Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-26
Changing Mothers.

you might have seen small boy OF
six years walking briskly down one
of the principal streets, leading tall,
pleasant-looking lady by the hand.
1t was Johnny Lamson, and the lady
was his mother. She was not blind,
as you might have supposed; but
Johnny was taking her to the Grand
Square, where the street ran to meet
several others as imposing as itself,
to exchange her for another one.
For you must know it has long
been the privilege of the little girls
and boys of Changemere, upon the
week which comes between the thir-
tieth day of September and the first
of October, at the hour between four
and five in the afternoon, to exchange
their mothers, if they desire for 9th
ers more to their minds. And many
disaffected little ones have availed
themselves of the privilege, often
times, it must be confessed, to their
discontinue.
Upon the week in question, the
large room in the Square is usually
quite full of unfortunate mothers of
all kinds. Weak minded, indulgent
mothers, firm, decided mothers, in
different mothers, and now and then
a downright cruel mother, whom the
clerk will not allow any little boy or
glrl to take, if he can help it.
Johnny's mother had a pleasant
face, as l have said; but its express
sion was saddened now by the thought
that her little boy really wished to
change her for another. Sad as she
was, however, she walked quietly
along beside him, and did not at
tempt to pull her hand away. Just
as they reached the Grand Square,
she bent down and said in a low
Tone
sYour best stockings are in the
rlght-hand corner of the second draw
er, johnny
"Yes'm," answered johnny. His
conscience gave a little twlnge
for the new stockings had not been
necessity, but had heed bought fol
his especial qualification.
"And the candles for your birth
day cake are upon the store-closet
SHELF"
"Yes'm.' Johnny wondered if ht
should have any birthday cake. bu
he kept his wonderings to himself. ,
Arrived at the large room, ths
clerk handed the lady ticket with ;
number printed upon it; and she tool
her seat with some others upon Ions
settee which stood against the wall
She was not allowed to remain ther,
long, however, but was speedily tax
en- in hand by chubby-faced girl,
little older than Johnny, whose owl
| mother had not given satisfaction il
the matter of bangs and gaiter boots
: This was something that the littl
boy had not expected. He had count
ed upon sailing off triumphantly wit
his new mamma, and had fancied tn
other looking on disconsolately an
wondering where she should find al
other boy. To see her so quickl
: spoken for, and by II round-face
!. chit of glrl, too, was more than |,
$ could bear.
5 "My mother doesn't like girls, - Il
t said contemptuously. "She'd ratht
have boys
1T makes no difference" sail h
v mother, ''since my own boy does NJ
S love me-
t II do"-Johnny stopped; and I'll
clerk behind the counter sung on
e 'stake the first door to the left. A
= quick AS you can, please. An
!, Johnny's mother went out with he
new daughter, having first kissed Ii
4 tip of his little nose, which was a
v she had time to do.
d Johnny walked up and down, lool
II ing curiously at the waiting mothers
One of them had kind, pleasant eyes
= but her mouth was too large. Al
;, other, with small, delicate moutl
# had pointed chin, which made hi
think too much of whitfield sticl
!, A third had a scar on her cheek
e and fourth was dressed in purpl,
If which he didn't like. Many othel
( there were, but he saw none whom
felt like taking home. One by ON
d he saw them disappear, led away b
e children more fortunate or less fastit
ious than he. Still he fingered.
Times most up. No mother
. exchanged after five O'clock" erie
"a the clerk. "What kind of moth,
l. did you want, young man!'
o Il wanted IA good one." stan
l. mered Johnny.
"What was the matter with IL
!. !. one you had?"
s.She wouldn't buy me pair
) skates. Said | was too little
e "I'll buy you pair of skates
said voice from the corner.
a Johnny turned his head, and sa
n a rosy-cheeked, young-looking woma
s with lovely brown curls. She W.
:. Number Nineteen
"Will you let me go skating c
n joys Pond?' he asked.
v "Yes, indeed. Every day, if ye
r like"
a "I'll take you," said Johnny. T
: put out his hand, and the rosy-chee
r ed young woman took it, which CO.
- cluded fha harUaiu