Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-01-16

the kind.
"well, do whatever you like, but don't
bother me-"
Johnny looked at her in astonishment
Never in all his life before, had he been
spoken TO in that way. What were mothers
for z he wondered aud be remembered, with
a sharp pain in bis little heart, how many
times be had bothered" his own mamma,
and thought nothing of 1t.
He ate bis dinner alone. His new mother
having finished her book, went out to do
some shopping, telling bim not TO wait for
her, as she might lunch down town. He
looked after her ruefully. His head ached
and his back was lame but there was no one
TO say, 81 am sorry" no one to make him
forget his troubles by CHEEKY words or a
pleasant story.
Clearly, Number Nineteen" was failure
One or two salt drops mingled with Johnny's
dinner that day. And. as the afternoon wore
away, the sense OF loneliness became unbear-
able. ''If she only gets home in time, I'll
take her back" thought be. Perhaps
but be didn't finish the sentence, even to
himself.
She came home at half past four. He met
her at the door, with his coat and hat on, and
hurried her of to the Grand Square. There
was no time to spare.
Whats the matter with this one 2" asked
the clerk. Didn't she let you skate ?"
"Yes"
WAS she cross ?"
NO"
"whAt them"
81 don't-know. She
"Well, speak out"
'She wouldn't mend my stocking"
'Was that all 2"
'She didn't-want-to be bothered" fal-
tered Johnny, at which there was q general
laugh in which Number Nineteen" joined.
well, said the clerk, you can take your
pick Of what's here but you're rather late.
There isn't great assortment left"
Johnny scanned them eagerly; but his
own dear mother Gao very, very dear to him
just them was not among them. He walked
back and forth iIresolute, as be had done the
day before.
Come, come" said the clerk, "be brisk,
or you'll be left with no mother at ALL
Where can this boy find q parent who isn't
afraid to be bothered p he asked, turning TO
the half-dozen mothers who sat before him.
I'm the one for him, spoke up Number
Thirty.two" She was q very thin woman,
with swapping black eyes. "Pm not afraid
of being bothered-by him or anybody else"
The last words we're too low for the clerk,
but not too low for Johnny. II don't want
you. 1 don't like you," he cried, almost in
terror, as he looked al the hard, set face.
YOU'RE notionsl," said Number Thirty
two," grimly. "Td take q little of that out
of you, If had you."
The clerk gave her q keen glance. He was
asking himself whether she did not properly
belong in the corner with the cruel mothers.
1t was hard for Johnny to make q selec-
ton, but he did at last. He chose Number
Forty three" a short. delicate little woman
whose principal recommendation was that
har ka hat Of laak
speaker.
He was very sure that she was a good
mother, but-slas that must write it ;-he
took her back the next day. Somehow, she
was too good On the way home, she made
him take her hand and would not let him 60
until he was inside his own door. At the ta-
ble she insisted upon cutting his meat and
portioned it out, making him take bite of
bread with it at regular intervals. The cake
she locked up, not wishing him to grow up
miserable dyspeptic, which made Johnny
think dismslly of his coming birthday.
Unlike Number Nineteen" she was not
willing to trust him out of her sight. She
| told him over and over again that bad boys
always made wicked men. She hoped he
| had never told q lie for untruthfulness led
straight to stealing, and stealing to the state
prison. These remarks tending rather to
dsrken the sunshine of Johnny's boyish nat
ure, she hoped he wasn't Of sullen disposi-
tion ; and when, unable TO contain himself
| longer, he burst into q torrent of tears, she
begged him to control himself lest he should
grow up q weak-minded sort Of person,
whom nobody could respect.
When Johnny made his appearance again
at the large room in the Square with Mum
ber Forty three" his eyes were quite red and
his heart was full. Oh, if the little girl
would only bring his own dear mother back
| But she wouldn't, he knew she wouldn't.
How could any little girl help love such a
mother as hisp Oh, why hadn't he known
how good she was before he let her go! but
never thought there could be 80 many diff
ferent kinds Of mothers" said poor Johnny
TO himself, wiping away tear.
The clerk shrugged his shoulders when he
saw them coming in. you're a hard one to
suit" said he. "What Ails this one p
"She's too-too-"
'Too whAt2 Doesn't she want to be both
cred 2"
''She bothers me-" Johnny was quite un-
conscious of being funny. "She's too-too
old"
That wasn't the right word at all, but he
could think Of no other.
zone you bothered and the other bothers
| you" said the clerk, dryly. 'Pm afraid
haven't mother in the lot who will give per-
feet satisfaction, unless"-he added, giving
! Johnny a queer glance, ,-'unless it is the
second one on the right there, Number
Twenty nine SuppoSing you try her. Why,
what's the mAtter2"
For somehow, Just then, Johnny thought
of his coming birthday and the homesick
feeling came over him so strongly that he
laid his poor head upon the counter and sob
bed, like forlorn little boy, as he was.
whats the matter" asked the clerk
again.
"I-don't-want-any more mothers, 4"
stammered Johnny.
"Oh, you haven't tried them all"
'They-aren't-nioe," sobbed the child.
TRY Number Twenty-nine.' 1 can rec
ommend her."
Johnny raised his swollen eyes, and glanced
| at the second one on the right" He saw a
tall, slender woman, with gray veil which
covered her face as we'll as hee bonnet. He
gave q little start, and then ran forward,
hoping, fearing, dreading, all at onoe. As
he reached her, she raised the gray veil and,
with cry Of Joy, he sprang into her arms.
80 mammal" He couldn't say any more
just then, but no more words were needed.
It was such perfect bliss to feel the shelter
of those loving arms and to rest his tired
head upon her shoulder.
"Well," said the clerk, coming up, "how
do you like Number Twenty .nineP Will
she dol"
"Yes," answered Johnny, with happy
smile, "shs'n do very we'll"
"I don't care. o mamma" he whispered
in her ear, there's big hole"
But the clerk interrupted. '"Think well
before you take her back. Mothers taken
back must be taken back for good"
~ want her for good, f" said Johnny. "she
Is good"
SO the "big hole" in the new stocking was
mended. The birthday cake was made, and
the birthday candles taken down from the
store-closet shelf. They were lovely when
they were lighted, Johnny thought. And