Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-03-30
Written for the Vermont watchman.
A Story for Girls.


written Tor the vermont Nhchinan
A Story for Girls.
BrMn.
"Feed my lambs"
al suppose those words apply TO me, about
as distinctly as to any one just as Miss
jackson said this morning." murmured
Nelly Ross to herself "And yet, why need
worry and be 80 troubled over them, any
more than the other girls of the class I
There are ten Of us, and noticed as 1 came
out of the church that not one of them
seemed impressed by what our teacher had
said, but were eagerly talking Of other
things. Perhaps I did not seem to listen
either. Poor Miss Jackson probably thinks
that none of us will ever recall her words,
while they are ringing in my ears, and will
let me have no rest"
"Nelly, Nelly, come down stairs" called
out her mother; "your aunt and cousins are
here" So. Nelly went down to meet her
fashionable relations, who had been driven
over for Sunday visit.
Belle and Lulu Granger were about Nelly's
age, and the mothers of the girls were sis
ters,-women whose highest aim had been
to keep up in society, be well dressed, and
ride in fine carriages. Mrs. Ross was very
happy to see visitors coming, for" said she,
"you know, Martha, it is so very dull here
on Sundays, for Mr.. Ross will not allow the
horses to be taken out, and has some silly
notions about giving up all pleasures"
al thought, by this time, he would have
forgotten those silly ideas" answered Mrs.
Granger, as she sank into the nearest sofa.
:" am sure he has always shown such good
common sense in his business affairs, that
one would expect it on Sunday"
Cali can say is that it makes Sunday
an exceedingly dull day for me-" sighed
Mrs. Ross. a. cannot possibly go to church,
as Mr.. Belfast is so stupid and old that it is
uncomfortable to listen; and now that he
has taken up so many high-church notions,
I can understand nothing of his drawls, so l
am condemned to stay all day at home, and
alone too for, if you can believe it, sister,
during the past mouth Mr.. Ross has not
only gone over t, the Congregational church,
which stands on our next corner, but he
has taken Nelly and actually put her into
Sunday school. | have talked and argued
with him, but all in vain. lie calls this
loyalty to my own church, which l feel so
strongly, all nonsense. Why, Martha, |
told him that it was a scandal to the family,
his leaving the church. told him could
never be anything but an Episcopalian, and
that was ashamed of him."
| "You are right, Maria, never to leave
your church, it betrays a weakness to be
changing" replied Mrs. Granger, =" and al
ways go to church once day; and if can.
not hear, have plenty to see and think of
and then, too, it shortens the day, and it is
pleasanter to dress and go out and see PEG
pie than to stay shut up as you do"
DWELL that is well enough. if you like
it, but 60 to hear as well as see, and if
can't hear m stay at home. 1t is tiresome
of course, but I'll never leave my church
anyway. No one can ever say that an
disloyal."
The room in which these two women SAT
was quite dark, though the sun was shining
its brightest outside. God had sent boun
tiful supply indeed and, though by the ar
of man three large windows were constructed
still darkness prevailed within; for the busy
hand of woman had so yelled the window,
with draperies of artistic names and colors
that the light in the world proved Of no avail
Probably the eye Of modern woman arts
would have luxuriated in the different spec
linens of the various-hued china platter
hanging upon the walls, and placed upor
brackets but the uncultivated eye would b.
only bewildered at the cheap confusion O.
so-called art. Curtains, lanbrequins, tide
and cushions showed the industry of thu
fair owner, aud all this was done to MAKE
home attractive. Attractive to whom is tn,
question to be put to the women of to-day
The three girls had escaped, meanwhile, Il
regions above, where they were quite en-
gagged looking over some new dresses, ant
making plans for pleasures in the coming
week.
"Now you know, Lulu" said Belle, eagerly
chat yellow is not becoming to you; you ar
too light and must wear blue, so your dres
will be all right, but should look like (
fright in blue"
"But, Belle, answered poor Lulu, 81 am 81
tired Of blue; it has always been blue eve
since was born, till believe the disma
color has struck through, for I feel blue
blue, down TO my toes and, to tell the truth
am tired and sick OF dress. Let's talk abou
something else; what do you say, Nelly2 p
81 will tell you, girls, what say" an
swered Nelly with new tone in her voic
aud new look in her face, "that dress is
silly thing to think or talk about that o
late have been making new discoveries
and one is, that life can be made worth liy
ing. Mother has often declared it cannot
and even l began to think so; but hav
met with some who think quite differently
and l am resolved to make mine Of som
value. Even now ] have found new intel
ests."
! "Oh, Nelly" cried Lulu, fairly Jumping
out of her chair, "do tell us, am SO tire
of all we talk of at home. Nothing is YER
interesting to me except my studies Il
school, and am dreading the time whe
that will be DONE"
ooh pshaw, girls why do you talk so
We are all three rich, and will 60 out int
society as soon as we finish school which
know will be very entertaining, and we sha
be busy enough, getting ready for the fin
parties; and then, the theatres and opera
can hardly wait for them. And, as "
grow older, we shall have gentlemen to wa
on us everywhere, and some offering then
selves as husbands. Oh, think life will b
just full of fun, when we get fairly into |
Why, girls, / really long to see real, liy
gentleman kneeling at my feet, imploring N
with languishing eyes to be his, only his
and, l shall say quietly, | prefer not to /
tied, when he will tremble and, perhap
weep Qor indeed l often read of sue
things) and wiring his hands, and walk u
and down the floor; and l, shall cit vel
| atill with NV eyea droopinp. Init rnaan