Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-01-26


IA proceeding which kept him out
of his little bed an hour longer than
usual, and made him feel tired and
cross in consequence.
But the next morning, very early,
he started for joys Pond. He had,
of course, shown 10 his new mother
the pretty stockings in the right-hand
corner of the second drawer, and was
surprised and delighted when she al
lowed him to put them on at once.
He looked down upon them proudly
as he walked up the street, and won
dered if the other boys would notice
them. He was sure that he loved his
new mother very much. Still, he
could not quite enjoy the flavor of
the kiss which she had given him at
parting; and he rubbed his lips very
hard with his little pink handkerchief
as soon as he was fairly out of sight.
She had told him not to hurry home.
but to stay as long as he liked. What
could he ask for more? Nothing, GER
tainly. He had often pronounced
his own mother ''fussy," because of
certain restrictions in regard to time;
but now he was hardly better pleased
at the thought that the whole day was
his. if he chose to take it. Verify,
the ways of children are past finding
out.
But the morning was crisp and fine,
and the new skates fitted to charm.
He forgot all his troubles as he skim
med over the shining ice. Had he
been the only boy on the pond, all
might have gone we'll. All did go
well for awhile; but. ut length, the
little feet becoming stiff and chilled.
refused to do his bidding. They would
not 90 out of the way of the Large boy
who came screaming across the pond.
and who ran against ,Iohuny, throw
inc him down hard. and then skated
off, with "look where you're goin'
to. can't you?" which, cold as it was
made the little boy's blood boil with
indignation.
''Look where you're going your
self" he shouted; but the large
boy was too far off to hear. Johnny
tried to get up. but kept slipping back.
He tried to take off his skates, Tut
his fingers were stiff AMI aching with
the cold and, worse than all, he had
somehow torn Il large hole in one of
his new stockings. He wanted to cry,
but he didn't. At last, a kind gen
tleman spied him and FASTENED To his
assistance, taking off his skates, and
bidding hun. run home as fast as he
could.
.Johnny's tears fell fast as he told
: his new mother of his tribulation.
s'There's big hole in that, said he,
pointing 10 the stocking. And there
isn't any fun in skating, anyway"
what do you want TO do?" she
asked, looking up from the book she
was reading.
81 don't know He wished she
would help him to think, hut she
didn't. He wished she would shn,
up her hook, and sew up that dread
ful hole; but she did nothing of tn.
kind.
We'll, do whatever you like, bu
: don't bother me-"
J Johnny looked at her in astonish
u ment. Never, in all his life before
had he been spoken TO i'm that way
What are mothers for? he wondered
and he remembered with a sharp pain
I in his little heart. how many times h,
had ssbothered' his own mamma, ant
S thou ght nothing of 1t.
Il He ate his dinner alone His new
mother, having finished her hook
e went out TO do some shopping, telling
:, him not to wait for her. as she mig h
s lunch down town. He looked afte
Il her ruefully. His head achcd ant
I his back was lame; but there was n,
e one to say. II am sorry no one t.
II make him forget his troubles h,
CHEEKY words oil pleasant story.
: Clearly, "Number Nineteen wa
). failure. One or two salt drops min
:; gled with Johnny's dinner that day
i And, as the afternoon wore away
|, the sense of loneliness became IN
n bearable. "If she only gets home il
:. time, I'll take her back" he thought
!; "Perhaps' but he didn't finish hi
!, sentence, even TO himself.
s She came home at half past four
e He met her at the door, with his Goa
:, and hat on, and hurried her off to tn
y Grand Square. There was no tim
/ to spare.
"What's the matter with this one !?
$ asked the clerk. ssDidn't she let yo
q skate?'
II ssYes"
''Was she cross p
l. mo"
'sWhat then? ?"
e 81 don't-know. She"-
"Well, speak out.
# ''She wouldn't mend my stocking.
Twas that all ?''
!" "She didn' t-want-to be bother
ed, faltered Johnny. at which ther
" was general laugh, in which mum
II Der Nineteen joined.
IS "We.l," said the clerk, '.you cal
take your pick of what there is here
n but you're rather late. There ism
a great assortment left"
IL Johnny scanned them eagerly; bu