Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-02-18


the little led schoolhouse on the summit
of East Hill and learned their "readin',
rilin and 'rithmetic."
30 Darkis!" said Diadema Pratt
'tdo you remember the little spruce
grove on the aidge of the Pinnacle where
we used to run, noon times, to eat our
dinners?" Diadema wiped her eyes; for
every emotion. glad or sad, opened the
fountain of her tears.
~ guess l do, Dimmy," answered
Dorcas. ss'Twas there we felt the height
and depth, and length and breadth of
things. We could look down, down the
ste, p rocks into the valley where the
stony river flowed and up, up into the
blue sky. Aud when we went at sun
down, what bright castles and gates of
gold we had for our own"
81 think" aid Vashti. 'sthe best mas
ter t e ever had was Elnathan Burton ;
he was so pleasant and patient"
"But what time ont he used to have
with foolish Nancy Blake!' said Dorcas.
"The poor thing never could learn to
write; but this is what she did 20 times
a day."
Here Dorcas rose and, making low
courtesy, said with a comical air of help
ssness, "Pleathe, thir, will you mend
my penn
But Diadema did not propose to be
deprived of her cry. "Darkis," she said,
"naOw you're standiu' there, please do
.peak the 'Dyin' Girl | did luf to hear
you speak that in school-it always made
me cry So"
The others echoed the request Dorcas
repeated the mournful verses in such a
manner that others besides Diadema
found use for their handkerchiefs.
At this moment the door from the
roomy old kitchen was opened, and Amy
invited her guests to come and partake
of bountiful lunch. The browning
glory of this was that each one had her
choice of green, black, or "Japan" tea,
and as many cups as she wished.
Many were the expressions of salts.
faction that Lucy and Amy heard as the
old ladies made their way back to the
sitting-rOom. 1t was a curious phase of
the repressed life that most of them had
not the courage to speak their gratitude
openly.
"What on earth is Ira bringin' here
now?" exclaimed Relief Whitney, who
was standing near window. Spectacles
came off, and all peered down the road.
"There's three men besides Ira; but l
can't tell 'em from Adam, this distance"
said Abigail.
cone on 'em looks like Jon'than Put
man," said Francela.
"What hev they got with them that
looks so much like greet barrel?"
queried Thankful.
''Tum; tum; tum, tum, tum!H ex-
claimed Diadema, whose spirits had been
enlivened by a cup of each kind of tea.
must he Jon'than Putnam and Luke
Hall and Marquis de Layfayette Butter
field, with their fife and drums How
good they did use to play, June trainin'
uays!'
$50 tits them, sure enough, Dimmy,"
said several, as the team drew near.
81 do believe they're goin' to sarynade
u.s." said Almira.
s'Then guess shall have to borrow
a handkerchief from somebody said
Diadema, II do enjoy the music so.''
Almira was right about the 'ssary-
nade." The three old musicians arranged
themst Ives before the house. Luke had
a fife, Jonathan had deep tenor drum
such as was used in the Continental army
and Marquis de Lafayette Butterfield
had a long bass-drum, like a barrel,
which he beat at both ends.
The old men had been good musicians
in their dav. The sight of so many
friends looking through the windows
aroused their enthusiasm, and they
played with almost youthful vigor.
OLD military calls, "Yankee Doodle,'
Hail Columbia followed in qnick
succession.
The old ladies kept time with feet and
hands. vasbti Broadstreet, who
weighed two hundred, limped backward
and forward. but in perfect time, across
the room and exclaimed, '"This is the
way used to march to the music" Dia-
dema wept increasingly in corner.
The musicians closed their scramble
with Bonnie Doom and Aud Lang Syne,
and then Lucy Weston said, '.Some one
must thank the players for their fine
music.''
sDarkis is the one,' said the ladies.
"Mercy me! can't" said d Jrcas.
But Lucy threw scarf over the pretty
old lady's head and lead her to the door
where she rose to the occasion and said:
1--WE all thank you very much, old
friends, for your nice music. 1t brings
back old times. when we was young to-
gether. Only few are left now; but
that makes us think all the more of each
@ her."
Then with graceful courtesy Dorcas
retired, and Lucy invited the musicians
to come in to lunch.
The shadow of Mount Terri le Deep
ened and heightened across the narrow
valley; and the old ladies began to think
Of home, though they were sorry to
part. "Oh, I've had the best time | ever
had in my life.' said Diadems, while
the tears rolled down her cheeks.
Ira distributed his passengers much
more quietly than he collected them !;
and he said to Broad and Bright as he
drove homeward, 81 snum, duno but
what we all got our come-uppance about
them Weston gals. | thought, my self,
when they vent off to Boston, they
wouldn't speak to nobody; but they
don't seem TO he very much stuck up,
judgin' by the way they done to-day"