The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-10
Selected Storm.
Hetty's Adventure.

small for her aye; but she was 30 active
and intelligent that she could be trusted
to do all kinds of work, aud was great
help TO old Mrs. Finch, with whom she
lived. Not that Ms. Finch ever said
30, or gave her word of praise. Far
from it. She was a cold, stern woman,
who had peculiar ideas about bringing
up children. She did not think prais Q
or comm. ndation good for them. and
she was 50 much afraid of spelling HetIy
by kindness that she seldom spoke to
her unless necessity compelled her to
do so. Sue often sewed all day by the
window of the little kitchen without
even glance at The small figure Hitting
30 industriuusly from one task to an.
other. She was a lonely, disappointed
old woman, who had grown bitter and
morose, aud there was no love or ten
derness in her heart for anybody. She
made her livlng-a very scanty one-by
sewing, and she sewed from Monday
morning until Saturday night, without,
probably, a misgiying that Hetty might
be lonely and sad.
But she had to put away her ing
when the time came to make what
Hetty called the "drill pies" and
wonderful to relate-she even remarked
that if the pies sold well she would buy
the child IA new dress-a promise that
made Hetty's cheeks flush with Joy
She certainly needed new dress, for
she had only two-a brown Bingham,
and pink calico. She called the calico
her best; but there was not much
choice between the two, for the ging-
ham had been darned and patched until
there WIS very little left of the original
material, and the pink calico was faded
almost white, and was so short that al
though the hem had been let down the
skirt barely reached to her knees.
Mr.. Finch owned the small house in
which she lived, and the two acres If
land surrounding it, and, though there
was no orchard, there Was 90, d sized
strawberry bed in the rear, which fur
nished berries so large and sweet that
Hetly hunted the vines regularly every
morning that not one might be lost.
1t was her own idea to make the drill
pies" and Mrs. Finch had agreed that
the strawberries might in this way be
made profitable. The city, five miles
distant, was full of soldiers who had
gathered from all parts of the country
for the military drill, and Hetty was
sure they would IT adily buy the pies
Ii was only natural she shou d think
30, for The pies presented such tempt
Ing appearance as they came one att r
the other from The oven, that she
longed to try one herself, and, nd she
dared, would have suggested TO Mrs.
Finch to make little turn over out of
a small piece of pastry that was left.
But she hadn't the courage. and of
course Mrs. Finch did not think of it,
and the piece of pastry went into the
four sack to be used as the under-crust
for potato pudding the next day.
Mrs. Finch made potato pudding very
often, tor it was, as she had once re-
marked, both cheap and filing"
H, tty was in culver of excitement,
as, having taken advantage of Mr..
Bruce's offer to "gve them lift" t.,
the city in his light wagon, she rode
along the quiet country road with the
pies in basket beside her, care fully
covered from the dust, and an old
quilt over her knees to prot, ct from
either rain or dust the pink calico,
which had been freshly done up" for
the occasion. She could think of little
except the prospective new dress, and
wondered if Mrs. Finch would consult
her at all in regard to the color and
pattern She wanted dark blue with
tiny white figure, having heard old
Mrs. Symonds say that dark blue cali
Goes seldom faded in washing, and
"tOOk starch well 1.-TWO very impor-
tan considerations with Hetty.
The b uces lived very near Mrs.
Finch, and little Matilda Bruce, the
only daughter, had so many dresses
that Hetly was quite bewildered when
ever she tried to remember them all.
Aud Matilda had often remarked that
it must be just dreadful )" to have only
two frocks, and she wonder d how
Hety could stand it," II would be
very gratifying, Hetty thought, to APP
pear before Matilda in brand new
calico; and long before the city was
reached she had rehe arsed in her i'm.
agination the conversation that would
take place on the occasion between her.
self and her little neighbor.
Mrs. Finch wisely concluded that
HeLty would make a better peddler
than herself, so when they neared the
encampment she gave Hetty the biz
basket containing the pies, and sal
down on the grass in vacant lot tc
wait her return.
They ought to sell for fifteen cents
apiece, Hetly," she said but it looks
"a il storm was comm up, N if il
sets in to rain, sell 'em for anything
you Can get."
The sky was very dark, great storm
clouds were gathering in the west, ant
there was loud clap of thunder before
Hetty reached the camp. But she
kept bravely on, eager to dispose of heI
wares, aud was delighted when 6
soldier in the uniform of zouave &C
cos ed her and asked if The pies were
for sale.
"I'll take one," he said, and then hi
called to half dozen of his regiment
who were standing short distance off
aud told them "to come up lively II
they wanted chance at something
70 d."
Hrttv's heart beat fast with delight
She had had no idea her work would
BIZ 30 easy, and she was wat ching with
great eagerness the approach of the