Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
TOddles.

TOddles.
felt like lady that morning. was a
lady, thought, after all quite as much so
as Mrs. Jones, who lived in the great cupola
house on the hill. Quite as much of lady,
| | said to myself briskly, as | busted up my
little shop, and arranged the sheeny ribbons
and gay striped goods in the window. The
window was hung with pretty lace curtains,
and there was globe of gold fish in it that
sailed about as courteously and busily as
though they were getting their living as
head clerks.
| 1t was a sweet, soft Autumn morning; the
village street was grassy and quiet, and
hummed tune as glanced cheerily out at
little Toddles, fitting about in her scarlet
ribbons under the old willow outside. Bless
her little rosy face why shouldn't l be
happy when I've her to look after
was happy and hummed again that
old snatch of tune, and nodded gayly to
Toddles, wondering vaguely to myself what
was going to happen that | felt so uncannily
bright. Nothing simply nothing things
were done happening me long since My
way was straight and narrow, my days quiet
and uneventful.
As slipped my coffee that morning re-
member that held the cup up to the light
and felt certain sense of satisfaction in the
translucence of the rare bit of china. 1t is
so pleasant to know that ones own election
may keep one aloof from the ugliness and
squalor of poverty.
| 1t doesn't take much to keep one person,
of course, and don't count Toddles for any.
thing. 1t needs but the odds and ends of
things-a bowl of bread and milk, cup of
coffee, with now and then lively bit of rib.
bon-to keep the little one going famously.
Yes, always wanted to be lady, And
as | sat in my bright little room felt half
inclined to forgive Richard Gray the heart.
break he gave me long ago. And, o God
it Uas heartbreak. But if he had mar.
ried me, perhaps he would have shut me up
in some gloomy city house, to be a lady
after his fashion, to stifle for want of bit
of fresh air. to walk softly under thousand
petty conventionalities, and to cease being
my own mistress. All that l never could
endure. So it is, perhaps, as well that
Richard left me and went off somewhere
| God knows where.
You see, like tiny little shop. There's
something so delightful in seeing the pretty
| girls Of the village, with now and thon a fms
lady, hanging over my dainty wares, and
trying the tints of scarlet and blue and
orange, with many laugh and many glance
at the mirror. | call it my reception when
they pour in of holiday afternoon. | love
colors; | love grace and beauty; and per.
haps might have been a bit Of an artist
in my way, if I'd ever had the opportunity
Richard used to say so. But ah he said
many fattering thing and many false in
those old days. And if ever dreamed OF
any higher life than contents me now-well
I've given up dreaming.
For there's Toddles, so round and sweet
and soft and real. She leaves me little time
for building air-castles.
You see, love the child as if she were
my very own. For she came to me one day
about four years ago, wee little baby thing
curled up in heap on my doorstep when
went to open the shutters. Wherever she
came from | never knew. Toddles never
explained; she just stretched up her little
fat arms to me and gurgled, "Tod-od-doddle,
and that was her sole introduction.
1t was surmised that the child had beer
dropped by some travelling circus passing
through the town, and | had excellent
neighborly advice about putting the treasure
in the founding hospital. But one seldom
takes good advice, and didn't.
To tell the truth, grew so attached t.
the child that | should even have beer
wicked enough, fear, to regret any one'
turning up to claim it. But that's not a
all likely now, after so many years-no, no
at all likely no more likely than tina
Richard and ! should ever meet again il
this world. And hat-that is among tn
things that never can happen.
1t was ON this wise, our parting
Richards mother was old and feeble AM
misery. She'd spent good deal of none.
, on him-sent him to college, and expected
folks said, TO "make something of him.
She always expected TO get her money
worth out Of her transactions. Richard he'll
her in sort OF awe, somehow, though sh
was little wizzened old woman that he coul
have lifted with his left hand. But like
him for respecting his mother.
One day we two were sitting at twiligh
} talking OF the future dreamily, as was ou
/ wont.
: "My little one" said Richard, putting hi
b. arm about me, 4" it half seems too bright t
9 ever be-"
9 Ever be |" echoed "Oh, Richard,
e you talk that way, it never will be-"
t Richard smiled, but his face grew owe
( cast. | felt that storm was coming
y "Well ?" | queried, seeing that he st
: brooding and silent.
Daring" he said, soothingly, al kue
it would come hardly to you but how can
go against my mother Her poor old hea
is bound up in me, Jeanette; she will nevt
a hear to-to anything that"
,, "That seems to lower you" added in
, steely voice that seemed TO cut its way oil
e of my heart like keen, cold knife
a "Oh, am a coward-a poltroon !" erie
d Richard, wringing his hands, 81 was born
IS bring trouble on those love- Whom, whol
$ shall leave to suffer for me now, Jeanette
e "The one who will say least about it,"
o answered, hardly My heart was throbbir
d heavily, like a clock that ticks the hour
o execution, but | made no outcry, and "
# parted in that final parting silently. An
y have lived silently ever since.
d One year after that heard that Richard
p mother was dead, and then that he had ma
l., ried whom, knew not-whom cared nc
3 lie had married another woman while n
r last words were yet ringing in his ears
It right there, before the face of the liyir
'e heaven, married another woman, and swo
d to love and cherish her, as he had ofte
e vowed TO love and cherish me
h But | did not seem TO feel this blow as
: had felt our parting. just flung him OF
II of my heart there aud then, and my 10,
Al and my silence vanished. looked into Il
a. face of my misery with smile, and toe
e this little shop in the village, and work,
d early and late, and made it thrive. The
u two years later, came my little Ioddles
o me, sitting like a lily on my doorstep, as
T. some angel OF peace had dropped her ther
/ have named her Theresa, but Toddles h,
sr always been her own pet name for hersel
n and like IL because 1t is hers.