Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-01-05
Quiz.


her ever SINCE. although she has really
earned more musical appellation.
One day when Fred and all of US were
at home, strange woman, with queer
little girl about five years old. came to
the door and asked if she might come
in and get warm. 1t was the afternoon
of a cold, windy day in March, and as
Bridget had gone out and the kitchen
fire was down, mamma let her come into
the sitting room, where we all were,
Fred reading, Nell and sewing, and
Willie and baby Belle playing with the
| blocks.
Mamma placed chair by the fire for
the strange woman and pushed up low
stool for the little girl, who seated her.
self demurely upon it, and then began
looking at Fred, who sat next to her.
Pretty soon the woman arose, said she
had long walk to take, and as she was
soon to return, asked if she might leave
the little girl. who was tired, with us
until she came back.
We lived in small country town,
you see, when tramps were few and far
between, and mamma. suspecting moth
ing, consented, and the woman went
away.
The little girl sat still for long
time and then suddenly startled US all
by asking in clear, childish voice:
"What dat be ?" she was looking at
Fred, and nodded comically at the book
he held in his hand.
That's book" said Fred.
"What be you to do with it? she
asked.
I'm reading it."
"What dat is ?"
| Here Fred's gravity gave way and he
burst into hearty laugh. The child
only looked at him wonderingly and
repeated her question with grave ear
nestness.
"What dat is you do?"
"Look here, little Quiz, said Fred
"you must be a savage if you never saw
a book before y and he tried to explain
to her what he was doing, but at every
step she stopped him with a ques-
tion, always, Willie said, putting the
cart before the horse.
"Well, Quiz" said Fred, at last, you
display a marvellous desire for informa.
tion if you don't know much now. Pray
tell US what your name is p
But for all we could learn from the
little stranger, who asked questions fal
easier than she could answer them, she
had no name; so Fred said he should
call her Quiz as long as she stayed with
US.
The afternoon wore slowly away, anC
still the strange woman did not come
back. Little Quiz stayed with US al
night, and the next morning papa made
inquiries and learned that she had taker
the train for Chicago, and was by this
time beyond the possibility of tracing.
We were all very indignant whel
papa told US about it next day at din
ner.
Quiz amused us with her odd way
and droll questions, and we thought j
very cruel for her mother as we suppos
ed the woman to be, to desert her in tina
manner. And what was to become o
poor Quiz now. was the question we al
asked of papa. k
"S'pose we'll have to send her to th
county house" said papa.
Il guess you'll find out what the res
of the little paupers know in just n
time, won't you, Quiz ?" said Fred.
Quiz looked at him moment wit
her great serious, gray eyes; then he
lips quivered, and two big tears role,
slowly down her cheeks.
Where be sleep? she said. with
little sharp sob.
Fred hesitated moment between
f desire to laugh and temptation to cate
| her In his arms and kiss away her tears
; Finally he asked her in softened tone
Don't you want to go?"
81 like to 'tay wi you," she answered
: with another great sob, leaning her hea
on her hand and her elbow on th
, table, looking the very picture of sac
; ness.
Couldn't we keep her?" asked FREQ
suddenly of papa.
Il don't know; what does mothe
say ?'
''Oh, mamma, dol" said Nell, who's
: heart was even softer than Fred's.
"oh, s mamma, do urged littl
: Willie.
9 Mamma, thus appealed to. locke
; quite perplexed. Her motherly heal
had gone out toward the lonely strange
. but she had SO many cares. and quit
e children enough to occupy both heal
0 and hands.
"Ill help to take care of her, pleade
Fred.
. 1--WE might keep her while man
t ma said. and so We did.
g W;l;o olnnxaa L. Lals al