Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-08
The Saucer Pie.

"Well, what do you think of our little
girl Eben ?"
Mrs. Ruthford asked this question just
as they were through dinner, and Jenny had
been excused from table. They had brought
her to their pleasant country home, month
before on probation, with view to keeping
her as their own.
Eben laid down his knife and fork, pushed
back his plate, and looking through the
open door to catch a glimpse of pink ging-
ham fitting around the corner, answered
slowly:
al like her right well; think, if you're
suited, we'd best keep her. She is bright
and willing and truthful"
"And quiet little thing, put in his wife
Yes don't know but I'd as lieve she
wouldn't be so quiet, though. III tell you
Sarah, I'm sort o'longing for child's laugh
ripping out at anything or nothing. I'd
like to see her dancing about, and singing to
herself, chattering like a maybe, and all that
sort O. thing. I've tried to please her. I've
told her stories, and taken her round on the
farm with me, and let her ride on Charley's
back to the brook and she likes it ALL in
quiet sort of way. But she don't seem
downright happy and merry, as it's child's
right to be-"
"Ob, well, guess she's contented enough,
plenty to eat and wear, and kindly treated.
I'd rather she'd be quiet than like Mrs.
DORIS Nelly over the way, climbing trees
and riding fences, and singing and shouting
from morning till night"
Meantime, Jennie was sitting on rock
by the brook, LAYING her bare, white feet,
and saying to herself
snow, If thought she'd care anything
about them, I'd get her some of those great
blue fowers--they're Beauties" looking at
the clusters of the Iris "I'd as lief wade
in as not. But / suppose she'd say, Yes,
yes, child, very pretty, don't clutter the floor
with them,' and keep on lying up her cur
tains or ranging her closets. Mamma al
ways liked them so much. o mamma !"
And the little figure lay prone on the grass,
trembling and sobbing.
"Mamma o mamma, want you. She's
kind to me- but there's nobody like mamma"
"Poor child Poor child |"
1t was Eben's voice, but tender and gen.
tie. His strong arms lifted her quivering
form, and laid her head on his shoulder.
"There, there, dear, don't cry. Want to
go to mill with me2 You shall have the reins
yourself, and drive if you like"
A few words from Eben that night set
Sarah thinking; and the new thoughts that
came to her were strengthened next day in
neighbours kitchen. She had "run in of
an errand, and found Aunt Martha" as
she was called in neigborhood parlance,
making pies. She stood by her moulding
board, with sleeves rolled up, and wide ging-
ham apron on, the picture of a healthy,
hearty, blithe old lady. Half dozen pies,
with rich, golden centers, stood by her side.
Half dozen apple pies were already brown
ing in the oven. She had little crust left
She rolled it out, spread it in a couple OF
saucers filled the centers, round and plump
with the juicy spiced apples, and daintily
trimmed the edges
"Do you make saucer-pies, auntie?" asked
Mrs. Ruthford, in some surprise.
eyes, every baking. Why not2" said
auntie.
DWELL, when the children are not at homt
to eat them, it seems hardly worth while
1t is easier to put all in large pie, and
tastes just the same, you know"
ooh, yes but some child is so apt to hap
pen along of an errand or something. A
saucer-pie is great thing to child. Eve
made them about every fortnight for fifteer
years. and always found use for them. i
more than pays for the work to see the littl,
things so pleased. You know, DEAR" the
old lady added gently, " the time that trihes
give great pleasure is so short, it passes b,
before we are aware. Sometimes, | think i
is only childhood that is content with dali,
bread"
"Pll make saucer-pie for Jenny mex
time bake" said Mrs. Ruthford to herself
as she went home. " Strange never though
of it before. Pll-let me see-Pll dress he
dolly new for her. It's quite shabby. Ant
I'll keep her with me more, and tell he
stories at bedtime. Maybe it is just tn
little things mothers do that she wants t.
chirk her up
The next morning, Mrs. Ruthford con
cluded it was time to have some pies, an
went to work with will. When the bak
ing was done, a dainty saucer-pie, sugared o
top, and plump with ripe, sweet berries
stood on the dresser.
Here's something for you, DEAR" sh
said, as Jenny came in with quiet footfal
and she placed the little pie in the child
hands. Jenny's face flushed, her eyes lighte
up, and then to Sarah's surprise grew dir
with tears, and the sensitive mouth quiveret
But only for moment.
"Thank you, thank you'll" she said eagerl,
otis just like the little pies mamma used
make for me-"
"Ah that's it," thought Sarah. "Ellen
right, to be sure. She wants mothering.'
And she drew the little girl to her side an
kissed her. The dimpled arms were aroun
her neck in an instant, and the kiss returne
and through the day Jenny seemed to fe
happier and more at home.
Bedtime came, and Jenny, nesting in IL
white pillow, looked up with wondering ey
as Mrs. Ruthford sat down on the side
the bed, and taking the little hands in her
said kindly, "Shall l tell you stor
dear2"
She listened with eager interest to I'll
story Of the Highland shepherds child, 10
in the mountain mist, and guarded and T,
by his faithful dog. And when Mrs. Rut
arms again wound impulsively around h
neck, and Jenny said, for the first tim
GOOD night, mammal"
Sarah was startled, the new name seem
so sweet.
al see now" she thought. Eben
right 1t is mother love and care the chi
needs and shall have"
Mrs. Ruthford kept her resolution. S
did not, could not at once feel the inten
devotion Of mother. But she was
longer content with feeding and cloth
her charge. She tried to satisfy the hi
gering and thirsting for affection, which s
had learned to meet and recognize. S
sought Jennys happiness, and in due til
she had her reward. Love in her o.
heart, grateful love in her childs, streng
ened day by day. Jenny grew gradua
happier, till her laugh and song rang out
merrily as Eben wished. And her preser
seemed like sunlight in their home A
when year had passed, neither of
worthy couple would any more have thoul
Of parting with her than if she had bt
theirs by birth. They knew no dfferel
in the home-tie.
1T all dates back" said Sarah TO her h
band one evening, as they sat talking by
fire after Jenny went to bed, " all this haJ
ness dates back to that FIRST saucer-l
Jennie seemed from that tins to believ
loved her."-Christian Register.
GOVERNOR VANCE of North Carolina
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