The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-02-08
)UR BOYS and GIRLS.
A Broken Pledge.

sack warm enough TO wear"
90, mother, please let me go; can't
bear TO mice my lessons" coaxed nine.
year Josie, but Mrs. Carr looked
out OF the window at the driving snow,
and shook her head.
I'm sorry, but you know you was
shiveiin' when you came in last night,
and it wouldn't do to have you take
bad cold"
You could wrap her up in your
shawl o.day, mother" suggestt d Dick,
who disliked to see the disappointment
pictured in Josie's face. "P'raps
fatherll be able to buy her a new sack
soon"
"P'raps So" said the mother, with
sigh. Then she brought out the large
shawl, and Dick assisted in bundling
&he little girl up.
Josie looked like gray ball, as she
trotted along by Dicks side, chattering
gaily to her brother.
"You needn't wait fur me after
school, Josie, cause Pm goin to the
committee meetin'," said Dick, as they
drew near the village. You'll not
mind going home alone?'
mo-" replied the little girl, hest
%btihB'J1 tuub ohC GlSh
would have time to 90 with her to the
end of the village street. But she did
not say this, for she knew he was anx
ious to be at Miss Danes at four o'clock.
She was very proud of the fact that
Dick had been appointed one OF the
memb Sra OF the lookout committee.
After school, Dick fingered moment
10 wrap Josie up in her shawl, then
hastened off in the opposite direction
from that taken by his sister. The
child quickened her steps as she came
near the post office. She had dread
of the rude boys who coDgregattd on
She front steps. AS the odd-looking lit
Gle creature appeared, the boys ex-
changed glances of amusement.
"HellO, Mother Bunch" cried one
lad. end his companions joined him in
load laugh.
"Say, couldn't you sell me yard or
Gwo of this?" cried another, seizing one
end of the fringe.
Poor Josie, painting and excited, sue
ceeded in twiiching the shawl from bis
Gingers, and ran down the street, not
daring to slacken her speed until she
was out in the fields, far away from her
tormentors. Then she sat down by the
roadside and cried bitterly. Here her
brother found her, half an hour later,
as be was on his way home.
"Who were the boXs2" cried Dick,
his eyes flashing. wv
"I don't know, on the one that
called me Mother Bu0ch is in your
room at school. Why, Dick, he comes
TO our junior meetings sometimes. l
wouldn't think if be wanted to be good,
he'd do such mean things as that,
would your
"Was it John Parry; that boy who
lives on the corner near Miss Dane's?"
eyes, that's him. Mebbv he didn't
know it would scare me so, Dick"
81 hate him." cried her brother, pas
sionately.
Josie looked into the angry face, with
greved, startled expression. go,
Dick, you mustn't say that; He wouldn't,
you know"
The boy turned on his heel and
walked away. Poor little Josie
they'd orto be 'shamed," he muttert d.
The next afternoon at recess one of
the older girls was reading aloud an in.
teresting story to Josie and several
other children, when an unusual COM
motion was heard on the playground.
One of the girls came running in, cry
ing excitedly, "Josie, your brother is
fighting; him and John Parry's Just
pounding each other like everything
Josie's dark eyes dilated with terror,
and she turned beseeching look on
her teacher. SO, Miss Morton, please
come and make 'em stop. Dick never
fghted before. o, dear, / wish be
wouldn't. Please come quick, Miss
Morton"
A crowd OF boys were gathered
around the combatants, and Dick was
using his fists vigorously, his usually
bright face drawn into an ugly scowl.
40, Dick, Dick, please quit,
screamed his little sister, but the boy
shook her off.
GO way JOSIE" he said hoarsely
When Miss Morton had succeeded il
separating The two boys, she sternly
babe them 60 to their homes.
''Yes, you may go, too, JOSIE" sh,
said gently, as the child's fearful fact
was turned to her appealingly. S.
when Dick was ready to leave the school
room, be found Josie waiting for him
Poor child, she offered little comfort al
she walked along by his side, every few
hhOhSuSo oObOihS Out1 W DlSh3 JOt
broke your pledge. Whatever did yo,
do it for?" and again, " What'll Mis-
Dane say, Dick. visit I'd never tel'C
you bout them boys. didn't thinl
you'd do anything like that"
The boy made no response to his sis
ter's reproaches. He knew he deserved
more than she had said. If any on,
had told him that morning that he
Dick Carr, who was trying to be
Christian and an Endeavorer, would
give way to his temper in such man
ner, he would have thought it an i'm
possibility. But few tauntipg word
from John had recalled wildly the un
kind treatment of his sister, aud befor
he realized what he was doing the frs
blow had been struck.
When the children reached home
they found no one there, for the mothe
was out nursing sick neighbor. JOSH
moved quietly about, coaxing the fir
70 burn, while Dick sat down in from
OF the stove. Presently the little cir