Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-07-19
RObbY's Experiment.

"You better hurry up, Robby," said
Libby "you'll be late TO breakfast, and just
spoil another beginning"
Robby grew very red in the face, answering,
"Don't care I'm Just sick of being good
myself good mind to stop, an be awful
bad as bad-as bad-as a scribesdndphdr-
isees." And with this declaration Robby
brought his feet to the floor, and looked his
sister defantly in the face.
40 my Robert Anderson Denman,
something real bad will happen to you for
talking such words. l should think it's
most as bad as swearing"
"Don't care" repeated Robby, sturdily,
shaking his rumpled curls over his eyes, and
frowning worse than ever.
Libby looked at him despairingly; but
the breakfast bell rang, and the prompt
little maid trotted away to present herself
trim and tidy at the table. Robby hestated
moment and then followed his sister down
stairs His courage almost failed as he
drew near the diningroom door, and had a
glimpse of his pretty mamma looking so
sweet and fair, and the baby with her
precious little head covered with its rings
of yellow hair. There was rose in a
slender vase on the table, and everything
looked fresh and inviting; and Robby kept
his eyes upon father as he slipped around
to his place next to baby. To his sur
prise, his father did not notice him; but
his mamma babe him good morning as pleas.
antly as ever, and baby leaned over to clasp
her chubby arms about his head, and say,
"My Robby."
Robby, with his collar unfastened, his
shoe-strings dangling, his hair like a crows
nest, and yellow streak across his chin
from a precious bit of licorice he had car
ried to bed with him, certainly looked out
of place at the table, but his father helped
him first and his mother actually asked him
| if he would take coffee, Just as if he was a
visitor.
One of Robby's special trials was that he
was not allowed to drink coffee so you may
be sure he chose to have cup, and was be-
ginning to feel quite elated over his expert
ment, when gentleman called to see his IA
ther on business.
"My DEAR" said Mr.. Denman, you must
give Professor Hyde cup Of coffee, so that
| can eat my breakfast in peace. Professor,
think you know my son Arthur. This is
my daughter Libby; and this isl believe
this is my son Robert"
Poor Robby would have liked to creep I'M
der the table as the professor looked mildly
at him through his glasses.
Another of Robby's grievances was being
obliged to remain at the table until the rest
of the family were ready to leave; and as
he sat there, kicking his feet impatiently, he
suddenly remembered his resolution to be
very bad, and pushing back his chair he
hurried away, and hearing his father say,
"You must excuse Robby, my dear. He
is, as | told you, trying an experiment
So his father knew. His father must have
81 tfN lat IN,
try being bad boy. Robby felt almost sorry
he had undertaken it, but thought he might
as well keep on ; though, now that his face
was washed, his hair brushed, and his clothes
tidy, he could not think of any bad thing
he wanted to do.
arm go out on the street, )" thought Robby.
am get five cents out O. my bank, and buy
licorice drops or maybe I'll buy some
some cigars"
Robby's bank had very unsafe chimney,
through which little patient rafting soon
brought a silver quarter.
That's too much to spend" said Robby /;
"but I'll keep the change-men always
have change in their pockets"
A little way down the street was corner
stand where an old colored woman sold fruit,
candies and cigars. As Robby walked up
with his hands in his pockets she asked,
"Wot is de ill gemman gwine to buy of
ole Aunt Silv ?"
give cents worth of licorice-drops," said
Robby, who could not quite screw his cour-
age up to cigar but when old Silvy was
rummaging in her pocket for change, he
added. " and guess III have cigar"
claw sakes, honey fer yer parr 2" said
Silvy, shaking her fat sides as Robby turned
very red, and grasping the cigar and the
change, hurried away.
"Wot ever is desc yer young ones comm
to ?" she muttered to herself.
Robby, with the cigar in his pocket, felt
so guilty that he half expected to be arrested
before he got home but after sauntering
for while around the back yard, he stole
in like thief and got some matches, and
retreated with them to clump of bushes
under the nursery window.
Seems to me-" said mamma, presently,
81 smell tobacco-smoke."
Five minutes later, papa called from the
library to ask if the coachman was smok-
ing in the kitchen.
Five minutes more, and mamma, with
look of perfect horror, called him to the
nursery window. Down below, in the
bushes, lay Robby, his short legs crossed,
vainly trying to control an expression of
disgust that would creep over his pale face
as he pulled heroically at the dreadful cigar
81 think" said p, pa, he is nearly at the
end of his experiment, and will not wish to
repeat it."
1t must have been Robby who crept up
the stairs little while afterwards; but he
looked very unlike the rosy, wide-awake boy
who went down. He dragged his heavy
feet, and held his aching head with his
trembling hands. His lips were pale, and
his eyes stared out of great purple shadows
go Robbyl' said mamma, rushing to-
wards him.
80 mammal" walled Robby; dts awful
being bad boy, and never, never, new"
The rest was smothered with pitiful sobs,
while mamma smoothed and comforted and
nursed him Just as tenderly as if it had not
all been his own fault.
But Robby never wanted to repeat his ex-
periment,-Sunddy-S School Tines