Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-11-18
NO. 46.



Max was lucky little boy, for he had a
grandpapa. He was only four years old so
he could not read but grandpapa told him all
about the Fourth of July until his little head
was full of it, He began TO save his money
for fire crackers and torpedoes while the snow
was yet on the ground, and you know July is
in the middle OF the summer
Every week, he had an allowance" to
spend as he chose and he put few pennies
away each time, so he soon had quite draw
erful. They were kept in pretty japanese
cabinet on a shelf in his bedroom and be
used to count them over often, planning with
grandpapa what kind of fireworks he had bet
ter buy. He could scarcely wait for summer
to come, he was in such hurry to hear the
noise.
Early one bright morning in May, Max was
taken to his mammals room to find in grand
mammals arms baby brother. 1t was as
tiny as a doll, and much nicer for it moved
hands and eyes without even pulling a string
and cried when nobody squeezed it. The
dear little thing Max loved it the minute
he saw it. He felt almost a man when he
thought that he was ever SO much older and
that he must watch and care for this wee thing
He kissed its soft cheek, and stroked the
downy yellow head, which looked to him very
much like the back of young chicken. He
surprised to find its eyes already open,
and be wondered if the baby knew him. To
be sure it did not look as if it did, but that
was no matter SO he forgave him that, say
ing softly
II am your brother baby Don't you know
me Look at your great big brother"
After while, grandmamma lifted the ba-
by's long dress to show Max its pretty little
pink feet. Baby Sunny wriggling toes brought
no smile to his lips. Poor Max was grieved.
Only to think that his brother should have no
shoes and stockings A barefoot baby in his
own home was great shock to him. pink
flush crept over his face; but nobody guess
en- what he was thinking of, for he did not
say word.
Soon after this, Max went to his own
room and, climbing up to his cabinet he
took out all his money. Then he put his
ragged little play-hat over his yellow curls
and went out of the front door quietly into
the street OF course, he was never allowed
to go out alone, but to-day he was so busy
thinking of that barefoot baby that he forgot
everything else. So he walked down the
street in his blue checked apron, straight to
a shop where he had seen a tiny pair of dolls
shoes in window. They were, oh, SO small
But he bought them, and he was glad to
find that he still had some money left. With
the rest he bought the longest, biggest can
dy-cane that he could find, to help this mite
of a thing on its way through the world
And Max was on the right track too; for
sweets go great way to help one over hard
places, after all.
How proud he was when he came running
home, hot and out of breath, bringing his
good gifts to the dear baby who should no
longer go barefoot! He had spent all his
precious savings for his brother and his
sweet, flushed face beamed and dimpled with
pleasure. He had saved the family from
disgrace end his new brother from walking
on his hands and knees, as some babies do.
Mamma did not punish her biggest boy
for going out alone, because she knew he had
not meant to do wrong, and she loved him
all the more for his unselfshness
When grandpapa heard of it. he asked Max
what he would do now for fireworks to shoot
ON the Fourth of July. "Ah!" answered the
manly little fellow, stoutly, II would rather
have my brother than ire-crackers; and he
must have shoes, you know."-Sunday
GcbO0L Times