Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1880-01-28
The Land of Short Memories.

George meant to be good boy, but he
very seldom did anything that he WAS told
to do. He nearly always forgot it. Once
when his sister May was very sick, he
was sent after some medicine for her. So
he started in great hurry; but he met
Fred Smith with his dog, and Fred coaxed
him to 60 and coast lust once" down the
long Red Hill. Then he forgot all about
May and the medicine until it was quite
dark, and he felt so sorry and ashamed
that he ran home, and crept up the
back stair way to bed. hungry. lonely
and cold.
BY and by he fell asleep, and when he
awoke he was in a new and strange place.
He found himself in house which was
only partially covered by roof, and the
rain came in through the uncovered part
and dropped upon his bed. George sat
up and looked around him. There was q
fireplace in the room, besides some wood
and kindlings, which the poor, shivering
little fellow eyed very wistfully, thinking
that some one might perhaps light fire.
1t was very chilly and his teeth chatter
ed. There was a wee old woman sitting
in the chimney corner, and George spoke
to her.
"What is it you want, Jimmie9' She
said.
Twill you please tell me what your
name is and where amp" he asked
My name-well really, / forget it just
now" she replied, "but you are in the
Land of Short Memories-that am aware
of.
"But what shall | call you?" asked
Georgia.
"Oh, call me Mite! That will do as
well AS any other name till you forget it,
Henry"
MY name is George"
"Isit? Well, will try and recolect.
Tom you said it was, didn't you?'
mo, didn'tn' retorted Georgia, getting
cross with the old lady, for he thought she
meant to tease him.
There, there!" cried Mite; 1.-The doctor
said you must not get excited or else you
must, l forget which. Do you want any
thing to eatP"
Yes, ] should like to have some
Cruel"
Il will make you some" she said. 81
have nice fire here or l should have,
only that seem to have forgotten 10 light
the kindlings."
While she was bustling around, busy
with the Cruel, George laid quite still,
looking out where there was no roof, at
the blue sky which he could now see, for
it had ceased raining.
"Why don't you have the roof cover the
whole of your house9n asked George of
the old lady.
,.r IL, 10
where" said she ~ guess the workmen
forgot TO put it on. Now, here is your
nice Cruel all ready for You"
why, it is coldn' exclaimed the dis
appointed Georgia, who was quite hun
cry.
Sure enough; forgot to boil it, said
the old lady.
And l don, sec anything in the bowl
but water"
Dear me! dear me.' said Mite. {"
must have forgotten to put any meal in
it."
George now began to cry.
Don't cry. don't cry, Johnnie, said
Mite II will boil chicken for you by
and by, if don't forget it. Here arc the
doctors coming to see you now, and you
lluSL OH up " tilh WIN
Pretty soon two doctors came in, and
one Of them asked Mite if she felt better
to-day.
Yes think | do said she.
" Did YOU take the medicine | ordered
for vou?n asked the other doctor.
"I suppose did, but don't remember"
answered Mite. Then tho doctors felt her
pulse. looked at her tongue, and said she
must take some salts and went away.
When they had gone. George began to
cry more loudly than before.
WHAT is the matter, Fred?' demanded
Mite.
NV namo is not Fred, | tell you!'
screamed George.
Never mind; | always forget Your
name, so | call you by anything l can
think Of But tell me what makes you
cry"
"Why, am sick, and l thought the
doctors were coming to see me!'
"Bcss nv stars!" exclaimed the old
lady, sure enough, I was not the one that
was sick | meant to have remembered
and told the doctors that they came to see
you, but forgot it when they looked at
nv tongue. III run after them and call
them buck!'
So, away went Mite. and was gone ever
so long. When she came back, she said
she could not find the doctors anywhere,
and everybody had forgotten where they
lived, so that no one could 60 after them.
= I'm sorry" said Mite, but it can't be
helped, for you know we live in the Land
of Short Memories"
Then George cried still more bitterly.
:" l wish I could 90 home," he said. Il
am sure shall die here! l wish l could
90 homel would never forget to mind
mother aganm
As soon rs he had said this, he heard q
II familiar voice pleading, " Ma, may mt
90 for Georgie's medicines l wont forget
TO bring itn' De-.
Georgia turned slowly in his little bee
and saw his sister May. Next, his eye:
rested on his mother, who looked very
pale and thin, but sweet and smiling.
"Oh, Ma, have l come back to youp'
he cried, with sigh.
I'VE hope 50, George" replied hi
mother. You have had bad fever jus
like Mays and been very sick, but yo1
soon will get well now"