Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-07-25
An Old Rtorv.


''Alice and Harriet, take your knitting
work; John and Henry, you may each bring
nine armstul Of wood into the woodshed; May,
you may take your slate and write and
guess If they are let alone the two babies will
take care of themselves. Now, for half an
hour, let us have silence. II anybody speaks,
lot it be in a whisper"
The fact was that there had been 90 much
noise, and some Of it In haif-quarrelsome
tones, that Mrs. Ford was tired, and took the
best way to stop IL for half an hour at least.
The children were all young, and all wanted
their own way. But they had learned 10
mind their mother.
So there was silence In the kitchen, except
the noise the little mother made with her bak.
ing and the occasional prattle Of the two ba-
bies.
Little May sat with her slate on her knee,
looking thoughtful. She wrote and erased,
and wrote again with much painstaking labor.
At last she seemed satisfied, and, going to
her mother, said in whisper:
May have little piece Of white paper
and pencil out of your drawer want to
copy something"
What is it Let me see," said her moth
er.
May hesitated and blushed, but held it up
to her, saying:
you won't tell, will you, mother ?"
Her mother read it twice over. Tears gath
cred in her eyes.
You won't tell anybody, will You ?" en-
treated little May.
mo, no-certainly noti II shall be secret
between you and me-"
She got nice piece of paper, and sharpen
ed the pencil anew for the child, although she
was ie-making.
May copied it very carefully, and laid II
away in the bottom of her handkerchief-box.
II shall see it often there, and nobody goes
there but mother and me-"
But 1t happened one day that Harriet was
sent to distribute the pile Of clean handker-
chiefs from the ironing into the boxes, and, as
Mays was empty, she saw the writing. II
was so short that she took It in at a glance:
"Alvaa spek pleseDt when Ennybody speks K.
Somehow, it fixed itself in Harriet's mind,
and that evening she was busy with pen and
ink. The result was q writing in Harriet'H
hAndkerchief-box, With a resolution written
more neatly but to the same effect:
"ResotUed That will try to roturn pleasant words
for cross ones. HARRIET FORD"
1t made difference that was easily seen
when two of the children began to practice
this resolution. There was less quarrelng.
That's mine You'd better mind your
own business !" said John to Harriet one day
when she took up top and was putting 1t in
his drawer.
''But, John, mother wants me to clear up
the room, said Harriet.
And want the top to stay there" said
John, obstinately.
well, perhaps it's no matter. A top isn't
much litter" said Harriet pleasantly.
John was fully prepared for contest, and
l am afraid he would rather have relished one.
He stared, then looked ashamed.
what made you say that, Harriet ?"
Harriet laughed and colored little.
Tell me what made you !" John insisted.
Come here and I'll show you," said she.
She took him to the clothes-press, where
was the row of Observation-Disclosures each ia
beled.
She opened little Mays and took out the
pile of clean, soft hAndkerchiefs.
''See there !" said she.
John read.
GOOD little thingl She never does quar-
rel, anyhow" said John.