The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-02-03

boys Ibis father said that every DAY:
Mamma, / irish you would make
that call with me to. day." coaxed Jen-
ME.
mot to-day" answered mamma.
81 haven't had breath of fresh air to-
day, and l have one or two errands
down town"
81 can do the errands," said Giles.
"But you can't breathe the air for
me-" laughtd the mother of fifteen
year-old Giles. "What glorious all
day it has been, and there is some of 1t
left now, if the sun is almost down.
After her errsnds were done Mrs.
Henderson stood on the corner medi-
tating which way to walk for another
breath of fresh air. Down the wide
street toward the church looked tempt
ing and she turned. stepping brisk y.
For five minues she kept on, not meet
ing any one, enjoying the keen air and
the yellow maple leaves strewed every
where.
"Can you give me something?"
pleaded a voice. Walking hurriedly
she had not noticed tie figure she had
just passed. She turned, and saw an
overgrown boy leaning against fence.
His round, brown face was very serious,
and his big brown eyes full of tears.
"Give you something? What Eor?"
To pay my fare"
Where are you going?"
To Brooklyn"
Do you live there?"
Eyes, and lost my ticket. In this
hole in my pocket. put it in there"
{" 1t wasn't very safe place, was it?"
"No; it WASN'T. And I'll get it
mended when | go home. Father sent
me to Hackettstowp, and Tn walking
home. am afraid l can't get home to-
night, or | wouldn't ask you. | never
asked for money before
when did you 60 to Hackettstown?"
Yesterday"
"Where did you sleep last night?"
d" In barn out in lot"
Are you hungry?'
"No; I'm not hungry"
" Have you had any hing to eat?"
81 had some dinner yesterday.
couldn't ask for anything"
why, you child You must be hun
cry"
"Oh, no." with the big tears drop
ping, "all | want is to get home. l
can't walk there to night"
&" | should think not"
" Pm not SO tired; but it is long
way"
"You are twenty-five miles from
New York now-from Hoboken. Well; ,
the next train down is af,er six. Come
home with me and eat something; and
I'll get you ticket to New York"
" am much obliged to YOU" choked
Rob
You have pluck and perseverance
enough to make good soldier" re-
marked Mrs. Henderson as they walked
on together.
MY grandfather was soldier; be
was in the war of 1872. And my father
has a pension; he was in the Grand
Army"
"Then l think for the sake of my
country should do something for you.
My home isn't far; you will be in time
for the train and be home before eight
O'clock"
"Oh, yes, I'll cut up Barclay street,
and walk across the bridge, and my
street isn't far from the bridge"
Have you mOther?"
In reply to her quick and sympathetic
questions Rob told quite a story about
his home life; with each reply the lady
became more interested in the boy.
His slow, pathetic voice, overgrown
boyishness and luminous, fearful, big
eyes touched the motherliness that went
out to every living creature. While he
sat in the dining-rOOm eating thick
slices of bread and butter and a saucer
of baked apples, the tears never left his
eyes.
II am much obliged to YOU" were
all the thanks he could speak.
On the way down the hill to the sta
ton Rob answered her questions sim.
ply and in few words; only once did
he speak any thing of himself, and ther
it was to exclaim over the beauty of {
Virginia creeper that climbed to thu
chimney of house they were passing
When Mrs. Henderson gave him hi!
ticket she put a book into his hand
Il would like you always to remem
Der this little experience when 20,
were self-reliant and brave. This bool
is named Fifteen and will suit yol
because you are fifteen. 1t is about {
girl, but girls have great deal to do il
boys lives, and think you will like it
And remember that the lady who wrote
the book found you"
"But I wasn't lost" persisted Rob.
"No," laughed the lady, "you were
! only on the way home"
The next evening she received the
postal addressed to herself that she hat
given him. In pencil, and in plain
round hand he had written: ~ go
safe home. ! was glad to get home.
7 like the book very much Please writ
, to me. My pocket is mended. Mrs
N. Conklin, in Advance.