St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1881-04-22
The Lost Boy.
BY A MOTHER.

He had black eyes with long lashes,
red cheeks, and hair almost black and
curly. He wore crimson plaid jacket,
with full trousers buttoned on f; had a
habit of whistling, and liked to ask
questions: WAS accompanied by black
dog. 1t is long time since he disap-
peared. | have a very pleasant house
and much company. Everything has
such an orderly, put-away look-noth-
ing under ioot-no dirt. But my eyes
are aching for the sight of whittlings
and cut paper on the floor of tumbled-
down card houses; of wooden cattle
and sheep; of pop guns, bows aud ar
rows, whips, tops, go-carts, blocks and
trumpery. | want to see boats ARG
ging and kites a-makiDg. | want to see
crumbs on the carpet and paste on the
kitchen table. | want to see the chairs
and tables turned the wrong way.
want to see candy making and corn
popping, and to find jack-knives and
tishhOOks among my muslins. Yet
these used TO fret me once. They say ::
Glow quiet you are here All. one
NAV here settle his brains and be at
peace But my ears are aching tor the
pattering of little feet; for IL hearty
shout, a shrill whistle, gay ira la la /;
for the cracks of little whips for the
noise of drums, flies and tin trumpets.
Yet these things made me nervous once.
They say "Ah you have leisure, moth
ing to disturb you. What heaps of sew
ing YOU have time for - But | long to
be disturbed. | want to he asked for an
old newspaper; for cent to buy a
pencil or peanuts! | want to be coaxed
for a piece OF new cloth for jibs of main
sails, and then to hem the same. |
want to make little flags and bags to
hold marbles. | want to he followed by
little feet all over the house /; leased for
bit of dough for a little cake, or to
bake a pie in il saucer. Yet they say
"Ah! YOU are not tied at home How
delightful to be always at liberty for
concerts. lectures and parties. No con
| finement for YOU" But | want contine-
ment. | want to listen for the school
| bell mornings, to give Il last hasty wash
and brush, and then to watch from the
window nimble feet bounding away to
school | want frequent rents TO mend,
to replace lost buttons. | want to OBJ
| literate mud stains, fruit stains, mOlass-
es stains, and paints of all colors. Want
| to he sitting by little crib of evenings
when weary little feet are at rest, and
prattling little voices are hushed, that
mother may sing their lullabys and tel
over the Oft-repeated stories. They
don't know their happiness then, these
mothers. | didn't. All these things
called contentment once. a manly fig
IRE stands beside me now. He is taller
than |, has thick whiskers, Il frock coat
bosomed shirt, and Il cravat. He mas
Just come home from college. He brings
Latin and Greek in his countenance anC
dust of the old philosophers into the sit
| ting room. He calls me ''mOther," bu
| am rather unwilling to own him. He
AYERS that he is my boy, and says tina
he can prove it. He brings his little
boat to show me the red stripe on the
sail lit was the end of the piece) an,
the name on the stern, Lucy Low, ;
Girl of our neighbOrs, who, because o
her long curls and pretty round face
was the chosen favOrIte of my boy. The
curls were long since cut off, and sht
has grown up a tall, handsome girl
How his face reddens as he shows mt
the name of that boat. My little boy il
lost and my big boy soon will be. Oh
how | wish he was little tired boy, il
long white nightgown, lying in hi
crib, with my hand on his forehead
watching his eyelids droop, and listen
ing to his deep breathing. If | only haC
my little boy again, how patient woult
be. How much | would bear and how
little | would scold. | can never have
him back again, but there are man!
mothers who have not yet lost their lit
tie boy. | wonder if they know they
are living their very best days; tina
now is the time to really enjoy thei
children | think if l had been more t,
my little boy | might be more to m.
grown up one.-Selected.