The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-03-30
Our Sons amo Girls.
Our Little Milkman.

He is just three feet and four inches
in height, has bluish-gray eyes, cheeks
that are always red and usually chapped,
and his name-well, we will just call him
Mllkman, for this is true character
sketch for little folks. We are abso-
| lutely sure of good measures of milk,
and that it will not be watered, but not
at all sure that he won't spill it, if he
comes 80 cross lots" as he often does.
This morning he came in all breathless
with haste and excitement, and, without
taking off his cap, as he usually does
the moment he steps into the house, he
exclaimed to Miss A., Won't you Jest
come out here and get some blue and
green and white vi'lets."
Thank you; | am afraid it's little
chilly out this morning, "replied Miss A.
ITS kind o. cold down here"
assented the milkman, but up in the
orchard its jest as Warm"
Perhaps l will go this afternoon,
/ but this morning l had rather sit by the
fire and visit with you" and my visitor
9 smiled so sweetly that the milkman
apparently was as well pleased as
though she had accepted his invitation,
and, taking off his cap, he seated him
self by her side.
81 was quite glad to see you at
Sunday-school yesterday" said Miss A.
do you say your prayers every
single night if you are awful sleepy"
asked the milkman. Evidently the
topic had been brought to his mind at
Sunday-school.
"Of course do" was Miss AS
reply.
" Do you like to?'
eyes"
"What makes your" still queried
the milkman. 90, because l want
God to forgive all my sins, and watch
over me while sleep, and can't see if
! am in danger. You know God never
sleeps, but watches over US day and
night"
Miss AS answer evidently was i'm
pressive, for presently our little milk
man remarked. When l have lots
of calves l shall sell the very best
one I've got and put the money into
| the 'tribution box for the Waterman"
Then, dropping his voice, he ex-
planned, "I'm goin' to call God the
Waterman, cause he watches over
| folks, you know"
Suddenly changing the subject, he
said: I" / s'pose you heard my fathers
wife died Sunday?"
Upon seeing her look of surprise, he
added in low, wheedling voice, while
comically winking his eyes as if to coax
Miss A. into the play, "I'm jest
playin', you know"
"Why no, hadn't heard of it," said
my friend, falling into line.
"Well, she did, and now I've got my
father to sport, sides my four boys,'
said the milkman, rather pompously.
why, that will be hard for you,
won't it?
80, that amt nothin'," was the re-
ply with a toss of the head, I'm a
great shooter. One day Hardwick
an l killed between twenty an a
thousan' squirrels with nothin' but
powder horn half full of powder, an we
had 'em for supper"
Who is Hardwick?" asked Miss A.
He's my oldest boy"
"How old is he?"
&C Lei me see," said our milkman,
crossing his legs and looking medita-
lively at his boot. He's bout nine
teen. Don't nineteen come first before
twenty-one?" he asked parenthetically
On being assured it did, he added,
Yes'm, he's nineteen an I'm twenty
one"
Indeed" exclaimed Miss A.
"He's been breakin' calves this
mornin,' an he's got 'em so they'll 90
! into the woods all by themselves an
get load of wood,-or they would if
they could load up the wood"
" Can it be possiblel' said Miss A,
expressing all the surprise which her
companion would possibly desire.
" An they are nothin' but calves
they amt but fifteen year old; but l
tell you had to pay lots of money for
'em."
"You did How much? asked Miss
A.
Four dollars an no to boot. You
just come to the door an see 'em."
Where are they?" asked Miss A.,
following our mikman to the door.
Down by the G ite there"
How we'll matched they are!" said
Miss A., looking admiringly at the gate
eyes, can't tell EN- part, 'cept when
say Brindle, haw buckl' the left
sided one knows it in a minute"
Just then playfellow went past, and
our milkman cried out, Whoa, Buck,
Brindlel Oliver, Oliver, head my oxen;
they are running away" and off both
boys ran down the street after the i'm
aginary cattle.