Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09
For the Vermont Waterman.
The Truth and What Came Of 1t.
CHAPTER |.


al don't care ig," said Isabel Grey, al
shall do just as please about it."
"S Shall you ?" and meek little Jenny
Childs opened her eyes wider and wider.
And if you dare to do what your grand
mother disapproves, will you dare to lie ?"
eyes, DEAR" replied the philosophic lisa.
bel, because my grandmother will not dis
approve when she understands all the good
that will come out of this. There are times,
you know, Jenny, when very small lie will
bring about grand results then it is right
| believe. know we have not been taught
this 1t is new idea, and am going to
act on it, and hope to convince grandma and
others that they are mistaken"
"And do you think you can ?" came breath
lessly from poor Jenny.
"Oh, yes easy enough. You and l, Jenny
Childs, are living in very progressive age.
People are not as slow as they used to be,
and have different and better IDEAS And
the progressive girl looked condescendingly
at the truthful girl by her side, who was
evidently impressed with her companions
superior knowledge.
The two girls, just turned fifteen, were
slowly walking home from school, in the
beautiful city of Burlington, Vermont. The
high school which they attended was sit
uted on a long, broad street running east
and west, from lake to college. The lively
procession, which is poured out twice day.
streams down the long street and branches
off to the different parts Of the city-a pro-
cesson in which might be found every kind
of boy and girl, from the gayest loudest and
most frivolous to the quiet, grave and dig
nified. Most girls at about the age of fifteen
or sixteen are very decided in their opinions
and most pronounced in expressing them.
In after years they hesitate much more, and
doubt themselves and others. We will pick
out two, most opposite faces in expression,
to follow homewards
Jenny Childs was quite small of her age,
and consequently was always called younger
than her mates. She had puritan blood in
her, and was quite too orthodox to command
much respect from such an advanced thinker
as Isabel Grey, who discovered all the new
ideas of the times, and absorbed them as
readily as sponge does water, and, like it,
only to be freed by long-coutinued pres
sure that pressure life, with its daily bur
den. She was extremely tall and ill-propor-
toned. Every member of her body seemed
disproportioned to every other. However,
when once her face was seen, all else was
forgotten. Her eyes were dark and brilliant,
but into them, at times, stole expressions,
very strange and rare, prophesying better,
nobler things. And the long, wavy brown
hair lent its softness to mellow the frequent
flashes Of the eye while the deep dimples
in her cheeks gave an irresistible charm to
her merry laugh, and the curves about the
mouth bathed her whole face in a new and
unexpected seriousness. If you took your
eyes, for moment, from her face, there
must be sense of loss
But / do care a fig, Isabel" said brave
Jenny, whether my mother approves of
this club or not. She may, and if so, shall
be glad 10 JOIN; Dut II not, must decline.
l don't think you ought to conceal the books
that you are to read from your grandmother.
Wouldn't she consent if she knew of it ?"
"No, she would not Jenny, you don't
know her. While l love her dearly and
think no one is so good, can see how old
fashioned she is in her ideas of right and
wrong. She wants me to read strictly re-
ligious books and no others. She will not
admit the grand and inspiring thoughts of
Emerson and Byron. ! have made up my
mind to read all such books, anyway, and
prove their worth to her, by my own life.
Now, remember, Jenny, tomorrow | am
going to propose this club, and appoint
president, secretary, etc. You must not dis
appoint us, we shall want you" So they
parted.