St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-01-28
flor he Children.
Sarah's New Year.


self. She had but a few moments to
love il, for IA clear voice sounded from
the foot of the stairs:
Come, Sarah, what makes you so
late this morning We have been wait
ing for YOU this long time" Then Sa-
rah flew around; she knew it would
be IA busy day. In fact all days were
busy ones to her. Poor, lonely little
Sarah Three years before, her father
sailed away in his ship, leaving her at
Mr. Smiths, TO be boarded for a year,
leaving money to pay for her board.
The year passed, and then another
wear. and then another, and the father
never came back Neither did his ship
il was lost on the ocean. Poor Sarah
stayed on at Mr.. Smiths; but there
was no more money to pay for her
board OF buy her clothes, and Nj. Smith
had daughters of his own and not a
very great deal of money; so, from be-
ing IA boarder Sarah had become little
maid of-all- work whose business was
to run hither and thither all day long,
wherever Mary, the kitchen girl, or
Mamie, the grown-up daughter, or Lou
Use, the twelve-year old daughter, or
Howe, or Harry, the sons, chose to send
her. They were not unkind to her (;
Mrs. Smith often said "PoOr child" in
talking about her, and they gave her
decent clothes that kept her warm in
winter. But nobody kissed her, or
planned for her pleasure, OF gave her
anything pretty; and Louise, without
really meaning to he ugly, often remind
ed her that she must work for her board
and clothes, and should therefore do
without fretting whatever she was told
to do.
Sarah shed few tears over the silver
she was polishing that morning. She
felt more fOrlorn than usual she al
ways felt worse on holidays. Besides,
she was dreadfully disappointed.
A Sunday school slegh-ride was to be
taken that afternoon, Sarah's class be-
ing among the number. At the break
fast table, Sarah passing in and out,
bringing fresh plates of buckwheat
cakes, heard the talk. sit won't be
possible for me to let Sarah go this af
ternoon the poor child has no cloak g,
and her old sack really does not look
suitable; they will all he dressed in
their best. / am sorry | would have
got her something respectable if we
could have afforded it. Louise, yOn
must bring her some of the cake and
candies, and she will have to content
herself at home. Now Sarah had re-
solved Gu being martyr, and wearing
the ugly-looking old sack, two years
too small for her, for the sake of the
sleigh-ride. No wonder the tears fell.
Dinner was over, and Louise was
f1uttering upstairs and down, trying to
get dressed to her satisfaction. Sarah,
with a pale, sad face, was doing her
bidding here and there, when the door
bell rang. "There - said Louise, 81 do
believe they have come, and I'm not
half ready. Sarah, why don't you bur
ry, and button my boots? l do believe
you are as slow as you can be, on pur-
pose" Harry went to the door, before
Sarah could get down stairs. Halfway
down, she heard loud, ringing voice ::
"Well, my hearty do you live here ?
Yes; well, where is my little Sarah
do you know She must be-HalloO
I've got her ~ And behold little Sarah,
with one wild shout that was either a
laugh or a cry, threw herself into the
strong arms of her father, and was hug
ged and kissed and carried through the
hall to the dining room.
Then what talking and exclaiming
there was! Got ship-wTecked among
those jabbering natives, aud couldn't
get word anywhere nor do anything !;
had a fever, too, that laid me up for a
spell" This was in brief the sailors
story. In the midst of the talk came
word that the sleigh riders would not
be ready for half an hour.
whats that ?" said the sailor, and it
was all explained to him; he asked
more questions, and Mrs. Smith, with
red cheeks, explained about the bad
looking shawl. "Oh, no! - he said.
Guess we can fix that. OF course she
must 90 sleigh-riding. You two boys
lend hand and let me get my box III
at the kitchen door. Good thing
brought that one instead of the others.
There :" as after a little Juggling he
drew out heavy package II guess
that will cover up the faded gown.
Rather too short that gown is, and not
as pretty 4 color as it might be, but we
Will fix it all right, now father has
come Behold, in less time than it
takes me to tell it, Sarah was arrayed
in long fur sack that almost covered
her dress; dainty little cap, to match
the sack, perched on her head, and Lou
Use, looking on, said, LAS true as live,
that is seal skim Its all that said
the sailor, nodding his head in pride
and pleasure over Sarah. Il didn't get
wrecked and bring up in the gold re-
gions for nothing. More than that,
while l was about it, I've got something
else here that belongs to Sarah to do
what she likes with; and he drew out
another sack and cap as much like Sa-
rah's as possible, only trifle larger.
"Oh, father" she said, with sparkling
eye. Il think it will just fit Louise :"
''All right, my birdie if you want it
to fit Louise, why, say the word" And
the two seal skin sacks and caps went
sleighIiding together that afternoon