Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-16
Little Alice.

she was long. She had a great trick Of put |
ting her hands behind her, and rolling from |
side to side as she walked Her hair was
golden, her eyes bright blue, and her fat |
cheeks had the deepest kind of dimples in
them. She was very fond of her sister
Charley-short for Charlotte-three years
older than herself, and was always defend
ing her in her baby way.
Charley loved flowers very much, and had
her own little bed In the garden. The flow
ers seemed to love her too, and sweet-pess,
mignonette pinks, and other sweet blossoms
bloomed earlier and longer in her bit of
ground than they did in any other part of
the garden. So all summer long there was
a fragrant posy for her little fingers to pick
and lay by mammals plate, or to stick in
the buttonhole of papa's coat when he went
TO his Office in the morning. You can i'm
agine then how badly the child felt, when
two or three times she found on going to
her garden, that her choicest and long
watched for blossoms had been picked by
some one unknown to the family.
Charley wept many tears, and all felt sorry
for her disappointment. But grandma de-
termined to watch for the thief, and one
morning she discovered neighbours little
girl-a bad child-in the very act of gather
ing the flowers. She took her by the hand
and led her into the kitchen where mamma
and the children were at the time.
"There, Charley" said grandma, is the
thief who has been robbing your flower bed"
The child could, not deny it. There she
stood, with the flowers she had rudely
snatched from their stalks hanging limp and
lifeless from her fingers-so different from
our little Charley who always picked them
with so tender a touch that the sparkling
dew still rested on their petals-snd looked
about her with sullen, defiant expression
on her face. Grandma was determined to
give her a good scolding
"Aren't you ashamed" she began, ito
come into another persons yard and steal
the flowers They do not belong to you !;
they belong to this little girl, and you ought
not to touch them"
Charley shrank from looking at the child
who could do so mean thing, but to our
surprise Alice rolled out from behind grand.
mas skirts, put her hands behind her, and
said sternly to the culprit:
"'Ou ought to be 'shamed, little drl. Um
don't b'long to 'ou. I'm b'long to my sister
Charley"
After this brave defence of her sisters
rights she rolled back again to the shelter of
grandma, leaving us 30 amused by her
words, and more than all by her manner,
that we could hardly find voice to send the
little thief home, with strict commands
never to enter our yard again.
One day in September very cold rain be-
gan to fall, and the little girls were obliged
became quite restless, and "did not know
what to play next" They went to their
aunt, who was sewing by the sitting.room
window, and begged for story. But she
could not think Of any that she had not told
over and over again. So she said she would
make up little verse for Charley to learn.
She repeated four simple lines several times /;
and after little, Charley was able to recte
them without failnre.
Delighted with her success, the little girl
wished to say them to her mamma. 1t was
too early in the season to build furnace
fire but grandma was cold, and had taken
her darning basket to the bright kitchen,
where the cooking stove gave out welcome
heat. Mamma had also gone there to warm
the little pink toes Of baby Ida. So thither
auntie and the two children went to say the
verse.
40 mamma cried Charley, 81 know a
verse "
"Do you ?" said mamma. Let me hear
you say it,"
So Charley stood very erect, as she had
been taught at school, put her toes on the
crack in the floor, and repeated,
Mamma had three little girls,
Charley, Allie and Idly.
1t kept her busy all the time
To see that they were tidy.
Mamma and grandma was very much
pleased, and praised Charley for learning it
SO quickly. Suddenly, Alice-who had been
behind grandma as usual-rolled out into
the floor, pushed Charley away, and made a
great fuss to get her chubby toes on the
mark.
"Hear me say it" she said.
"You can't say it," cried Charley.
"Yes, tan Hear me, mamma. Mamma
had free ickle dirls.' What's next, Char
ley ?"
Charley prompted her, and she began
again.
Mamma had free ickle dirls. Charley +"
-nodding at Charley" aud Allie point
| ing to herself" and-and-who else Char
ley ?"
J "One MORE" said Charley "look around"
Allie looked around, then said triumph
antly, "And Drama !"
"No, nor cried Charley, distressed.
"This is the way hear me say it,"
Alice listened attentively, then, after
much stumbling, succeeded in giving this
version
Mamma had free ickle dirls,
Charley, Allie and Idly.
1t KEEP her 30 much busy all O. time
To see that they were tito"
How they laughed at her How they
kissed the chubby little rogue, over and over
again, as | am sure you would have done,
had you been there
Such proud little girl as she was Papa
had hardly entered the door that night be
fore she insisted upon saying her verse to
| him; and for week every one, man or
woman, old or young, who came to the
house, had to listen to it.
| Our roly-poly Alice has now grown up to
be big girl of ten years. She is still fond
of "spesking pieces" and as she has good
memory and clear voice, her teacher aud
the visitors at school are very glad to listen
to her. But | do not believe that any of
her performances are as pleasing to her
hearers as was her first effort, when she re-
cited her droll imitation of Charley's verse.
II