Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-28

ONLY LOOKED ON.-The music anl
the patriotic speeches were over with The
day, but the boys gathered in The evening
around q bright bonfire in the street
laughing and chattoring, adding tresl
fuel, and stirring 1t to brighter blaze
The cheerful light--and perhaps the
warmth also, for it was cool night
attracted one unlike the others Of thl
group. A barefooted, ragged boy drew
near and hovered on the outer edge OF the
company for few minutes, but presently
made his way nearer to the fire, and
stood beside it in evident enjoyment
Then the largest, roughest boy in the
crowd suddenly discovered him.
"Halloa, Tatters! Where did you come
fromP"
The boy tried to draw back, but he Wa,
too late.
"Bare feet and such = cap aa that
Well, you are too fine entirely. Don'l
you know that kind Of a cap is better
roasted" and quick blow sent the faded
head covering into the fire.
It's owner nado vain effort TO recover
it.
"That was mean, jim" said one Of the
DOyoy IulutlLs 4uC ClL4CLS S-tit LgL4lIAAis
and one or two laughed.
The forIorn stranger drew back escaped
from the group and sat down Oh a door.
step at little distance, drawing his
ragged sleeve across his eyes to wipe
away the tears of anger and grief. A
plying, indignant little face looked down
upon him from an upper window, and q
pair of childish eyes, that had watched
the scene grew fearful in sympathy, and
then frightened with hope of comforting.
Lily hurried away and waa back in o few
minutes with an oNtgrown cap Of her
brother's. a package Of sandwiches and
cookies that she had coaxed in the kitchen,
and bright silver dollar Of her own.
She put the other articles INTO the cap,
and fastened q string to it and lowered II
softly to the BOY on the steps, dropping
the end of the string as il reached blm.
"Why, Lily. what are you doingP'
asked voice as she drew back.
Lily shook back her bright hair and
looked at her brother
Doing what the speaker nau sad his
morning lie said, 'I4et sone c5 your
blessings fall into the lap Of those who
haven't so much and I did. Ii fell right
straight into his lap, and guess he Didn't
know whether it came from a window or
from Heaven, for he looked m real .,uick
and queer, and said, Eha2l, 7oo Amen
and then ran away
Guy laughed, bv. -il7s 5'.s w@s
reproachful.
''You were there by the bonfire a.! the
time. o Guy, / don t see how you copit
do itn
"Why, didn't AnocE Lis cap q" sad
Guy. at was Jim Gregg; he's rough
fellow always. I didn't do anything or
say anything; and the ether fellows didnT
either" .
THAT was Just the trouble" said his
aunt, gravely. 81, too, watched the whole
thing from the window, Guy; and if |
were going to talk to American hoys on a
day like this, should care far less about
urging them to Join this or that political
party, than about warning them against
belonging to The great party in this world
those who only stand and look on. /
believe they are responsible for the lsrger
share of its evils. They do not help any
good cause; they only look on and do
nothing. They never hinder a wrong
cause; they only watch it, and say moth
ing. . Guy, did you ever think how our
Lords parable makes the final condemna-
ton rest, not upon actual transgression,
but upou omissions? L was n stranger,
sick and in prison, and ye did it not 10
me- They only looked on md did noth'
ing - Selected.