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

hind, and sat down beside him, smiling.
"You going toyour uncles2" he asked.
The boy shook his head.
"Where are you going p
"Grandma's," was the reply.
GAIL alone
"No, guess not we're all going"
"That fat man your father ?"
eyes," said the boy.
"That fat woman your mother ?"
The boy nodded.
"That fat baby yours ?"
Another nod.
"Can you skate ?"
"No, can you ?"
81 should think So" said Johnny, with
a smile of disdain. "I'm seven; how old
are you 2"
"Pm seven, too," said the boy.
Seventy-two echoed Johnny, with
a stare.
81 amt, I'm seven."'
"Seven and can't skate why, can
play hooky, walk on stills, go bump down
hill, kick ball, and-and-lots," said
Johnny, quite out of breath. "You're all
fat, amt you ?" he queried, after looking
the family over. "1'm going to my Uncle
Jack's;" and then came description of
Lu6 RItdU ldlu UuO tulhCyS, Uu6 ONouy
Uncle Jack himself, and Cousin Lenny,
who wasn't hardly day older than he
was, but hadn't got into knickerbockers.
The two boys were soon famous friends,
till the lamps were lighted, when they
both fell asleep, their heads humping
against each other, and did not wake till
the cars stopped late in the evening, and
Johnny, bewildered and half asleep, found
himself pushed along by strong hand.
"Keep up with your brother, sonny"
said the conductor, I" or you'll lose him."
"Tain't my BROTHER" answered Johnny,
beginning to cry" faint nobody belongs
to me-"
"Hello who owns this ynngster ?"
asked the conductor. Two or three peo-
pie looked around and then went on.
"You don't say you're alone here,
chicken ?" asked the man.
Yes; was going to Uncle Jacks,
bbut l got asleep and didn't watch the
\ depots," said the boy, beginning to sob.
"Not many to watch this is EXPRESS"
said the conductor. "Where is Uncle
Jacks, and who sent you off alone by
yourself What's Uncle Jacks other
name?"
ellis name is Uncle Jack Green ough,
and 1 want to see my mother" moaned
Johnny.
"Where do you live, my son ?" asked
the conductor" real seal-skin," he NUT
tered, looking at the boys cap.
elm Hillsdale.'
Hillsdale, that's long enough from
here.'
81 want to go home," cried Johnny,
| now almost beside himself.
"Don't doubt it in the least, but can't
do it tonight, my boy. No train goes till
morning. Now what am l going to do
with you ?"
81 want to go home," was still poor
Johnny's refrain. The conductor carried
him into the ladies' room, and spoke a
few words to gentleman, who, with a
very sweet-faced old lady were waiting
for their carriage.
"Poor little soul |" said the woman,
when the facts were made known to her
"Why, yes, we will take him home with
us, and you can telegraph to his place
it's exceedingly important that it should
be done Immediately. Fancy his mothers
feelings Learn all you can about him
and telegraph at once, my DEAR" she said
to her husband.
Twenty minutes after that Johnny
found himself in snug family carriage
sobbing softly to himself, as he Rugged
one cushioned corner and thought of his
8 mother. Uncle Jack, and even cousin
Lenny, the turkeys, the baked pears, piel
and the doughnuts, had all faded from
his mind, like pictures is dissolvine
view. He only thought of mamma, anC
8 mammals goodnight kiss. To be sure, i
soothed him somewhat to be patted anC
= petted by good old Mrs. Sage-to b.
tucked in and kissed as only grandmoth
, ers can kiss, and hidden to say his prayers
still he felt himself a stranger in strang
land.
The next morning Johnny was to-
u tired, almost ill, to get up before daylight
+ in fact, it was not till near noon that tn
. knickerbockers were donned, and Johnn
could not then be sent back till evening
He sat near the window, feeling very bao
?. but struggling to be brave, when suddenl
,. he flew from his chair and shouted an
raped till the shining panes rattle
), again. gentleman in fur-trimme
h great coat stopped, and looked up in al
N constituent at the youngster, cuttin
capers behind the lace curtains, jumpin,
h laughing, shouting, clapping his hand
10 and crying at the top of his voice:
a Uncle Jack oh, Uncle jack"
at or course Uncle Jack who had jul
como to the city, knew not what to mak
re- of the matter at first, and equally of cours
,e he came into the house Immediately, an
q. received his erring and repentant nephe
ID in his arms, where Johnny buried h
"a head, and sobbed out the whole story.
w "Poor little lad and you wanted
o. see Uncle Jack so much p" said his incl
o swell, you shall 60 home with me tn
" very night"
h. "Nol" said Johnny, with unwont'
he emphasis, 81 want to 60 back to n
D, mother; want to see my mother"
w "Why, little man, mother wouldn't o
ject, as long as you have come so far,
nv she knew you were with Lenny."
m 81 don't care for Lenny, or anybody
Dr. persisted Johnny, with dreadful SC
Dr. which ended in something like hoy
he al want my mother"
he Everything was settled then and the
To- Johnny was to be put on the cars
es. charge of the neutrality-suspicious. Unt
M Jack would find time to 60 with him
IN, father was to meet him at the depot in t