The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-10-24
The Last Feather.

"May | wear my crushed-strawbe
dress, mamma, and my long-button gloves,
and my bonnet with the red bird 2"
ooh no, dear, they are quite unsuita-
BILE. am very sorry, now, that prom.
ised to let you 60 with me. for it is the
Presidents last reception and there may
be great crowd"
"But never saw the President, mamma,
and like great crowd. And I'll be so
careful of my best hat, if you'll let me
wear it, Oh, please" pleaded little
Mary, in whining tone, very irritating
to her mother, who was dressing in haste
my little daughter, which knows best
what you ought to wear, you or ?"
But, mamma, I'll be so careful
every well. To teach you lesson
will allow you to-day to use your own
judgment and wear your best bonnet.
But remember this /: if the bird on it gets
broken l shall not buy you another; no,
nor even feather"
Mary hesitated. She wished to look
pretty so that people going to the White
House and perhaps the President himself,
might notice her and of course she
should not injure her bonnet still she
did not like to disregard her mothers
advice.
Make haste, am waiting for you,"
said Mrs. Gray; and the little girl finally
put on her best bonnet and followed her
mother with a downcast face.
On the way they called for Mrs. Ellis.
"Ah, is your Mary going? Then I've
great mind to take little Edith
Edith was dear child, six years old,
and neither of the mothers considered
what a foolish thing they were doing till
they all walked up the gravel-path to the
White House, and saw the long line of
carriages in front.
"There is going to be dense crowd.
This is no place for little folks" said
Mrs. Gray to Mrs. Ellis.
90, Edy, see what collection of car.
riages," said Mary, who, being three Or
four years older than her little compan.
Ion, liked to overawe her with long words.
Mounting the steps they saw, seated on
one side OF the large entrance way, a
collection of men in uniform, who were
making loud but very sweet music, with
brass bugles, flies and drums.
There were no children to be seen and
none OF the people who had come, or were
coming, had any thought of Mary's ele
giant clothes. They all stood in line
three or four abreast; and if they were
looking at anything it was at the beauti
tul windows straight before them. Not
glass windows. The panes were lovely
gems OF various shapes and sizes and
many colors. 1t was impossible, of course
to look through these into the Presi
dents house.
Mary, keep fast hold of nv hand.
said Mrs. Gray. The people are crowd
ing in behind u.s."
We are in big entry, aren't we
mammal And now where are we going p
There is large door ahead of us
dear, but you can't see it,"
And when we 60 through the doc
shall we come to the President 7" asked
little Mary, who cared less and less abou
him every moment. 1t was really dread
full to be wedged in 80 closely. She ooult
not move one step, except as she wa.
pushed. Her crushed-strawberry dres
was crushed quite out of sight, and moth
ing was to be seen of her but two bewild
cred blue eyes, tuft of faxen hair, an,
a broken-winged bird-of-paradise.
And where was little Edith By look
ing down, down, between the ladies
cloaks, her mother could just espy the tol
of the little girls bonnet and the end O
ner nose. alt isn't very comfortable, i
it, Edy, dear 2" she said.
"No'm, it isn't very com-f-able," re
piled the darling, catching her breath
But there was one thing that consoled he
through her sufferings; and that was tn