Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-11-16
Patch, But Not CrOss-Patch.

Smother, Just can't wear this patched
coat TO school r. said Fred, ainging himself
into chair, and sticking out his feet, while
his face was drawn up in such an ugly scowl
you would have thought him dreadful
boy.
"Why, Fred | am Surprised only this
morning you oked at those patches and
said, Cool for you, mother, these sleeves
are jolly now the elbows are all it,; and
when you put it on you smoothed it down,
and give me a kiss, and told me was the
best mother in the world"
ayes, 80 | did," and at the pleasant
voice of his mother the boy drew in his
feet, and the frown went off his face
little. But you don't know how hard it
is" added Fred; "every boy in my class has
a new coat aud some brass buttons and ALL
can see the very shine of them now" and
Fred kicked the poor cat as it was lying in
the sunshine streaming over the bright
kitchen floor.
"Come, GOMEZ" spoke up his mother,
"this will never do Your coat is good
enough, if you only think SO; at any rate
cannot buy you new one" and Mrs. Green
put the baby in his arms and began dishiug
up the soup for dinner.
Out on to the little porch went Fred with
baby. The sun was SO bright and warm
hat spite of all his trouble he couldn't help
feeling just little happy. Seating himself
on the step he began talking to the dear
little fellow, as he often did when in earnest
about things.
"Baby, wouldn't you hate to wear
patches Patches on the elbows patches
on the knees, patches all ov,r? Why, am
almost all patches, and the boys have nick
named me, Patch. I tell you, baby, it is
pretty hard; but when | get to be man,
you shan't know what patch looks like"
"Come," called mamma, bring baby in
your dinner is ready"
Fred seated himself at the small table and
waited for his mother; but she took the
rockingham by the stove, and commenced
to sing baby to sleep.
Mother, aren't you going to come ?"
"No, son | feel too tired now"
Fred helped himself to plateful of the
delicious soup but somehow it didn't taste
good, and there was big lump in his throat
and glancing around to his mother he saw
sad troubled look on her face. She had
stopped singing and was stroking baby's
hair softly. ii. couldn't stand it any longer
but jumping up ran to her and hugging her
tight around the neck, boy fashion, burst
| out with
Smother, don't you look so sorry. ] can
wear the patches as well as not, and the old
coats real warm guess it won't kill me il
the boys do call me Patch and Mr.. Max
well said yesterday learned ever so fast
and he hoped some day you'd be proud Of
me. But you can't If don't get over these
proud fits, can you Come now, mother
let's eat up all the soup, and have good
| time"
And they did and how they both en-
joyed that dinner Just before Fred started
Tor school that afternoon, he ran up to his
| little room kept so clean by his own hands
and there he asked the loving Saviour to
| give him more help to overcome the small
trials of everyday life, and to make him a
wise, good boy, adding at the clos,, " Please
to make me comfort to my mother"
He reached the schooroom Just as the
bell rang, so he was spared any taunts from
the boys then. But at recess Harry, re.
Numbering how easily he had fired him up
in the morning, began again calling him
Patch" but to his surprise Freds laugh
rang out pleasantly, and he answered:
"Yes, s'pose that's my name as long as
these clothes last BIT, boys, look | tel
| you there's some fine work ON this old coat
and if I've got to wear it and be called
Patch I'd better keep my temper, and
not give you chance to make it Cross
Patch. '"-Selected.