Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-02-27
SNO WE'D IN.

20 years ago, there was an unusual oommo.
tion about certain little old house standing
far up on the st. John River.
Within, Mrs Grace sat before the great
6re place in the forenoon, so bundled up in
shawls and blankets and hoods that she could
scarcely stir. In q warm corner of the hearth
lay three or four hot bricks, we'll wrapped in
newspapers, and two home made robes were
hanging across q chair to warm-everything
indicating preparations for long, cold jour.
ney. Without, Mr.. Grace was hitohing the
old red mare into the thils of the still older
red pung, that looked as il 1t might have
come over in the MsyAower His round,
good natured face wore troubled expression,
and he ierked at old Dolly's bit once or twice
in an ungentle way, which wasn't like him
self.
The small part Of Mrs. Graces face that
was visible among the folds Of her home knit
hood showed the same look OF anxiety and
her voice trembled a good deal when she
spoke to the children, and gave Charly her
last directions There we're four Of the child
rem, Dean and Emmy, and Joe and Chsrly-
though Charly was not one Of the Grace child.
rem. Mrs. Grace had taken her, O wee lame
mite, when there WAS no one else 10 take her,
and she often declared she couldn't and didn't
love one OF her own little ones better than
she could and did love Charly. Emmy and
Dean and Joe we're round, rosy little bodies
Of three and Ave and seven years, blue-eyed
and yellow haired. Chsrly was IL, and she
was neither round nor rosy. Her face was
thin and her eyes were big and shadowy.
And ChArly was lame there WAS Q pair OF
tiny crutches always by her chair.
II couldn't think of going" said Mrs.
Grace, 'If Chsrly wasn't the wise, patient lit
tie mother know she is. l never was 30
worried in my life. But what can l do 2"
II was hard question to answer, indeed.
For the night before had come q letter to Mrs
Grace from her sister in a distant town say
ing that her mother-the children's dear old
grandmamma- a-wss very, very i'll. Come at
once" the letter read and il was a week old
when Mr.. Ringgold who lived two miles
above them, but was yet their nearest neigh.
Dor in the sparsely settled region, brought it
from the post-ofice, FIVE miles below. 1t was
little to be wondered at that the tears filled
poor Mrs. Grace's eyes, that her lips quiver-
ed, and her voice shook.
81 couldn't do it If it was not for trusting
in Charly so, she repeated time and again,
in tones that brought pretty glow to Char
ly's thin little face. Il know you'll take good
care Of them, dear. There's bread enough
baked, and I've left the jar of doughnuts in
the closet"
"Oh, good again I" cried Joe. Cant we
bANo all w hhuN UOu I IL Oc luD, OuhTlyE
You must have what Charly gives you, I"
said Mrs. Grace, land attend to what Charly
says. I've locked the pantry door so you can
MT bother her by running in and out. Now"
She looked at Charly as the outer door open
ed.
"Tn do just the best can" said ChArly,
bravely.
Il know you will, dear. Be good children,
all of you"
There's wood enough piled up in the en-.
try to last you" said Mr.. Grace, a little hus-
kily. 1--WE shall be back day after to- morrow
night, sure All ready, wife" And in few
moments old Dolly was jogging at her best
pace down the snowy level of the river. It
was 80 long miles to Dunbar Corner.
II wish they we're home again" said Joe.
They will be before you know il" laugh
ed ChArly. Now I'll tell you a story"
So the three little ones cuddled around
Chsrly's chair before the open FIRE while she
told them the wonderful tale of the Three
Tiny Pigs !" and from first to last they listen
ed bresthlessly, though they had heard the
same story many times before, no doubt
Chsrly had q wonderful gift for telling stor-
les, Mrs. Grace often declared.
And Charly had gift for something be-
sides storytelling. When the stories came
to an end she smiled.
Bring me my box, will you, joey, please2"
ChArly asked. Her poor little limbs were 30
weak and misshapen that it was with Difficult
ty she could move about even with the aid OF
her crutches.
Joe obeyed, climbing up on the wide four
posted bed in the corner, and taking from q
shelf above it q square wooden box with q
sliding cover. Dean aud Emmy knew what
was coming then.
''Dive me the kitty" pleaded Emmy.
NAnd m the mOOaaa - aaid Dean
"Thy're deers, goosey," said Joe, with
little scornful sniff. Let me see all Of 'em,
won't you, ChArly ?"
Charly smiled in the brightest way and
pulled of the cover. Shall l tell you what
we're there The daintiest little images un-
der the sun, carved all in wood, and the larR-
est one scarcely four inches high. 1t is true,
they we're the work of a single awkward tool
in untaught fingers, but if you had seen them,
am sure you could not have helped exclaim-
ing with Joe and Dean and Emmy, "Oh,
Charly, how pretty they are !"
They were exceedingly true to life, too.
There was the old house cat which Emmy
instantly appropIiated-why, you could al
most hear her drowsy purr-And there were
Deans "mooses" with their delicate branching
horns, anda pair of rabbits eating clover, and
a cunning creeping baby, and there was old
Dolly herself, standing with dropping head
and Topped ears-lazy Dolly.
"I'd know her anywheres," laughed Joe.
Charly laughed too, and fingered her treas
ures lovingly. Her cheek glowed and her
| eyes we're starry.
do you think they're nice ?" she asked
'as nice as some they have at the stores at
Christmas time, JoeyT"
nicer" returned Joe, in q tone express
sive of great wisdom aud experience-'a
whole heap nicer"
"Well," pursued Charly, 'Tm going to
make all l can, and when l get enough IN
send them to sell. Mrs. Ringgold said they
ought TO be half dollar apiece"
"O-oh! !" cried Joe, quite taken aback by
this prospect Of unbounded wealth. "Wharll
you do with so much2"
II know" put in Dean. "You'll get cured,
won't you, Oharly?"
The quick tears sprAng to Charly's dark
eyes. Il will, if can, " said, and she pulled
Emmy to her, and hid her face In the baby's
yellow ourls. maybe l can't"
'Mr. Perks said you could il you could go
to see Dr. Lester. He can cure every thing"
"But it'll cost q great lot of money-may-
be a hundred dollars" said Charly. 'Pd
have to make 200 of these, joey"
"Well, you amt going to wait that long, "
| declared Joe, stoutly. Father says just as
soon's this old farm pays anything, he's 60
ing TO take you TO Fredericton to see Dr. Les
ter. Maybe twill pay next summer; we're
TO have q COW then. Aud We haven't been
here long enough yet, you know"
"Thstll be real nice" said she. ''Now,
after dinner, I'll cut out something more"
II think it's real fun" said Joe. But
Charly only shook her head and smiled again.
Well, that day passed, and the next, and
all the time the sun did not show his face.
The clouds hung heavy and black, and dark
came early, and weather-wise Joe, with his
nose against the window pane, prophesied q
storm.
"I hope 'twont come, though, till father
and mother are at home, said he.
1t did, however. When the children aWoke
next morning the snow was falling fast and
steadily in large fakes. 1t had grown very
much colder, too, in the night. Poor little
Joe's teeth chattered sptefully even after be
had raked open the bed Of Goals In the IRE
place, and built q roaring fire. The wind
came up with the sun II Whistled and FAVed