, are
| YOU ?" asked the sweet voice. " Perhaps
YOU never saw one ? They're so nice for any
one who can't walk 60 all about, and yet
haven't walked for five years"
"Just like Phoebe" said Emma.
"Why, who is Phoebe 2"
She's my friend and o, ma'am, she's
lame. But she hasn't such a-a-carrage
spose it is. We never saw such things
here"
"Well, now you can tell her, and she can
buy one"
| Emma shook her head slowly. She knew
how poor Mr. and Mrs. Brent were; there
was no money for anything but necessities
1t had been a hard matter to even get Ph9be's
crutches.
"Well, we can't stop in the street." said a
kind voice again. /" I'm boarding at Mrs
Denison's and if you want to see my chair
again come and see me, little girl. What is
your name p
Emma Lonsdale," was the answer " anc
I'll be- sure to come. Phoebe must have a
hair" And all that afternoon, as the two
little girls sat together, Emma kept saying
over to herself, "Phube must have a chair.
But how? al can't give her one? II
only had money!" Then Emma suddenly
remembered the swing-money." o, if She
could only get them all interested in earn
| lHB HuDt CildiT, IL WOuiu ne 81 iHuCH btJ
ter than a boat-swing. They did not really
need swing their old rope one was very
good.
Now, it would take too long to tell yor
how Emma succeeded in coaxing the other:
to deny themselves, but she did succeed
They all agreed to earn the money for {
chair for Phoebe, and then the kind invalic
lady Emma had met took great interest il
the matter. She wrote TO some friends, wht
sent word they would get the children {
chair, quite as good as new, for half price
the little girl who had used it was quit
we'll and did not need it, AT last the none,
was sent, and letter came saying the chat
would be at IIomehurst in two days.
Every one of the Lonsdale childen- ever
Charlie, who was nearly grown up--wen
to the station to get the chair, and thel
wheeled it to Phebe's, sitting in it by turn
TO feel how nicely it went. Phoebe, VIII
was sitting by the window wishing som
one would come to give her a ride, saw tn
children and heard them call to her to com
down. Her mother brought her hat AM
helped her down. What a happy cir
Phoebe was Net even Hattie, who still
had turns of longing for the boat-swing, re
GREETED the sacrifice when she saw what
difference the chair made in poor Phoebe
life. She almost lived outdoors, wheelin
herself all about and best of all, the doc
tor said the fresh air did her so much goo
that there was great hope of her recovery
Now, was not the chair better than a swing
IS. s. Visitor.