Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-05-26

Mother, just can't wear this patched
coat to SCHOOL," said Fred, flinging him self
into chair and sticking out his feet
while his face was drawn up in such an
ugly scowl you would have thought him a
dreadful boy.
"Why, Fred, am surprised; only this
morning you looked at those patches and
said: Good for you. mother, these
sleeves are Jolly, now the elbows are all
in; and when you put it on, you smooth
ed it down. and gave me II kiss, and told
me | was the best mother in the world"
Yes, SO did;" and ut the pleasant
voice of his mother the boy drew up his
feet, and the frown went off his face little
But you don't know how hard ii is. add
ed Fred. Every boy in my class has II new
coat and some brass buttons and all. !
can see the very shine of them now,' and
Fred kicked the poor Cat rs it WAS lying
in the sunshine streaming over the bright
kitchen floor.
Come, comet spoke up his mother.
q" This will never do! Your coat is well
enough if you will only think 50; at any
rate, cannot buy you new one. =" and
Mrs. Green put the baby in his arms and
began dishing up the soup for dinner.
Out on the little porch went Fred with
the baby. The sun was so bright and
warm that, in spite of his trouble, he
could not help feeling just a little happy.
Seating himself on the step. he began
talking to the dear little fellow, us he
often did when in earnest about things.
Baby, wouldn't you hate to wear
patches? Patches on the elbows, patches
on the knees, patches all over. Why, |
am almost all patches, and the boys nave
nicknamed me Patch | tell YOU. baby,
it's pretty hard, but when | get TO be Il
man you shan't know what Il patch looks
like. Here the baby crowed and jumped
as though he understood every word.
Gomez called mamma, - bring baby
in; your dinner is ready
Fred seated himself at the small table
and waited for his mother, but she took
the rocking chair by thh stove and com.
menced to sing baby to sleep.
" Mother, aren't you going TO eat?'
No, my son; l feel too tired now"
Fred helped himself to II plateiul of the
delicious soup, but somehow it didn't taste
good, and there was IL big lump in his
throat, and glancing round TO his mother
hO 'ottW q lipuDlCI lOOh VII llOl itSCs hollO
had stopped singing, and was stroking
baby's hair softly. lie could stand it no
longer, but jumped up and ran to her,
hugging her tight around the neck, boy
fashion, and burst out with:
" Mother, don't you look 50 sorry. I
can wear the patches us well rs not, and
the old coat is real warm. | guess it
won't kill me if the boys do call me Patch,
and Mr.. Maxwell said yesterday learned
ever so fast, and hoped some day you'd he
proud of me. But you can't if don't get
over these proud fits, can you? Come,
now, mother, let US eat up all the soup and
have good time"
And they did; and how they both en-
joyed that dinner! Just before Fred
started for school that afternoon he ran up
to his room kept SO clean by his own
hands, and there he asked the loving Say
ior to give him more help to overcome the
small trials of everyday life, and to make
him q wise, good boy, adding ut the close
" Please to make me n comfort TO my
mother"
He reached the school room just rs the
bell rang, so was spared any taunts from
the boys then. But at recess, Harry,
remembering how easily he had fired him
Patch,' ,'"6utto his his Surprise Fretis~ lahgH
rang out pleasantly, and he answered:
Yes, s'pose that's my name as long
as the clothes last. But, boys, look! tell
you there's some fine work on this old
coat, and if pve got to wear it, and be
called Patch I'd better keep my temper
and not give you IL chance to make it
= Cross Patch '"-Iennje IruenHn.