Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-02-08
The Broken Promise.

Inc broken Promise.
Mrs. Morse kept no regular servant Mrs.
Sticht, German woman, came every Mon
day to do the weeks washing, and every
Tuesday TO do the ironing. She had always
been happyfaced, merry woman, but one
morning Stella Morse, going into the kitchen
TO make pudding for dinner, found sad
face over the wash-board.
GOOD morning, Mrs Sticht," Stella said.
GOOD mornin', Miss Stella" responded
the washer-woman soberly, looking up with
tear-flled eyes.
care you sick, Mrs. Sticht2 You look
pale and tired"
Pm not sick, miss, but am tired
didn't rest much last night" she answered
YEARLY.
"Then you better wait until another day
to wash mamma would be willing, I'm
sure" Stella said kindly.
"No, miss I'll keep right on washin', but
| [ thank you all the same for your kindness.
| I'll be Just as tired tomorrow, an the day
after too. A mother can't have much rest
with a sick child to tend"
ais your little girl sick, ma Fam ?"
"Shes bin sick these two weeks with an
awful cold; she's that weak that she can't
| hardly walk about the room, an she's dread
full wskeful nights"
"Who stays with her when you go out to
wash ?"
"No one but her little brother Tim; an
he's only seven years old
"And you go out washing every day,-do
you not 2"
"No, miss; if did I'd have more money
than I've got. This is my only wash-place
the rest Of the week l help an old fruit
woman down in the market, but don't get
much pay"
"Do you earn enough to support your
children 2"
"Yes, miss, but my husbands long sick
ness and death brought some heavy bills for
me to pay. | can't get any extras for my
little sick girl, though she's that lonesome
when I'm gone that Tim says she cries most
of the time"
al should think she would be lonely, poor
little soul What does she want most, Mrs.
Sticht 2" Stella asked.
"lIer whole mind seems TO be set on
doll; she's never had doll, an she thinks
she'd never get lonesome If she had one ;
she's lovin' little thing, Patty is"
"She shall have doll before the week is
out" Stella said decidedly. al have a
pretty wax one with golden curls and blue
eyes that | used to play with myself.
have not had it out for long time, aud it
has no clothes, but I'll dress it up Just as
pretty as | can, and-let me see to-day is
Monday-by Wednesday I'll have it ready"
"Ohl that is very good of you, Miss
Stella" the woman said gratefully; I" Pat
ty'll laugh for joy sure"
/" Let me see, what is your number, Mrs.
Sticht 7"
; "Number Eleven, Spraker's Court. |
can come after the doll, if you say So"
uNo III nof frouhla Won haoiIaa I want
to see the little sick girl. Just tell her from
me, please, that I'll be there on Wednesday
with beautiful doll, dressed in rutfled blue
silk, and will bring her some other things
too"
Stella spoke earnestly, and load was
lifted from the mothers heart Her un-
spoken thought was, al believe the child
!. will soon get better when she gets the doll
she SO longs for"
Patty's eyes grew bright when her mother
,, told her that dear, kind young girl was
coming to her on Wednesday with beauti-
l. full, blue-eyed, golden-haired doll, dressed in
: blue silk.
. "For my very own 20 mamma, for my
. very own 2" asked Patty clasping and un-
clasping her thin, white hands in her ex
element.
There were tears in her mothers eyes as
|
head, saying tenderly " Yes, dear, for your
}. very own"
Wednesday came,-a bright, beautiful
day. Patty's first words TO her mother were
+. 40 mamma this is the day that my dolly
is coming. mamma / believe I'll gel
IS well when dolly comes"
IS Mrs. Sticht did not like to leave home
It, that morning for some reason, but she fell
that she must, for the rent was nearly due
and the doctor who came to see the chile
cared more for filling his pockets, than TO
" filling human hearts with thankfulnesS
) She came home very weary, but with ON
glad thought, namely, al suppose Patty i
q. overjoyed with her pretty doll How goo,
of Miss Stella to think of my poor little one !
But as she stepped over her own threshold
Y a very weary little face greeted her. Patty
cheeks were flushed, and she said brokenly
70 80 mamma, my dolly didn't come"
can she wouldn't stop cryin', mamma
an my head aches," sobbed Tim, who wa
W worn out by his sisters day of bitter sorrow
She watched beside restless Patty, VIII
o. tossed about all night, talking about blu
eyes and golden hair and blue silk dresses
moaning in her sleep, An my dolly didn
y come; an my sweet, sweet dolly didn
come"
%. Monday morning came. A little DO
stood knocking at Mrs. Morses kitchen dooi
Stella opened 1t. "Mamma can't wash u
, day, Patty's TUX worse" he said quickly
and then scampered away.
=, "Oh, what a shame that haven't dresse
w. that doll r. Stella said mentally. 81 ce
tainly meant to, but there were so man
things to take up my attention that | keI
y putting it off. I'll dress it this very day"
Tuesday morning Stella, with the beaut
IL full, tastefully dressed doll in her arms an
little bag Of oranges also, started for Mr.
ity Sticht's. In answer to her rap, Mrs. Sticl
~ opened the door. Her eyes were heavy wit
m, weeping and her face had grown more age
a an allow is little Patty this morning, Mr.
y Sticht : I've brought her the doll. Can
see her 7" were Stella's rapid questions.
ayes, Miss Stella, you can see her. Wa
70, in, please"
nd There was anguish and reproof In Il
* mothers tone; Stella stepped inside Il
&C. poorly-furnished room the mother led Il
lly way to one corner, and pointed TO lit
white-draped cot
The terrible truth dawned upon Stell
She had come too late. Patty was dea
T. She burst into tears as the sobbing, broke
hearted mother uncovered the little st
face. Through her tears Stella could 8
- how beautiful FATTY was, with her gold
Y hair brushed back from pretty forehes
and her dear little hands clasped over
still bosom.
"And did you tell her | would bring t
n doll Did she look for it 7" Stella moant
X her remorseful tears rolling down her chez
III like rain.
"Look for it Yes, Miss Stella, 8
looked for it day and night" Mrs. Site
tho | answered huskily, She waa very Epl
headed toward the last she talked of moth
else. just before she died her reason
and turned. She sat up in bed, an put
md arms around my neck, an said, 'Good-b.
mamma I'm goin' to heaven cried alor
but Patty smoothed my cheek, and sa
Don't cry, mamma, you'll come by and
an I'll be waitin' and lovin my blue-ey
sAie dolly, cause know Jesus will give me o.
~, .sa cause there's no tears in heaven "-Sund
~ School Times.