The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-10

ana the lightning Mashed 30 wildly that
she could not help screaming with ter.
ror. Her relief was great when a
friendly zousve rushed from the grand
stand, and selling her arm, hurried her
under shelter.
The stand was crowded, and every
one seemed interested in Hetty, who
was wet to the skin, but who did not
think Of herself az all only of the bas-
ket of precious strawberry pies out in
the drenching rain.
1t is too late now" she said, with
| quivering lips and OVERLOOKING eyes,
when one Of the soldiers offered 10 60
| for the basket. mo one could cot the
pies now. They ale all spoiled, and /
cannot have my new frock. l will have
to keep on wearing This one, no matter
ho,o it looks"
Were you going to buy new frock
with the money you expected to get
from the sale of IL G pies?" asked lady
who bad wrapped warm shawl about
the shivering child.
And then, little by little, encouraged
by their sympathy, Hetty told her new
| frie nds of the promise Mrs. Finch had
made, and how impossible it would be
now to have new irock for 4" ever and
ever so long"
Poor little soul " said young man
wearing the uniform of the Kentucky
State Guards. "It's a shame. How
much calico d. es it take TO make a
dress?"
-" Four yards and half" answered
Hetty. You see am not very large
tor my age. But there's the buttons N
thugs N it comes to a good deal; SO
there's no use hoping for it now
The guardsman whispered something
to the soldier next him, who whispered
II to the next and so on, until every one
on the stand knew what had been said.
and they all nodded and smiled as if
well pleased.
Then cap was handed around and
every one put some money in it, until ii
was heavy with silver dimes and quar-
tiers aud two or three big dollars.
And the nome mt he iain stopped the
young guardsman obtained permission
to leave camp, and told Hetty he
wanted her TO go with him to some biz
store to help him choose a present for
his little sister
Hetty's clothes were very wet, and
her sunbonnet was a ruin, and though
she wanted very much to go, she felt
sure the young soldier would be
ashamed TO be seen with her. But he
declared he wasn't, and even took hold
of her hand to keep her close 10 his
side,
After doll had been chosen for the
little girl Hetty had never seen and
never would see, great surprise came
| IN her Shp III fold m ;ol, a..
| dress patterns for herself, all of ging-
ham, which some lady on the grand
stand had told the young guardsman
was more servceable than calico.
Then came purchases OF new white
sunbonnet, some pretty handkerchefs,
four pairs of nice stockings and little
cape. And Hetty's delight may be
imagined when the big bundle was put
into Mr.. BIuce's wagon, and her kind
friend pressed into her hand the re.
naming silver, which was enough to
keep the little girl in bingham dresses
for some time to come.
Mr.. Bruce drove around until he
found old Mrs. Finch, who had been
very much worried about Hetty, lhoug h
OF course she did not say so; and who
hardly credited at first the child's story
of her adventure.
Hetty was proud as well as happy
when Matilda called the next day and
went into raptures over the pretty ging-
hams.
"But guess you deserved to have
EN-. Hetty," she said. YOU'RE the
kind of girl everybody likes. And you
worked hard making those pies even if
you didn't sell them.''
81 Was just the people who felt
kind, v said grateful Hetty. 81 think
this is real nice world, don't you?"-
Florence b. HdlloWeH