Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-11-20

''I can't wait any longerl" he said after he
had polished the bone the best he could. II
am going to wish now"
"what are you going to wish, " said Miss
Liddy.
He pointed his thamb mysteriously over
his shoulder toward the rolling chair That
she may get we'll, he whispered, Miss Lid
dy nodded, and seemed we'll pleased with the
wish.
Nov, Nancy, you take hold so l shall get
it," he cried, "csuse-well, cause it's fine
wish for all of us now amt It, Miss Liddy p
1T must be fair no cheating allowed, )"
said Miss Liddy.
His little face grew very anxious as they
held the bone between them, and he braced
himself against one Of the great wheels for
a strong pull. Snap went the bone, and
only a small piece was left In his hand.
"Mean mean !" he said why didn't
take hold Of the other side2 l never tried
before. Do ii always cheat ?" They told him
II was all fair that one was quite as likely
as the other to be lucky.
"But my wish was the best !" he cried.
"Save your wish for next Thanksgiving"
said Miss Liddy.
"Won't be here" he said, gloomily.
But when the winter was over, no one said,
ut is spring time, little Jack time for birds
that spend the cold winter away from home
10 be flying back !" and still he stayed The
summer went, and again Thanksgiving came
and again the wish-bone hung on the fender,
and he wished with Nancy and he lost. He
had learned to love the patient old lady, and
never was tired of wheeling her from spot to
spot, or bringing her flowers, or reading the
pleasant books she had taught him TO read
with so much patience. One Thanksgiving
after another came and went He had told
Nha rartVu n
kin and how afraid he was of Miss Liddy.
He would have been quite happy if he did
not always lose his wish on Thanksgiving
day.
Again little Jacks wish-bone hung on the
fender. 1t was past Thanksgiving, but he
wanted it to be as dry as bone could be.
The rolling chair stood in the corner empty,
for Miss Nancy could sit up no longer.
Dear Nancy" he said, as he sat on the side
Of the bed, "the wish bone is dry" He held
it out TO her.
81 always know shall not get it" be said.
always the same wish, little Jack 2
"Alwsys and foreverl"
They held it a moment, looking at each
other. The young fingers, so strong and
eager, held 1t firmly but the old ones, so
weak and quiet, could hardly hold 1t at all.
She smiled, he looked so solemn when ho
pulled my wish !" he cried, as he held up
the larger part of the bone still grasped tight
ly between his thumb and finger. 'But, he
said. anxiously, 'do you believe it, Nancy
that you will get we'll? Oh, have wished it
so many times, and never could get it. Do
you believe il p
She looked very happy and said she did be.
lieve il, most truly. "If you will only get well
enough to sit in the chair, l will be satisfied"
he said.
81 shall be too well for the rolling g-chair,
little Jack"
TOO we'll Too well, Nancy? You mean
you will be in heaven!"
do not cry Have you not wished many
times that might get well ? Now, because
you have your wish and do not have it just
as you think best, little Jack, you cry. l
used to wonder who would stay with Liddy
when was gone and it worried me because
l thought, shall go and leave her alone
now you will be with her, and when you are
a man you will not forget how much she has
done for you"
mo, no, he sobbed, 81 will not forget
but want you, too" He looked up into her
old pale face. She had never seemed so very
old to him before. "Are you very tired of
living, Nancy?"
''Very tired"
She knew that he was trying hard to keep
back the tears.
u suppose you will never have any pain
there 2"
mo"
'T-I will let you go, Nancy"
A moment after. Miss Liddy was surprised
in the kitchen, where she sat stoning raisins,
by heavy sob, and looking up, she saw
Jack throw himself upon the floor, and cry
as il his heart would break. A great tear
started to roll down her red cheek, but she
wiped it away with her long checked apron.
Little Jack is q man now, and more than
one wish bone hangs to dry on the old fender
when Thanksgiving day comes round and
he tells his children about the good old
pumpkin, and dear Nancy, long ago in heav-
en- and about the Ted-cheeked woman that
said 'Shoo!" and they all look then at a very
old woman, who still has red cheeks, and cry,
"Aunt Lddyl
The wish bones crack, and they wish fool
ish little wishes, for their hearts are light
but Jack will never see wish bone, nor hear
its crisp snap, without thinking of the kind
old lady who started him in life. He is not
sad when he thinks of her, for he remembers
how she looked when she said; II shall be
too well for the rolling chair, little Jack"
Sargent Flint IN Christian Register.