The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-06-24
for tbe CHILDREN.
In Haste---A Story Of the Flood.

~ was Wuen postage Stamps were
three cents apiece and eggs twelve and
half cents dozen that Mr.. Higgins,
proprietor of the little country store at
Elkton, sat at his high desk, one dreary
afternoon, with his head studiously
bent over his book, making out an ac-
count of sales.
{" Please, sir" suddenly interrupted
a thin, small voice proceeding from the
space in front of the desk, twill you
give me stamp for these three eggs,
and you needn't mind the changer"
Mr.. higgins slowly lifted his eyes
from the big book, to look for small
speaker below him.
1t was a mite of girl, not more than
six years old, who held letter in one
hand, and with the other tightly grasped
her apron, gathered together for the
safe keeping of three eggs lying within.
Mr.. IIuggins' senses had been so alb
sorbed in the difficulties of his long
sum in addition that it was several mo
ments before he could recall them and
bring them down to a level with the
little head lifting itself eagerly up to
him; but reaching out his hand me-
chanically he took the letter, and, sup
posing he would Immediately take the
eggs also, the little girl incautiously
opened her apron, when, alas, with a
pip! pipl pip! as though they were kiss
ing each other hasty goodbye, out
rolled the eggs, and with smash!
smash. smash! lay on the floor, med
ley of gold and silver and ivory shells!
For one moment the poor little mes
senger stood silent with dismay, and
then, lifting her distressed face to that
of Mr.. Higgins, she burst into wall
so pitiful that the heart of the store
keeper was touched with compassion.
Why, what on earth did you open
your apron for, little gal?" said he, by
way of soothing her.
" To-let--you - get - the - eggs"
sobbed the child. 81 thought you
were going to take them"
" And so | was" he answered, "but
you ought not to have let go your grip
till l had hold of them. Well, well,
they won't hatch now, that's certain"
he continued, with touch of philoso-
ply in his tone, g but there's no more
use crying over smashed eggs than
over split milk; you ought to be glad
there were so few of them; and what
were you asking me to do with them?"
" TO give me stamp, please, sir.
But oh, what will mother do now!
Her letter can't go, and she said it was
to start at once and go in haste!"
The sobs grew louder as the little
girl seemed to realize more and more
the extent of the disaster.
ITO 90 in haste" repeated Mr..
Higgins, with smile of superior
knowledge. " Yes, ! see, she has writ
ten on it in haste, in haste Well
that might have done some good, per-
haps, fifty years ago, when letters were
carried about the country on horse
back; | doubt if it will hurry up the
steam cars very much. But for mercy
sake, little gal, do stop crying." he
calculated suddenly, as the deepening
sobs smOte his heart anew and brought
him back to the business on hand.
. Didn't | tell you there's no use cry
ing over smashed eggs. So look up
now, and tell me what is the great
haste about this particular letter?'
ooh, don't know zackly, sir" an
swered the child, tearfully, but know
1t is something very particular indeed,
and it will break mothers heart almost
to know it hasn't gone. You see, she
had been over to Miss Riley's, and she
come back with the tears all running
down her cheeks, and she hunted round
till she found this paper and pencil,
and wrote the letter with her hand all
in tremble. But after it was all done
up, she just remembered that she
hadn't stamp, and ran as fast as /
could to Miss Riley's, but she hadn't
one, nor any money either, and mother
just sank down and cried as if her
heart would break, and then, sir-wasn't
1t lucky | knew a stamp cost three
cents? And l just thought of my old hen,
Buff, who was laying eggs that wanted
so to hatch, and there was Just three in
the nest; but ! couldn't see mother cry
so, and | ran out and brought them in
to her, and she was so caldwell, /
wish you could have seen her-and she
said, Thank God for the eggs, Jess, and
run as fast as you can, for this letter
must go in haste, in haste that's lust
what she said-but oh, the eggs are all
broken now, and what will mother do?n
The long story came to an abrupt end
with fresh wall of grief.
Well, don't take it so to heart.
child" said Mr.. Higgins, with his gruff
Kindness. There's no great harm
done; the letter can't 90 till tomorrow
anyhow, for the mail has been gone
these three hours"
Tomorrow" repeated the little
girl, in dismay. "Oh, sir, mother
won't sleep wink tonight if she
knows that; she said day might make
II too late, and that if you would read
it you would know it must go in haste"
" But that's all nonsense, child" said
Mr.. Higgins, beginning to lose pa
tience. "There's no such thing these
days; letters now all 90 one way and in
one time, and that's deal quicker than
they once did. But you run home
now, and if you like you needn't tell
your mother anything about the wait
ing, nor the eggs either. I'll put
stamp on for you and send it as soon
as | can"
The little eyes beamed like stars
through the falling tears. "Oh, sir, if
you would!'' she cried, "and when my
hen lays three more eggs l will be sure
to bring them to you"
She turned quickly to the door, but
pausing there, as if with an unconquer-
able impulse, she looked back, saving,
" And if you please, sir, do make il 90
fast, for that's what she said-in haste,