Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
The New Sails.

1t was delightful day for indoor en-
ployment, from the fact that it had rained
steadily for several hours, beginning early
in the morning. / had been writing long
time. All was still in the house, save the
low, monotonous hum of my faithful maid
in her room, and the ticking Of the clock.
Suddenly the stiffness was broken. The
front door was thrown widely open.
heard quick footsteps in the hall below, and
then coming up the stair. 40 auntie are
you so very, very busy? do wonder if
you couldn't please stop writing for few
minutes ?" cried my little ten-year-old
nephew, running into the room. "Cer-
tainly, l can stop writing for few or many
minutes. What can do for you, George ?"
| asked, while laying down my pen. "Well,
auntie, you see these, and this" he said
holding up two bits of white muslin in one
hand and soiled bit-almost to blackness
in the other. 81 want two new, clean sails
made out of these two white pieces. This
dingy sail is only for a pattern to 60 by.
You won't mind if this pattern to go by is
all so stained, will youf You see the boat
upset. 'Tis just dry water and ground on
it, so you needn't be afraid it will rub off
"mind," nor wasn't afraid" George sat
beside me, watching with intense interest
every stitch took in his all-important sails
al don't s'pose ought to have felt so badly
when nobody would make them and don't
s'pose l ought to trouble you either" he
said apologetically; "but now is the time for
boats when there is so much water. Do
please look out of this window, auntie.
Isn't that beautiful, beautiful brook
But we will have to hurry with our sails, for
before we know it all the lovely brooks in
the streets will have run down in the sewer.
Then, farewell, boat-sailing." looked out,
but saw no "beautiful, beautiful brook"
| only saw a muddy, turbulent stream of
water in the street gutter. al wanted
mamma to make them" he continued, but
she said she wouldn't be bothered with me,
because was forever wanting something
fixed or made. She said she wouldn't touch
my pattern to go by, any way. Mamma is
so terribly neat. Then ran into the girls
room. They wouldn't make them, neither.
They said that brothers were continually
asking sisters to make things that girls
were not interested in. do think Fannie
might have made them. She was only read
ing book. She wouldn't leave off, for she
said she was just where the girl was to get
married or buried, forget which. begged
Anna to help me with them. She was knit
ting with some worsted-work. She said she
hadn't any time to spare. think she could
easily have stopped knitting the worsted
work for few minutes, don't you She
wouldn't. Well, then ran down to Cousin
Mary's. (You know she lives so near by,
aud was in such a hurry.) She was stitch
ing on the sewing-machine and she said
she couldn't stop to make any sails, wells,
pals or nails So thought would run
way up here as fast as ever l could, and see
if you wouldn't make them. | was most
sure you would" 1t was only twelve or
fifteen minutes work. When they were
finished George grasped them and ran
quickly down in the street. In moment
after he rushed back into the house, and
coming halfway up the stair, cried out, /" o
auntie forgot all about to thank you.
II you should ever want any errands done,
III do them for you. I'll do them willingly,
because you are all alone" While sewing
with rapidity on Georges sails it was all |
could possibly do to keep the tears back.
lie never mistrusted anything of the kind,
however, for | was, seemingly, as interested
in them as he, But the very moment he
went out of the room, laid my head on the
writing-desk. Then, when he said, :" be-
cause you are all alone" wept bitterly
for was thinking of tall, manly form, Of
bearded face in distant city, and could