Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-24

You're right there, Sissy. It's nigh
about spoiled the taste of mine," said one
OF the group at the counter, putting down
his glass with queer, perplexed look.
But there was no perpleXity in the bar
keepers look. That was wrathful. We've
had enough of this nonsonscI Now. you
leave, you young ragamufiins. as fast as
your feet can carry you, and never let
me catch you inside these doors again"
He stepped towards them. as if to drive
them out; but the man behind the stove
suddenly arose.
Take care, Barney You'd better not
touch them. You've knocked me about
times enough, but you'd best let them
alone" There was a fire in the eyes un.
der the old slouched hat, before which Mr.
Barney drew back.
Both children were crying by that time
but the father took hand of each.
Come. Dilly; come. baby" and without
word or look to his companions, he
passed out into the street. 1t was very
silent walk. Toddles' tears were dried rs
soon as the stranger. whose loud voice
had awakened bis baby terror. was out of
sight; but poor little Dilly's heart was sore
with disappointment and fear. She had
failed In the little scheme that she had
thought promised so fairly. No hood or
shoes had she seen, after all her bravery
in venturing into that dreadful store; and
who could tell how angry her father
might be? She stole shy glances up under
the old hat; but she only saw a sober,
downcast face, and he said nothing, not
even when they reached home. He hunt
ed up some fuel and made q better fire
and then sat down before it, with his
head between his hands, and left the chill
dren to their own devices.
But two weeks later Dilly com oleted
the story, confdentally, to Freddy
Burr.
"Sec here" she said, pushing the toes
of pair Of stout, new shoes through the
fence.
Where did you get 'em?" asked
Freddy.
"And sec here" continued Dilly, bob
bing up for an instant, to show the hood
that covered her yellow hair and touch
ing it significantly with her finger
Where did you get 'em?" repeated
Freddy.
My pa worked and bought 'cm,
home; and they didn't get into nobody s
barrel" explained Dilly, with great pride
and little regard for grammar. Then she
pressed her small face against the fence,
for prolonged interview.
you see, the bllennium has come to our
house."
The what" questioned the bewildercd
Freddy.
"The billeunium. It's pretty long
word" said Dilly, complacently; ''but il
means good times. Anyhow, that's what
ma called it and guess she knows. 1t is
Just this way. Freddy Burr. When you
told me Mr.. Barney had all our nice things
down to his store, in barrel, inst went
right down there, and asked him for 'em
mo and Toddles."
"You didn'tr' exclaimed Mortified
Freddy.
"Did too" declared Dilly, with an em-
phatic nod. "Well. he wouldn't give me
one of 'em, and he was just as cross as
anything. So, then, my pa got up from
the stove and walked home with US. He
didn't scold a bit; but he just sat down
before the fire, this way, and thinkcd and
thinked and thinked. At last, he put his
hand in one pocket, but there wasn't any
thing there; and then he put it in the 9th.
er, and found ten cents, and he went out
and bought some meat for supper. Then,
when ma came home he talked to her and
they both cried-I don't know what for,
less it was cause we couldn't get the
things out of that old barrel. And ma
hugged and kissed me most to death that
night, she did.
well, my pa got some work the nex
day, and brought home some money; anG
now he has found place to work every
day. He has bought all these things, ant
says his little boy and girl shall have
things like other folks. So. now you'll
know what billennium means, Freddy
Burr' when anybody asks you; and yor
can tell 'cm Dilly Keone splained it tc
you"