Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-08
A Story OF "The Fresh Air Fund.-"

Its a harum scarum ideal" said Miss
Reliance Ro&bury, as she stood among
the currant bushes at the garden fence
"A most ridiculous idea! wonder what
this gushing American people will do
nextP" and she gave an emphatic twtch
to her purple calico sun bonnet.
There was faint nurmur of dissent
from little woman on the other side of
the moss grown fence,
"No-ot course you don't agree with
me-" continued Miss Reliance, as the
clusters of ruby and pearl flew into the
six quart pail at her feet. You're so
soft hearted that your feelings are forever
running off with your common sense.
You never say a word about the national
debt, or the condition Of our navy, but let
anybody start subscription for sending
blanket shawls to Brazil or putting up
a monument to Methuselah on the meet
ing house green, you'll give your last
quarter. And now you're going to open
your house to II lot of little ragmullins
from New York;
The motherly brown eyes on the ether
side of the fence were full of tears, and
Il pleasant voice replied!
1T makes my heart ache to think how
the poor tbinrs sn,fer rrorJa1
together in dirty streets, with never
breath of a clover field or class of
milk. If you d lust read about it. Reliance.
YOU'D count it Il blessed privilege to give
them Il bit of our sunshine.n
ia us soon have tribe of ZuIus on the
place" said Miss Reliance "and if von III
take my advice you Il save Yourself io.s OF
trout b."
Mrs. Lane stopped her work for mo.
ment and said:
'Liakim and me are all alone now.
Reliance. One bv one we've laid Kate and
Sarah aud baby Lizzie over there in the
old burying ground; and Jack is in Color.
ado, and Richard in Boston, and we oet
hungry sometimes for the sound of little
feet When | began to read about the
Fresh Air Fund 1t kind of sent thrill all
over me, and 'Lakim he reads abo;t II
every day, before the Egyptian war. and
he wipes his glasses pretty often too. Then
when we heard the parson say that a party
would come here if places could be found
for en-, 'Lrakim spoke right off for four.
and they'll, be here next Tuesday, and rm
going to make it Just as near like heaven
as can"
You'll make yourself sick, that's what
you'll do, Amanda Lane" replied Miss
Reliance, "but if vou want vour garden
overrun. and your silver SPOONS ! oleu.
and your nerves Frustrated, why it's your
own fault. must 90 in and get nv iellv
started
Miss Roxbury went upthe Lath between
the sunhowers and hoilvhocks. entered
The large, SAMMY, airv kitchen, and set
down the pail of currants for Hannah the
housemaid to pick over. Tpen she hung
the purple calico sun bonnet on the nail
that for forty years had been devoted to
that purpose, and wen, into the cool SITTING
room to rest in her fayorite chintz covored
rocker. Miss Reliance had been for twen.
ty wears with the exception of a Gardener
and house maid, the sole occupant of this
ancient stone dwellino. that had stood for
more than A century beneath it's aims and
map'es the pride of the village nf I,vnford
She was n stern woman Who l;kad hn,
few neonle. and had a horror of ch;ldron
dogs and sentiment. The viIIo%o hove
win n kpen nercnrtion of hor nnS1,;,a 49,
lhetic nature. called her Gold Irons;das ),
She was proud of her birth md If the
property that had fallen 70 her
at the death of her father old % InJao " Rnv rU'
burv. WV AVA
Sho ,vos , r,o,,lor or ,ho p.o.,-.,
cbrrcb or1 ,,oiJ a Li,t .oa,aI WI .,a .i'n
Roxhnrv mo- now T brt uitb thnt '", oos,,oJ IL, .n1
tbot hor noo,n;arr nL,;on,;o 49,. oo'1iNo,L -. ~ Lu
c.nse woro ~ nm any Isn.,uns so, W ,L;s sno
she had NOT ollowoJ non,! hU,"' !o,;nn 'n'is' ~,
snb;ect Of o;y;na w trobi ub''io.rols h on .llo
how evor sionae eSurdou ou''u h ho,' M Iu. soluo.
l, no"' oro' M o.noe 3unu"S' Wnen tne pastor
made fervent ,nnoni @ '1n sor az, ,hauo raaI ,, ano
ones that snffer sba I" had ~, ho suese llttle
to nnmorons rorno I". h'. ooeIi sunJecteu
Sensotions sbo Toop oJ JuU L,. nioo'sor,no'e I e
the snaciono s;,tinr roon p'ton ,hn, u lorth IN
invade md no,od 1bo uop" norfon, t".' no ny "a,e
"uo' "'.u ~ 'ii' perfect ordcr OF Inc