The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-10-21

"All right Miss Haskins, put down
one for Miss Paul." said the lady in
charge.
{" Ask her if she wishes a boy or
girl" said Miss Haskins, as she wrote
the name.
"a girl, !" replied Miss Ruth, promptly
"Lord knows what I'll do with her,
though, 1 don't!"
The ladies exchanged glances, which
were not lost on Miss Ruth.
"Be at the depot Tuesday morning,
next week, to receive your CHARGE"
said Miss Haskins.
every we'll" Miss Ruth turned
round and walked out. "They think
I'll eat the child" she muttered to
herself. I" But / WON'T"
"Will it do, Nellie?" asked Miss
Lewis, doubtfully, indeed, after Miss
Ruth was gone.
Miss Haskins smiled.
"We'll try it awhile, anyhow. She
has a grand old home, and plenty of
everything"
On Tuesday morning the people who
had promised to take children were at
the depot. SO were a great many others,
piOihpuou Wy CullooltJ, dhuj "hOh thO
train came in, Wellsville had never
seen such a crowd.
And oh, the children that came pour
ing out of every car! Pale and sickly,
every one of them, clad in faded calico
dresses and old hats and sunbonnets,
some with their little bundles, some
with nothing, every style and complex
on--black-haired, brown-haired, yell
low-haired, ed-haired-all ages from
five to thirteen, and all so surprised and
delighted to be in the real country,
where everything was so green and
| fresh.
Names were called and places as
signed as fast as the efficient commite e
ladies could do it.
{" Miss Ruth Paul-one girl-here! "
came at last. And Miss Ruth marched
up to the platform to receive her charge.
A little thing of eight, with yellow curls
and blue eyes and white face, dressed
in blue calico dress, wearing hat
which had evidently been the prop
to Miss Ruth, with ticket No. A.
"Come on!' says Miss Ruth, leading
the way to her carriage. She had
driven herself to the depot, simply be-
cause she would not be seen in the vii
lage with the child following her. Not
yet, at least!
Climb imp she said, loosening the
pony's straps. The little one was in
side directly.
ooh. what pretty carriageP' she
said, patting the soft cushions. els il
yours?" and she smiled up into Miss
Ruth's face.
eyes. What's your name, child?"
"Tilly."
My goodness. Miss Ruth gave a
start.
"Tilly what?'
lilly Truax."
Is your ma in the city?"
" hain't got no ma, nor no pa"
Who takes care of you, them"
/" l live with Aunt Lou?"
"She is poor, isn't she?"
Yes'm. She's got three children
of her own. They wanted to come, but
they was too big. Aunt Lou washes
for folks"
Humph No wonder you look hall
starved! Is that all the dress you've
got?"
"No'm. I've got pink dress, that
a lady gave me, in this bundle. Aunt
Lou said it wouldn't do, but its rea
pretty, think"
Undo your bundle and let me see.'
lilly unrolled the paper, and showed
the remains of a child's pink tarlatar
party dress.
Humph You can take that tc
dress dolls with!'' said Miss Ruth, with
a sniff of disdan.
&c h haven't got any DOLL" says lilly
"Ill get you one"
bad" And the little things face was sc
bright that Miss Ruth actually smiled
at her.
"This is the place." she said, stop.
ing the carriage. Jump down, childp
She couldn't say lilly yet-but she
would, after awhile!
Betty" said Miss Ruth, walking
into the big, clean kitchen with her Wis
itor, "here's the child. Get her bow,
of bread and milk"
"Law, Miss Ruth! Did you really
take one?" And Betty's hands went W
in surprise.
Yes, l did. Do you like milk
child?"
81 don't know" said the baby, shyly
"Don't know! Didn't you ever drink
milk?"
"No ma'am. I've seen it, but l never
tasted it. Aunt Lou couldn't afford tC
buy it."
Betty, be quick! Leave the cream
onl Come here, lilly, and see if you
like pure country bread and milk"
lilly proved that she did by eating
the last drop in the bowl. Miss Ruth
would have offered her more, but she
did not want to make the child sick the
first thing.
care you tired?" she asked, wher
the bread and milk were finished,
Oh no, ma'am."
"Then here is sunbonnet; you may
go out in the yard and play. Do yol
like to play on the grass?"
guess / WOULD like it'll" said lilly
sweetly. 81 never tried it,"
"Good Lord! Is there no grass il
New York;" asked Miss Ruth.
Yes'm. Lots of it in the parks
But the police don't low you to steT
on it,"
4" Well, you can step on it here. &c
out now, and do-do just whateve
you're mind top
When she heard that said Bett,
laughed to herself, and, when Miss