Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16

" | can't" said Jack. "The skin is all
off of one foot, and my hands smart so
can't go another step"
Spiffie sat down on a stone beside him
and tried to comfort him NV hands are
sore, too" she said " But mover mind.
When we get home we'll have II nice sup.
per; and-oh! dear. there goes Solomon
down the cross-road. | must bring him
back"
Evidently the old gander was getting
cross, too; for he squealed and scuIded
all the way back.
! While Jack sat there, discunsolate, a
good old neighbor passed by, and stopped
to see why n sled stood by the roadside,
with something white on it. The moon
WAS just coming up, and the old man
could not see distinctly. Presently he
caught sight of the boy. What ails
thee, my boy!' he asked, kindly But
Jack only cried the louder. When Spiilie
came up, he recognized her voice ut once.
oh! Uncle Jacob, it's real wicked,
and we are SO tired. You see Betsey is
dead, and Daisy is drowned, and solomon
does act so. Do you s'pose it is more than
a mile home yetp"
"A good mile yet, my child. And |
wish l might help thee; but here's II load
of meal behind, and no snow to haul it on,
and my old horse is tired with his days
work. Thee must not set on the damp
ground there. Better keep moving for
mother will be worried"
The Quaker farmer drove on and left the
little pilgrims to plod on through mud and
darkness. Before they reached tho town
Spitlie had bound up Jacks hands twice,
and her own were swollen and sore. But
the sparkling lights from the village be-
low cheered and helped the girl, while the
boy growled and grumbled 1T every step.
Il never knew miles were so long. Did
you, Jackp" she said, long after Uncle
Jacob had gone on.
Yes, they are always long. Catch ME
ever coming out here aganr'
Next summer, Jack. Next summer,
when the flowers come and the birds are
out, then it will be lovely. On! Solomon,
do keep in the road five minutes. What
u trial geese are!' she added.
1t was over at last. Spiflie remembered
seeing light in the hall, she heard voices,
she knew some one said " Look at the
mud!' and then the hall light jumped up
and hit the ceiling, the house turned up,
side down, and everything was dark. She
could see nothing, hear nothing. Bat she
felt through all the singing, burning pain
in her poor, tired shoulders; and she
dreamed somebody cut them out and Sol
ONION was eating them up. Whether it
was Spiffies self who said " We brought
the geese. mothern and some one said
" Foolish children!' or Spitlie said "Fool-
ish children!" and somebody said Make
up bed for her here in my room,
Spiilie could never quite understand.
When her side ached so bad the tears
came, it was very hard to blink them
away, and see Jack calmly eating toast;
for she knew and could never tell who had
dragged two sleds part of the way, and
never gave up until she saw mother.
For days and days Spit1ie burned with
fever. And some one would keep saying
Such q reedikul0us proceeding!' 1t
troubled Spillie. Her head ached worse,
and ber hands smarled, and her little
heart, down, down deep, ached and ached.
until one day old Doctor Comfort said,
close to her ear, Pluck brings luck. little
girl. If Solomon belonged to me, | should
keep him forever. to show what little
hands could do, with Il brave heart to help
them. Then Spiffie closed her eyes and
went to sleep. She had not been " silly"
after all.
| After that Solomon dwelt with his wife
under the porch, and many and many II
night did Jack and Spitlie dream of Won
derful adventures, which always had in
them little of their strange journey from
the farm; and the next morning they
would be sure to visit the porch and cnat
while with Solomon and Mrs. Gum
midgc,-Ehrichs' Fashion quarterly.