Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-03
The Old Mirrors Story.

All mellow many tales | could tell, if
l chose. I've swung on this old bureau
so long, and seen so many people come
and go before my face, that seem to
know the secrets of many of them. I've
kept the secrets well, too,-no fear of my
telling them now; only while am in the
mood for talking, let me give you the
history of one halliday, and you can judge
for yourself if do not sometimes reflect
character rs we'll rs faces, and learn quiet
secrets at the same time. FIRST, after the
family dinner hour of quiet talk, came
Miss Mary, the young lady of the house,
hold. She might have gone to my larger
and handsomer neiehbor in the parlor. but
she has kind heart and will not slight
her old-times acquaintance. And sure |
am that if light and truthfulness were de-
sired, she could find no truer face than
mine.
"Good morning, old FRIEND" was her
greeting. 1--we come to have your pol
ished self tell me if my new spring suit
is becoming and rightly made" So she
tipped my face up and she tipped it down,
turning herself around all the while. that
she might see just how each fold hung,
and if the tit were perfect. Satisfied at
last. she restored me to my wonted angle,
saying as she did so: There, old friend,
if you've told the truth, I'm more than
satisfied with myself and you" And so
the dear girl tripped away with the JOY
business of youth, leaving all thoughts of
self.conscionsness behind and going out
to enjoy her walk. her face radiant with
happy smiles that told of contented
spirit within.
Next came the mamma, with her tired,
heated face, fresh from the kitchen, and
bringing with her odors of pickles and
spices; 50 | easily guessed what had been
her work of the morning. Looking into
my face with her kindly eyes and smooth
ing down her hair, she said softly: All,
old mirror, you show me new wrinkles
every year; but you are a truthful old
friend, and will not blame you, though
| might sigh quietly over your story"
Presently in rushed the little whirl-
wind of the family-six-year-old Carrie.
" l don't believe a word of it," she cried,
" and I'm just going to see if it is true"
So she pushed chair up in front of me,
and, climbing up, looked carefully into
my face at her own rather wrathful one
reflected there. The frowns gathered over
her pretty brow as she looked, and Jump
ing down, she stamped her little foot, and,
doubling up her tiny fist, cried ont: " Oh,
you ugly, naughty old mirror I'll never
like you again, and I've great mind to
just break you, l have" Oh, no, my little
girl, thought, what is the matter now,
that you abuse your old friend so and
threaten such dire punishment on her re-
Elective old faceP Is it because we con-
frmed mammals words that thoughtless
disobedience in leaving your hat on the
lawn, instead of on your head, as you
were told, has indeed brought out a very
dark line of freckles across the little nose
and face of which you were becoming
quite too vain? Don't blame us, little
Carrie, but stop aud think one moment if
little thoughtless self is not the one at
fault, and remember hereafter that disobe-
dience, whether thoughtless or wilful,
always brings its own punishment.-NeV
York ObSerUer.