The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-22

Mrs. Kittridge was softly clapping her
hands. "Bravo, Miss Ellery," she said in
her low, clear voice. "lf you could bring |
the public to agree with you, you would
revolutionize the nursery and make the |
mothers mission vastly easier than 1t Is |
at present. But am afraid the public is |
welded to its idols" she added, with a |
sigh, as she rose from the table.
Miss Ellery was q teacher in city
grammar-school, and it was only by virtue
of being Mrs. Wilson's niece that she was
able to make her home in a frst-class
clearinghouse.
"There is the hall bedroom at half
price, as long as you choose to occupy it,"
Mrs. Wilson said to her, in her business
like way, when she took the house the
previous fall; and Margaret, accepting
the offer with eagerness, had felicitated
herself all winter on the possession of her
sunny little room but as the spring adj
vanced the longing for sight of the
woods, for the sound of tapping waves
and the smell of clover.felds and new
mown hav, had grown into positive
hunger. But no desirable boarding place
could be had in the country for anything
like the price she was now paying, and
she would allow herself no pleasures that
were likely to add to her expenses, for
there was Tom, her studious young
brother, all ready to enter college in the
fall, and, though earning good salary at
present as a book-keeper in a neighboring
city, without her help he would have to
wait another year.
Clearly for her the country was q for
hidden luxury, for that summer at least,
and she philosophically determined to
content herself with an occasional visit to
\ the park. But the conversation at the
breakfast table that morning gave her a
new idea; why not offer her services to
Mrs. Kittridge as nurse for her two
months vacation She was fond of
children, she was young and vigorous
little enervated just now by the close
air of the school-room, but quite equal to
trundling bsby-csrrisge on the beach, or
to performing any other nursery duty that
might be required of her, ana the joy of
being in the country would more than
compensate her for whatever irksomeness
the position might involve.
"Come in, my dear, come in" said
Mrs. Kittridge in answer TO her knock at
the half-open door that afternoon. 81
have been scanning the advertising col
umuby dnu gill dtiuOoU Ill NCophlIs uClO
are girls enough wanting places, and if
were not going out of town I might ven
ture to have one come on trial, but can
stranger with me into the country"
"Then take me, Mrs. Kittridge," said
Margaret, eagerly. "The directors, owing
to the necessity Of repairing the building,
wish me to close my school fortnight
| tIa., ahon La g.,
glad of an opportunity to spend my long
vacation in the country"
But not in the capacity of nurse,
Miss Ellery; you surely don't mean that ?"
said Mrs. Kittridge, dropping her news
papers.
"Why not, Mrs. iKittridge? I can't
afford to go into the country at my own
expense; and if you accept my services
my board will be paid, and l shall be
earning something besides. And l am
fond of children, and not altogether unac-
customed to the care of them. / had a
baby sister once, of whom took the en-
tire charge for more than year."
The young voice had grown tremulous,
and Mrs. Kittridge leaned toward the
speaker and took her hands tenderly in
hers.
"You are brave girl, Miss Ellery ; but
have you counted the cost my dear 2 You
are fond of society, and fitted to enjoy it,
and in taking such step you would vir.
tually ostracise yourself. No, no, Miss
Ellery, can't consent to your making
such sacrifice"
, "But 1 don't consider it a sacrifice
Mrs. Kittridge," urged Margaret. 81 have
quite set my heart on it, and have al
ready begun to anticipate the good times
Flossy and l are going to have together
sob, my dear, your offer is too tempt
ing to be resisted The very thought OF
, Flossy's having such guardian takes q
, burden off my heart But it will be 30
hard for you. Not the care of Flossy,
, don't think that will be particularly hard,
but the position. There are people here
in your aunts house, who will turn you
, the cold shoulder the moment they hear
that you are going to be my little girls
nurse"
, ooh, know that, but such sights will
, not disturb my peace of mind in the least
, Mrs. Kittridge," said the girl, with a
smile. IF you and Flossy are satisfied
| with me, shall be very willing to let
, other people shrug their shoulders"
"Then we will consider the compact
signed and sealed" said Mrs. Kittridge
with kiss; sand there is only one stipu.
lation that shall make, and that is that
, you must come to the first table in fact
that you will let me continue to treat you
as an equal"
"Oh, thank you I" said Margaret, mer.
rily. al had not thought of thestable
and was only going to stipulate that
was not to wear cap, it is so bad for the
eyes"
al am SO glad that we understand each
other" said Mrs. Kittridge. And by the
time Mr.. Kittridge's step was heard on
. the stairs, all the preliminaries had been
, satisfactorily arranged.
"My dear Mrs. Kittridge, do not see
] how you can encourage so crazy project,
Mrs. LIE Roy demonstrated, when it be-
came known that Miss Ellery expected to
60 with the Kittridges to the country in
) the capacity of nurse Miss Ellery her
self having taken no pains to keep it Sc
cret. "The girl is stepping out of her
) station; and, besides, it is going to make
r it 80 very embarrassing for all of 1s. To
: be sure she is only teacher, but we have
been accustomed to treat her as an equal,