Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-10-29
sglomth' & Column.
Why Dolly Didn't Go.

!
raring depths below. Just as she
reached the other end and was pass
ing out of the bridge, she heard
faint sob. Dolly looked everywhere,
and at last, down by the very edge
of the river, half buried in the green
ferns and tall flags, she found Bes-
sic Stone, crying as if her heart
wop,. .eak.
"Why-ee !'' said Dolly, s'what is
the MATTE, Bessie?''
Never a word from Bessie, only
she cried harder than before. Dolly
could see she had started for the
picnic. She had lunch basket be-
side her, and her school-dress and
her pink sunbonnet had been freshly
washed and ironed. ''Come, Bessie,
said Dolly, creeping down to her.
and trying to take her hands away
from over her face. 81 heard the
teams comm when | was on the
bridge. Well miss .em if we don't
hurry"
ooh, dear, dear, [ can't go! l
can't go. 1 lost my money down
through the bridge and now I'll have
to stay at home
HRun home and get some more,
suggested Dolly.
Mamma can't give me any, COZ
she's poor. l picked up chips for
Mrs. Bean and earned this. | never
went to a picnic in all my life, and
l wanted so much to 60 to this.
And the tears came faster and fast
er.
"Dear, dear" said Dolly, "never
been to a picnic?"
ssNo,' said Bessie, San | worked
four weeks to earn the money. L
had it in my hand, and | stopped to
tie up my shoe on the bridge, and L
laid the money down on the bridge.
and there was just little crack, and
it fell through"
''I'm so sorry" said Dolly.
They were not far from the school
house. They could hear the gay
chatter of the boys and girls as they
came together, and then the loud
rumble of the teams as they drove
up. Bessie gathered up her sun
bonnet and basket, and then, with
very sad face started to go back
over the bridge again, and home.
Did somebody whisper to Dolly
that she jumped up so suddenly
There wasn't live creature in sight
only very old frog. But Dolly heard
very distinctly these words in her
heart: eff God has anything He
wants you to do to-day, don't fail
, Him, will you, dear?''
Perhaps if Dolly had stopped to
think of all the lovely things at the
picnic, she never could have done
it, but she just remembered that
Bessie Stone never went to picnic
in all her life.
Another moment and Dolly went
: flying back over the bridge, an6
crowded the precious handkerchief
that had the money in it into he
hand. "Here's my money" sh'
said ''now go quick, Bessie, O
you'll be late She was little
afraid she might change her mind i
D there was any delay.
: Bessie's eyes opened wide. ''Why
: what'll you do?" she said. ooh,
r don't care about picnics; that is
e not much," answered Dolly bravely.
y Bessie refused at first, but she wa
: very small, and she urged her yer.
hard, and at last she took it.
f "We'I swap lunch-baskets, sai'
Dolly.
She never did things by halves
>. and she had noticed that Bessie
f basket had altogether too lean loo
for basket that was going to a pic
Y mic.
4 So they exchanged and Bessie ra
f. on up the hill, urged by Dolly's CT.
of ''Hurry now, Bessie" benin
her.
u 1t was baking day at MANN
t Cars. She was just holding u
Ii in one hand little cranberry 70
Ii and trimming the edges with til
u other, when the door suddenly burs
open and Dolly herself came rushin
! in like small hurricane.
- "Dear dear !" said mamma, wit
IL the turnover poised in mid-air "Wh
t Dolly, what is the matter? Did 20
lose your money!?
r, "No'm; I've given it to Bessi
Is Stone, coz she lost hers through til
!; bridge and she never went to a pic
d mic in all her life, never
= Dolly winked very fast to keep th
l. tears back, but in spite of all sh
l. could do there were two or three thu
If squeezed through Mamma droppe
IS the turnover on the moulding board
and took Dolly in her arms, and CAV
g her hug.
"Why Dolly Carr" said she, ''I'
e rather my little girl should do a thin
IL like that than have her made queen
= They opened Bessie's lunch baske1
10 I am sure you could never CUES
,e what was that lunch the poor littl
20 Bessie was to carry to the picnic
or It was just two dry crackers and
it piece of Goldfish.
III "Pm so glad | thought to swap:
70 caid Dolly