Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1889-08-05
Broken Promises.

Il IlGGle peace anu QuleI.
Mrs. Holt spoke impatiently, and
a frown contracted her brow as the
noisy steps in the hall grew nearer.
SIT is time they were all in bed
any how" said Mrs. Holt, as the
parlor door burst open, and three
Children girl of five years of age,
and two boys of seven and nine
rushed in laughing gayly.
''Gracious, what a noise. exclaim-
ed George Prentiss, Mrs. Holt s
bachelor brother, a rather nervous
young man, of about thirty years of
age. "Lucy, do send them all to
bed at once. They'll deafen Mrs.
Delwyn."
"Please don't send them off on my
account" cried Mrs. Delwyn, fair,
gentle looking woman, who had ar
rived that day on a visit to Mrs Holt.
81 like children, and don't mind
their noise in the least. You forgot
that 1 lived with my sister, who has
seven"
s'But we want to read aloud that
article in the Review said Mrs.
Holt, "and we can't read with the
children in here. Jessie, Charlie and
BERTHE, go up to bed at once.''
"Oh, mamma, do let US stay just a
little while, cried Charlie, pleading
ly.
"We won't make any noise, man.
ma said BERTHE.
"And it's so lonesome up stairs
whimpered Jessie.
"No, you can't stay; go at once! !"
Mrs. Hollis voice was very impatient.
"Well, then, can we have some of
the candy Uncle George brought
homer asked Charlie.
"Yes; but L can't trust you to
help yourself to it; you'd all be sick.
Go up stairs without any fuss, and
when you are all in bed I'll come up
and give you each a piece. Now CO."
"You'll come straight up, mamma.
'sYes, run along now, like good
children"
The little ones ran to father, moth
er and uncle in turn, gave each an af-
fectionate goodnight kiss and then
rushed off, eager for the promised
treat.
Mrs. Delwyn and George Prentiss
were engaged in discussion as to
the merits of recent popular novel,
but as soon as the door closed behind
the children, the young man rose and
took The Review from a drawer in
the center table.
'.Will you read first?'' he asked,
turning to his brother-in-law.
"No,you may have that privilege,
rejoined Mr.. Holt, laughing.
'sBut is it well to begin before Mrs.
Holt goes upstairs to give the chill
dren that candy?" asked Mrs. Del
wyn.
"Oh, never mind about that" said
Mrs. Holt, as she took up her fancy
work and settled herself in one of
the easiest of easy chairs. 81 don't
suppose they will expect me to come
up"
Mrs. Delwyn laughed.
"If they don't expect it they are
very different from any children /
ever saw BEFORE" she said. "You
may be sure they hurried to bed with
all possible speed, and are inpatient
ly waiting for you now"
"Well, they must wait, then, that's
all. l will give them the candy in
the morning. 1 don't feel equal to
going upstairs now. 1 am tired out.
Come, George, do Begin
Mrs. Delwyn said no more, but
found it difficult to fix her mind upon
the reading, so much in sympathy
were her thoughts with the children
upstairs. She wondered if they
would go quickly to sleep without
complaint or remonstrance.
Mr.. Prentiss had been reading
about half an hour when the parlor
door opened suddenly, and little
vision in a long, white night-dress
and long, golden hair appeared on
the threshold.
'sMamma, Charlie and BERTHE said
amt you ever coming up"
'EJessiel / am astonished at you.
How dare you come downstairs Go
back at once. You'll take your death
of cold; and bare feet, too!'
"But you said you'd come upstairs
and give us the candy, mamma, and
we
s'Not another word! Go back at
once. You shall have the candy in
the morning.
The child burst into a flood of
tears, and went sobbing upstairs,
leaving the parlor door wide open.
Mrs. Holt, with a heavy sigh, rose
to close it.
s'What unreasonable little crea-
lures children are?" she said. CHOW,
/ suppose Jessie will cry for half an
hour, at least"
Mrs. Delwyn felt like saying, 'and
no wonderI 70 but restrained herself.
The next day was spent by the
friends in sightseeing. Mrs. Holt
was anxious that Mrs. Delwyn should
miss nothing in that direction, and
took her from one public building to
another until they were both tired
out.
81 must lie down for an hour if 1