Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-06-28
The Child King.

"Will you go over to Nankin with
me, tomorrow" asked kindly Mrs.
Brown of her tired and working
nelghbor, Mrs. Peters. "You know
the association meets there, and hus-
bands got to go, so l thought you
would like to drive over and see your
Aunt Betsey."
"Oh, should, ever so much! but
Dell has got to go to picnic to-mor-
row afternoon, aud it'll take me the
whole of the morning to iron her
white dress. I've just got it washed
and hung out; and then there's BIS
cult to make she wants 'em fresh.
Sand"
80 mother!''
The words came before the door
flew open, and in bounced a young
girl of twelve, with the assurance and
poise of 40, dressed in braided cos
tune that implied weeks hard work
from somebody, her light hair banged
on her low forehead, cheap rings and
bracelets shining on her fingers and
arms, gilt necklace around her sal
low throat, over frill of imitation
lace, her whole air pert, tawdry and
disagreeable. She barely nodded to
the minister's wife, and went on in
loud voice, "Say? Lucelle says |
ought to have some little pies and
cream cake, besides the biscuit, so l
run home to tell you"
Poor Mrs. Peters face fell.
81 don't really see how l can, Dell.
It's quite piece of work to make
them cream cakes. | can make some
pie crust and fix it up for the pies"
ooh. but | want the cream cakes
If you make 'em tonight, the pies
can wait till morning.
''But, Dell, I've got to get the
breakfast and. wash the dishes and
make the beds and sweep, and then
iron your white dress, and you know
there's sights of work on it, and you
want the ruffies futed, and"
"Oh, can't you get up real early?'
Mrs. Brown was indignant. A
wise proverb cautions us not to put
a finger between the bark and the
tree. But she did not remember it.
"Why don't you make the cake
yourself, Della?'' she said. "When
| was your age | could make cake.
Can't you?''
Della stared at her scornfully.
Mrs. Peters put in her words at
once.
"Oh, | havn't never asked it of
her, Mis- Brown. Dell's real deli
cate, and she loves to go; children
amt children but once, and | want
for her to have a good time. I'll
fetch it round somehow, Dell, dear.
You tell Aunt Betsey, won't you,
Mis- Brown, how | wanted to see her,
but l really couldn't get over. |
thank you just as much"
| Mrs. Brown offered no further re-
marks. There was a tone of ag-
grieved motherhood in Mrs. Peters
voice that warned her to keep silence
she said good-by, and pursuing her
walk up the street, rung the bell at a
handsome house standing in a we'll
kept yard, that told its own story OF
wealth within. She was admitted tC
the parlor and warmly welcomed by
Mrs. and Miss Vincent, a wife Of
middle age and her sister-in-Iaw
But hardly had she begun to talk
with her friends when the door open.
ed, and IN rushed four children of va
rious ages, who, after nodding at tht
, visitor, or reluctantly shaking hands
at once monopolized the conversation
In vain did Mrs. and Miss Vincen
struggle to be heard.
80 Mary! | was trying to tel
Mrs. Brown"
"Well, ma, I've got to go; l sait
l would, and"
. "Oh, yes! You told Will Johns
, you'd go, and you've got to! Jus
like girl! I'd"
"Milly, dear, want to ask Mrs
Brown"
"Well, Aunt Sue, I must go i
Mary goes, and there's that picnic
! and"
So it went on, a perfect Babel
which no present effort could silence
it had been SO long the habit in thi
house for the elders to listen and tn
, children to speak.
, Mrs. Brown made only short call
5 she went but few steps further tt
E the house of a desolate woman,
widow, who had lost her two children
month since with diphtheria. Mrs
Tenney burst into tears as she came
into the room, and Mrs. Brown pu
her arms around her tenderly.
= "My poor friend p was all sh'
could say.
80, Mrs. Brown, can't be recon
ciled to it. / miss them every second
Hal used to come in so bright from
school-his first year to go, yol
know; and Susy was always at m,
knee OF in my lap, when she wa'
awake; and in the lonesome nights
used to listen to their short breathing
e and put out my hand to feel Susy's
little tender face in the crib, ant
thank God l had them still, if thei
), father had left me. -
Tbora uac 4nothino tn COW to fh;c