Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
Sarah,s Surprise.

a
fore she dressed herself; a great lovely
bunch of clematis, that she had gathered
yesterday from the decorations, clasped low
ingly in her hand. 1t was the only New
Years present she expected, and that she
had given herself. She had but few mo-
ments to love it, for clear voice sounded
from the foot of the stairs
"Come, Sarah, what makes you 80 late
this morning? We have been waiting for
you this long time" Then Sarah flew
around she knew it was busy day. In
fact all days were busy 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 year, and then
another, and the father never came back
neither did his ship; it was lost on the
ocean. Poor Sarah stayed on at Smiths;
but there was no money to pay for her board,
or buy her clothes, and Mr.. Smith had
daughters of his own, and not very great
deal Of money; So from being boarder,
Sarah had gradually become little maid
of-all-work whose business was to run hither
aud thither all day long, wherever Mary, the
kitchen girl, or Mamie, the grown-up daugh-
ter or Louise, 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, or
gave her anything pretty; and Louise, with
out really meaning to be ugly, often re-
minded 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 always felt worse
on holidays. Besides, she was dreadfully
disappointed
A Sunday-school sleigh-ride was to be
taken that afternoon, Sarah's class being
among the number. At the breakfasttable
Sarah passing in and out, bringing fresh
plates of buckwheat cakes, heard the talk.
" 1t won't be possible for me to let Sarah go
this afternoon the poor child has no cloak,
and her old sack really does not look suit
able; they will all be dressed in their best.
am sorry; would have got her something
respectable if we could have afforded it.
Louise you must bring her some of the cake
aud candies, and she will have to content
herself at home" Now Sarah had resolved
on 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 futter-
ing upstairs and down, trying to get dressed
to her satisfaction. Sarah, with pale sad
face was doing her bidding here and there,
when the door-bell rang. "There ~ said
Louise, " do believe they have come, and
I'm not half ready. Sarah why don't you
hurry and button my boots l do believe
| you are as slow as You can be, on purpose"
Harry went to the door, before Sarah could
get down stairs. Halfway down, she heard
a 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 I"
And behold little Sarah, with one wild shout
that was either laugh or cry, threw her
self into the strong arms of her father, and
was Rugged, and kissed, and carried through
the hall to the dining-room.
Then what talking and exclaiming there
was Got shipwrecked among those jab-
boring natives, and couldn't get word any
where nor do anything had fever, too,
that laid me up for SPELL" This was in
brief the'sailor's story In the midst of the
talk came word that the sleigh--iders would
not be ready for half an hour.
"What's that ?" said the sailor and it
| was all explained 10 nlm lie 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 go sleigh-riding. You
two boys lend hand and let me get my box
in at the kitchen door. Good thing brought
that one instead of the others. Therel" as
after little Juggling he drew out heavy
package; g guess that will cover up the
faded gown. Rather too short that gown is,
and not as pretty color as it might be, but
we'll fix it all right, now father has come"
Behold, in less time than it takes me to tell
it, Sarah was arrayed in a long fur sack
that almost covered her dress a dainty little
fur cap, to match .the sack, perched on her
head, and Louise, looking on, said, " As true
as | live that is sealskinp p "It's all that"
said the sailor, nodding his head in pride
and pleasure over Sarah. al didn't get
wrecked and bring up in the gold regions
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 y
and he drew out another sack and cap as
much like Sarahs as possible, only triAe
larger. 80 father !" she said, with spark
ling eye. al think it will Just fit Louise p
"All right, my birdie if you want it to
fit Louise, why, say the word" And the
two sealskin sacks and caps went sleigh
riding together that afternoon.--The Pdnsy.