Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-03-26
st1nnth's Column.
How Alice Leared To Help.

to the sugar-camp IN the maple or
cbard. When wild little Alice said,
81 am going to stay at home and
finish my book" Hal laughed; and
this made Alice feel very dignitied-
60 she walked straight to the front
parlor. where, curled up In large
chair. she soon became absorbed IN
in her story.
Mrs. Weeks and Aunt Katie, sit
ting in the back parlor, never dream
ed of this. SO they talked together
very confdentially, as mammas and
aunties usually talk when they think
themselves quite alone. 1t was not
until Alice stopped to turn leaf
that she noticed what they were say
ING. Then she heard Aunt Katie
say:
81 wish YOU would let Jenny 60
home with me. l will take the
entire care of her clothing for the
summer"
eff you will take Alice instead Of
Jenny, l will willingly consent, re-
piled Mrs. Weeks, with sigh Alice
distinctly heard.
Aunt Katie hesitated.
"Alice is a dear little girl" contin-
ued mamma, "but she is very wild.
Jenny is help to me. L hardly
know what / should do without her.
"Wen," replied Aunt Kate, not
enthusiastically, 81 will take Alice
Alice left her chair very quietly :
but. before she reached the hall, she
heard mamma say:
s'She will give you trouble, l fear
Her mending is quite an item in my
work. She is very careless.
Alice could hardly control her sobs
until she reached her room. How
could mamma say such things of her
Nobody loved her, mamma wanted
to send her away, and Aunt Kate
didn't want her! She wouldn't &C
with Aunt Kate,-no indeed!
Alice's tears flowed freely for
time: but soon her sensible little
head conquered, and she felt tina
mamma was right. She remembered
the new dress that she tore at school
the cloak, apron, and stockings tina
mamma mended only yesterday; ant
she knew why mamma sighed. Sh
would 90 with Aunt Kate, but sh
would not be a trouble. 81 won,
tell mamma now that / heard wha
she said; I'll wait until l come home
but I'll never be a trouble to he
again." declared Alice, as she wipe
away her tears.
When Aunt Kate asked her if sh
would 90 home with her and be he
little girl for the summer, Alice CAV
a ready consent.
ssYou don't seem bit glad" sal
Hal.
.sYou can't look in my heart, sh
replied; but her pleasure was indee
lessened by the thought that she wa
not her aunt's choice.
'Auntie," she asked, shortly aftt
her arrival at her aunt's house, ''wi
Won teach me to mend and darn viii
/ am here?"
ssMend and darn! Why, We
child" replied Aunt Kate.
81 want to learn to do all kline
of mending-stockings, boys clothe
white aprons, and everything.
ga very sensible idea. What hi
put it into your head, my dear
asked Aunt Kate.
Then Alice told her of the conve
satlon she had overheard.
81 didn't mean to listen, aunti'
/ went out very soon; but L shs
not make you so much trouble
mamma thought" said Alice, tea
fully.
Aunt Kate kissed her and call
her a dear child, assuring her til
she would not have liked Jenny bt
ter: and Alice was comforted. /
lessons in mending began immediat
". 1t was very tiresome at hrs
but Alice soon felt pride in joint
together slices cut in cotton or We
for purposes of practice, and If
chance q rent was made in dress
apron, Alice noted the fact with
parent satisfaction.
She enjoyed her summer; a
when her aunt said, "I'm sorry
lose yon, my darling; you have be
a real comfort to me-" Alice felt 81
she had not been trouble.
Mamma thought her little
greatly improved by the visit. !
children were wild in their deli:
at her return; and Alice was in d
ger of drifting into her old thong
less, careless habits.
oMamma," said Hal one norm
"Tve torn my jacket on nail IN
barn. See -
The jacket held up for inspect
displayed a rent that drew II
mamma weary sigh, as she sa
s.Put in on the sewing machine, t
/ will mend it this evening""
Now was Allies opportunity L
ing the jacket from the sewlng-fo'
she went. to her own room, VIII
with door safely locked, she be
her task. Her little work-bas
presented by Aunt Kate. and stoc
for any emergency, was there;
Allie patiently matched the jag
edges, fastening them with