Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-23
An Awful Fix"

q
spoon, and she does not like it bit; she
saws if it was Goldspoon, or Silverspoon, or
even Pewterspoon, she wouldt care; but
she can't see any sense in being Wither-
spoon, and think she is right"
" How old is this little Witherspoon, and
where does she live ?" asked Mrs. Boynton.
"She is eight years DID," replied Margie,
and she says she lives at home when she
isn't in the street; her mother lets her play
in the street or go where she pleases."
al don't know about allowing you to play
with a child who is brought up on the
street," said Mrs. Boynton, doubtfully.
"Ohl but, mamma" cried Margie, T" she
is a real good little girl she is pretty
ragged, and her face isn't clean, but if she
behaves well you won't care for that, will
you Besides you might give her some
whole clothes, you know.
al shall be very glad to- if she needs
them; have been afraid there would be no
one here for whom l could do anything"
replied her mother.
On the second day of Margie's acquaint-
ance with the little Witherspoon, the two
were out at play, but the cold was so Sc
we're that they could not stay out long, and
Margie came in leading Janet by the hand.
Mrs. Boynton looked at her with much
interest The child wore comfortable
cloak and faded knit hood, and until these
were removed, did not look particularly
shabby. Then Mrs. Boynton saw that the
top button was missing from her dress, ex-
posing her throat to the cold while the
dress was badly torn and frayed; below the
dress hung two or three dingy rags from
some mysterious undergarment. Janet shiv-
cred and drew her chair partly over the reg
lister, and raised her dress little to feel the
welcome heat, and Mrs. Boynton saw that
her thin stockings were torn across the knees,
leaving her limbs bare, for she wore no
hannels.
"My poor little grill" exclaimed Mrs.
Boynton, " should think you would freeze |
Don't you ever wear wooden drawers 7"
"No, ma'am," said Janet. 81 guess
mamma can't afford them, don't know"
"Well, Margie has two pairs that have
never been worn out they would just fit
you. Mrs. Boynton left the room to find the
clothing. While she was gone, Margie, de-
string to entertain her visitor, and laboring
under the impression that rags and dirt were
unmistakable tokens of heathenism, brought
her Bible and offered to read to Janet, but
that ungrateful little heather modestly in
timated that she should prefer story book.
"Why, Janetp exclaimed the small mis-
sionary. "You ought to like the Bible for
it is all true, and it tells us about Jesus, too;
don't you love Jesus ?"
al don't know much about him." said
Janet, evasively.
"Well you ought to-" returned Margie.
Don't you pray to him when you go to bed
at night 2"
"No," said Janet, /" say my prayers to
mamma sometimes, when she isn't too busy"
"Then l shouldn't think Jesus would
take care of you at ALL" said Margie, SOL
emily. Now l shall read you the ten COM
mandments, and they will show you what
God wants us to do, and what he don't want
us to do;" and Margie proceeded to admin
lister the decalogue to her unwilling listener.
But before she had read long her mother re-
appeared and took possession of Janet. She
first washed the dirty little face and hands,
and combed and braided the tangled brown
hair; then she clothed her in warm flannel
undergarments and thick wooden stockings,
sewed on the missing button of her dress,
and fastened one of Margies neat collars
about her neck, mended some of the rents in
her dress and trimmed off the ragged edges.
elbow good and warm feel |" cried Janet,
"but I'm afraid mother won't like it," she
added, doubtfully.
"Of course she will she will be rejoiced
to see you so much more comfortable this
cold weather." replied Mrs. Boynton, reas-
suringly.
1t was a very comfortable and happy child
who left Mrs Boynton's house that after
noon-never to enter it again.
For that evening bundle was left at the
door, which, on examination, proved to con-
tain the clothing which Mrs. Boynton had
bestowed on Janet, accompanied by spicy
and indignant note, which informed Mrs.
Boynton that the Witherspoons were not
objects of charity, that on the contrary they
were able to buy out several such families
as the Boyntons if they chose, and that they
considered themselves insulted past all rep.
aration.
A more amazed and discounted woman
than Mrs. Boynton, after she had perused
this lively note, could scarcely have been
found.
The next day she sought sympathy and
information from Mrs. Carter, the ministers
wife, who, of course, was expected to know
everybody.
"Do you know the Witherspoons ?" she
asked Of that lady.
ooh yes" replied Mrs. Carter /" they
live quite near your place; they are people
of considerable property, and are very nice
people, but perhaps little peculiar in some
respects"
"Well, | am in an awful fix must tel
you about it" and Mrs. Boynton proceeded
TO do so, and finished her story by showing
Mrs. Witherspoon's note.
Mrs. Carter laughed until the tears rolled
down her cheeks, and as soon as she coulo
speak she exclaimed
"Im so glad I'm sorry for you, but Tn
glad it's done. never heard OF a more de
lightful bit of benevolence"
Then she explained that Mrs. Wither
spoon was devoted to art. She was quite Q
musician, she painted good deal, she as
sisted and advised her friends about deco
rating furnishing, and even building thei
houses, and she had attempted scul pture
She looked upon all home duties as mer,
drudgery, which she delegated to a slat
ternly servant, while her boys and the littl
Janet were sadly neglected. There was al
older daughter, Celia, who was supposed I,
be genius and who spent most of her tim
in vain efforts to WOO the Muse of Poesy
Mr.. Witherspoon was devoted to business
he looked up TO his wife as q superior being
and considered Celia prodigy, but say
little of the other children, who lived prin
cipally in the streets. Mrs. Carter advise,
Mrs. Boynton to send briefly worded apol
ogy to Mr.. Witherspoon, and then think NJ
more of the matter. She was inclined h
think it would prove to have been a goo,
thing for Janet, after all.
And so it did. Janet was always warml
and neatly dressed after this, though Mrs
Witherspoon ever after cherished pro
found dislike for Mrs. Boynton, and forbad
Janet to speak to any of the family.
But the affair made lasting impression
on Celia, showing her the position in whicl
her own and her mothers folly were placin,
the family and being a girl Of native GOO
sense and energy, she dropped poetry an,
took up the prose of life in the shape Of dc
nestle duties.
A few weeks after Mrs. Boyntons unfor
tunate effort at practical benevolence sh
was surprised by call from Miss Cell
Witherspoon. After pleasant chat whicl
made them firm friends, Celia rose to tax
her leave, and said to Mrs. Boynton
al cannot ask you to return my call, TO
mamma is still SO deeply offended with 70,
that 1t would be unpleasant for you to call
but must thank you for the much-neede
lesson which you unintentionally gave ms
1t has changed the current and aim of m
life entiralV. and IL Waq tha haat thin, ~ a