Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-08-05
atlnmth' q Column
Ned's Day of Liberty j.

VINO was pitfOlCuidily loiio "
his own way His mothers com
mands he always received with such
a sullen look that he made her feel
very sad. One morning he had been
left to button his shoes, and he was
pouting over them as usual when
Mrs. Townsend returned to dress
him for school. Taking button
hook from his hand, she said pleas
antly: "There has been new law
passed, my boy. Children are to
have their own way for whole day;
no one is to interfere with them, and
when the time is up they will know
whether it is better to do as their pa
rents say or go according to their
own wishes"
"Hurrahl' cried Ned, "Won't l
have a good time Shall l go to
school today? Yes; I'll lose all the
fun with the boys if l don't. Be-
sides. | won't have to mind the teach
er when l get there How fine +!
/ So without another thought for
his unbuttoned shoes, he threw on
| his hat and overcoat and started.
The boys were having rare fun when
he reached the playground, and he
Joined them heartily. Soon the bell
rang for them to go into school, but
they went on playing just the same.
! They all understood that they were
having their own way now, and they
meant to play as long as they wished.
However, they at last grew tired OF
this sport, and concluded to go inside
and search for different fun. The
teacher invited them to take seats,
but they scorned her invitation.
They laughed and played and talked
and ran around just as if they were
outside.
elbow grand it is not to have to
mind % thought Ned. But at that
moment rough little boy ran past
Ned's desk and knocked over the
basket containing his lunch. Of
course it fell on the dirty floor and
was spoiled. 81 wish he had been
made to mind" said Ned to himself,
But he tried to look happy and to
Join in the general fun.
Somehow, toward noon the priv
lege of playing grew less and less
satisfactory to the scholars, and with
out any APPARENT reason they began
; to feel cross. After that they took
to quarreling, and actually ended il
fighting. The poor teacher looked
verv sorrowful, but she had no pow
! er to stop them that day. Luncl
settled them for a while, but wher
they had taken their last bite they
became more boisterous than before
In the meantime Ned had grown
very hungry, and his feet were we
and cold. His head was aching, anC
the noise of the other children mad
it worse. He sat down and wished
the teacher could get them quiet
but instead the usually pleasan
room was beginning to somewha
resemble miniature battlefield
Ned longed to get out into the still
air. 'sBut what binders me?'' b.
y suddenly thought. And, leaving hi
e seat he hurried out of the noisy room
e Then his feet grew colder and wette
g than ever; his throat began to fee
1t sore, too, and he came to the wis
N conclusion that he had better go di
/, rectly home to his kind mother.
T. 1t was a very tired, very cold an
very sick little boy that crept int
Mrs. Townsend's house that after
noon.
ID When he saw his mother he erie
a: out in a hoarse voice, go, mamma
| 1 don't want boys to have their ow
| way any more" ''You are sick, m
]. son." was all she replied.
/ And taking him in her arms, 81
! laid him in his bed. Then the lit
4 fellow had a peculiar feeling a
8 through his body, and he believed |
! was dying.
4 "Mamma," he cried in alarm
Or don't let me die, and I'll alwa.
d. mind what you say y
e, After that the feeling passed ava
and he saw that his mother was smi
ss ing.
!. "Why Ned, you must have bee
g dreaming p she said.
% And Ned looked down on his nigh
:. clothes, and realized that all b
: trouble had come to him in a dream
cat any rate he said to himse
: with sigh of relief, sit isn't be
D for children to have their own wa
50 anyhow. Congregationalist.
''It's a beautiful evening for