The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-26

assumption OF superior IOTbblBHJ 81 uhbu-
raj TO man. "There are thousands OF
women throughout the country to-day
dosing down tonics, and imagining them.
selves to be confirmed invalids, who, II
they could be persuaded to take an hours
exercise every morning in the open air,
would soon be able to laugh at the doc
tors. But half of them would think any
doctor demented who dared to propose
such a remedy"
"Yet, as rule" said 1, "city women,
l am inclined to think, do more walking
than women in the country"
"And the reason, my dear, is obvious"
said Jonas, with exasperating urbanity.
" Broadway and Fourteenth street natu-
rally offer greater attractions to the femi-
nine mind than winter woods and fields.
Our neighbor, Mrs. Tompkins, would will
ingly walk from the ferry to Macy's for
the sake of looking in at the shop win.
dows, but she would hold up her hands
in horror if some fine morning you should
ask her to go with you to the woods.
just try it and see."
Twas very much afraid that the event
would prove him true prophet, but
determined to make the experiment.
Usually we took our outing in the early
part of the day, Jonas being of the opin-
ion that the morning rays of the sun pos
sess greater virtue than those of the after
noon but the next morning so much
time was consumed in decipheripg one of
Professor Won Steuklenberg's hieroglyph-
ical manuscripts that we decided not to
start until after dinner. Secretly, was
rather thankful to the old professor, feel
ing that the delay increased the chance of
my success with Mrs. Tompkins; and, as
the sun was shining enticingly, it was in
quite sanguine mood that Annie and |
(Jonas having gone on in advance with
the youngsters) knocked at the farmhouse
door. We found Mrs. Tompkins and her
daughter in a close, overheated sitting
room, busily engaged in cutting carpet
rags.
Walk There was a look of undis-
guised amszement on Mrs. Tompkins
face--a face that would have been comely
but for the sallowness of the complexion.
DWELL, now, the truth is" she began,
after thanking us for the invitation, " we
have so much to do indoors, Ruth and me,
that we get about all the walkin' we want.
Then, havin' houseful O. boarders all
summer, the SEWN gets so behind that it
takes us all winter to catch up. We've
been waitin' six months or more for a
chance to get at these rags, an | told
Ruth that if we didn't make beginnin'
pretty soon the dinin' room d have to 60
bare floor next season SO this mornin' we
got real early start with the work, an
here we be-"
"Oh, let the rags wait, Mrs. Tompkins,"
urged Annie; cit is too pleasant to stay
indoors today"
Ruth, delcate-featured girl with a
general air of being overworked, looked
up wistfully; but Mrs. Tompkin's eyes
were fixed on the strip of yellow calico
that she was cutting.
"That amt my way" said she, with
an energetic snip of her shears "when
there's work to do, do it, whether the
sun shines or not"
"Now, Mrs. Tompkins," said Annie,
catching the look in Ruth's eyes, "if you
will let Ruth 60 with US to-day, we'll all
come tomorrow afternoon and help with
the carpet-rags.'
"Why, you're real clever" said Mrs
Tompkins, her face frightening. "Ruth
can go, of course, if she likes, but for my
part I'd good deal rather stay in the
house on day like this"
Ruth, without waiting for further per
mission, hastily tumbled the rags from
her lap, and ran to put on her wraps.
"How pleasant this isl" she exclaimed
as soon as we were in the open air. at
is so tiresome staying in the house al
day 1t makes me dread to have winter
come"
"But why stay indoors SO closely ?"
asked.
"Oh, there's always something to bt
DONE" Ruth answered, in discouraged
voice; "and mother never seems to thinE
it worth while for any one to start GU
just for the sake of walking. 1t wouldn'
be quite so bad if we had more books,
she added, regretfully. Annie took hin
from that remark, and the next day, wher
we went to fulfill our promise, she carried
with her three or four late magazines
Ruth's eyes widened at the sight of tn q m
and the hungry way in which she turned
the leaves gave Annie another hint
There were FIVE or six farmers familie
within a half-mile's radius of us, and
knowing that there were but few books il
the neighborhood, Annie proposed forming
a reading club.
otis all nonsense, Man," said Bel
"and it will be perfectly stupid for us
They'll come, of course, if they think the.
are going to have good time, but the.
wont care straw for the reading"
await and see," said Annie, as sh
summed up the names of those who wer
to be invited. At first none but tn
young people were asked, but before thre
meetings had been held it began to b
limited that some of the fathers and moth
ers would like to join the club.
"Let them come, by all MEANS" sail
Jonas, who on club night was Away
ready to forego the society of Professo
Karl Won Steuklenberg and lend himsel
to the entertainment of our guests; 81
will do the young folks good to have then
here" AS the result of this extends
invitation the attendance was speedil
doubled; even Mrs. Tompkins was pei
suaded to leave her carpet-rags for on
evening in the week and before the wiz
ter was half over "the club }" had becom
the central interest of the nighborhood.
"The chief objection to living on
farm in winter" said Jonas to one of on
farmer friends, is the lack of society
and for that reason every neighborhoo