Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-10
Mrs. Longman's Surprise Party.

weather. For six days the sun had not
shown a glimpse of himself and everything,
out of door and in, wore a look of clammy
dependency. Moreover, Mrs. Longman was
having one of her gloomy spells, and was
looking at all created things, herself in
cuded, thrugh the bluest kind of spectacles.
For several days she had got about the
house with dull aching at her heart,
cloud upon her brow, and querulous twang
in her voice, until her husband-kind, for
bearing man as he was-began to lose pa
tience; while Bridget, in the kitchen, NUT
tered almost audibly that ga saint from
heaven would find herself clane bate out
wild tryingto PLACE her.
Mrs. Longman was by nature not bad
tempered woman; on the contrary, she pos
sessed many noble and commendable quail
ties but her spirits were not equable; she
would have her gloomy attacks, which, had
there been any apparent cause, might have
been looked upon in the light Of an afflic-
ton worthy OF sympathy; but as it was,
even the most lenient of her friends charac-
lied them by the name of "dumps," which,
though Webster condemns it as not being
an elegant" word, was, in their opinion,
quite good enough to express the state of
her case.
Her family might have been rendered mis-.
cradle by her dependency, had they been of
the material capable of being made misera-
BILE but as it was, each one accepted the Wis.,
itation in his or her individual way. Mr..
Longman staid out of the house all he could,
Bridget contented herself with her prayer
book and beads in the comfortable kitchen,
while the two boys who were too young to
go to school, except in fine weather, amused
themselves in their play.room in the attic,
or in Bridget's domains where they were al
ways welcome.
The short November day was drawing to
a close, and although the little gilt clock on
the mantel had proclaimed it to be four
o'clock, it was getting too dark for Mrs.
Longman to sew any longer upon the little
cloth suits she was languidly mendng, so,
laying them aside she wandered aimlessly
into the kitchen, where Bridget was folding
the newly-ironed clothes from the rack by
the glowing CRATE.
"Mr. Longman will not be at home until
late this evening, Bridget" said she, bust
ness will detain him down town. so you may
Just set up anything for the children | do
not feel as though l could eat anything !;
everything tastes alike to me and nothing
tastes right"
What the reply would have been will never
be known, for at that moment there came a
resounding knock upon the alley gate, and
IuIOWluR all Olu SHAWL over HeI utdu
hastily responded to the call.
at is two boys, ma am" she said, return
ing almost Immediately, "and they have
come to party here"
GA party" echoed Mrs. Longman in as
constituent, "who in the world told them
there was party here ?"
al don't know, ma'am, will go and ask
Them" said the willing maid, who apparently
would rather have got wet than not.
Bring them in out Of the rain, Bridget"
called Mrs. Longman from the door, until
we find out what it means. OF course"
thought she to herself, "it is a mistake,
but what possessed them to come to the
alley gate?"
Bridget came in, followed by the boys,
who had been in the meantime Joined by
third, and who, notwithstanding the soak
ing ram, were not as wet as might have
been supposed, owning to their having pieces
of oil-cloth around them, which upon inspec-
ton proved to be old carriage curtains
sewed together, while the last arrival sported
gentleman's old swallow tailed dress coat,
which made useful, if not very handsome
overcoat for the festive seeking lad. They
did not appear to think it expected of them
to remove their dripping hats, but stood
cycling the good fire and Mrs. Longman, with
complacent smiles.
"You say you came TO a party" said the
lady, shave you not made mistake 2"
"Oh, no, ma'am; this is the place your
boys told us, we went to the front of the
house and took the number as soon as we
sold out our papers, and here it is" said he
of the swallow-tail, taking scrap of the
margin of a newspaper from his pocket, and
showing the number, sure enough, in figures
of magnificent proportions
haWl ldnrad.
say as soon as you sold out your papers
What do you mean ?"
"Why, you see we are newsboys, ma am
every one of US; and we dailies could gel
off earlier; but the Evening Telegram ant
the Bulletin and the Herald and the New
will be along as soon as they can hire some
body to cry for them, and they are going
to pay them with something from the party
if you please, ma am, with an air of cheer
full confidence.
Mrs. Longman could not restrain smile
"Go to the attic, Bridget and call tn
children down." said she. "Take off you
see what can be done.'
Bridget soon returned with the delin
quents.
"Boys, how did you happen to invit
company without telling me, so that ! coul,
be prepared for them :" said their mother
gently but gravely.
"Why, we did tell mamma, don't you re
member? We told you that Mr.. Reisinge
told our class last Sunday that we were no
doing as much good in the world If we in
vited boys TO feast who had plenty to ca
and to wear, and who could invite us in II
turn, but he said we ought TO invite Tn
poor boys to whom such things were trea
lie said Jesus loved the lame and the blinC
nj baI 30 In
do as he did. So Johnny and me told a
the newsboys we met, to come to part
here tonight and to bring all the lame an
blind boys they could find. Don't you n
member now, mammaT
Poor Mrs. Longman remembered with
pang, that she had been SO wrapped up in he
own gloomy and selfish thoughts the pa,
week that she had paid but little attentio
TO her boys in any way, and she reflecte,
"Shall let the good seed sown by strang,
in the hearts OF my children perish for wal
of care from their mother Will let IN
own selfish ease rob these poor boys of
pleasure which might always be a pleasal
remembrance to them 2 No, ! will rouse IN
self and make the best of it,
Bridget, in the meantime had been sur
moned again to the alley gate, and had re
cued two more guests, one pale little cri
pie on crutches, carefully sheltered from ii
rain by the Evening Bulletin, who had N
only succeeded in obtaining a substitut
but had borrowed an umbrella, which III
brella had seen its best days, to be sure, b
ing minus two stays and patched with d
ferent color; but demoraized as it was,
did not prevent the guests it sheltered fro
being joyfully welcomed by their compat
OTIS already under shelter. The crippled b,
in particular was warmly welcomed by MI
Longman, whose heart went out in sympatl
to suffering in any form. She had ju
been upon the point of proposing that i
boys should, until supper was ready, adjou
TO the attic which, like all the rest OF t
house, was warm aud comfortable, but O
of consideration for the lame boy, 8
changed her plans and sent two of the guel
with her sons TO bring down such pls
things as they desired into the parlor,
which with her usual good sense she h
nothing too fine for use. The boys We
scarcely ensconced in the parlor, when
ring Of the bell drew them all scamperi
10 the hall door, where stood three DO
one of whom, the Evening NeWS, was spok
man.
81 hope you will excuse ma'am, for |
coming to the alley gate this evening"" 81
he boWinp over the heads of the boys