The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-12
no idea of the solemnness of praying
for such a man as his father"

no idea of the solemnness of prsyipp
for such man as his father"
Aunt Hetty was firmly convinced
that 1t was the greatest presumption &c
ask the good Lord to undertake such q
tough job. The thought of Chubby's
father brought so many other bitter
thoughts with it, that she went back to
her kitchen in very wrathful state OF
mind.
AS for Chubby, his heart was like a
feather for lightness; he had asked in
faith, and was sure of an answer. With
new courage he ran to his garden,
where he hoed and whistled, whistled
and hoed, until supper time. He did
not stop whistling even then, but
bounced into the dining. room with such
breezy note that three tired Fuckers
were blown right out of his mammals
forehead; while Pussy Willow, the cat,
was saved an extra pull of the tail.
Pussy Willow was Aunt Hetty's safety
| valve. A twitch at his long suffering
tail seemed to let off her ill-temper and
restore her to peaceful frame of mind
Chubby prayed his new prayer not
once only, but every day, and many
times day; for he had read about the
widow who asked over and over again,
and he had no notion of being outdone
by poor benighted widow. Moreover,
as school would begin in two weeks, he
felt there was no time to lose. So sure
was Chubby that the new suit would
come in time, that he made it point to
be at the gate every night when the
stage came along, 80 as to be ready to
carry in the box.
The days went by, and so did the
stage. On the last night Chubby
watched it disappear around the corner
with sinking heart.
P'raps," thought he, "I've asked
for too much. The Lord must have
heap of boys to look after. S'pose
plenty of 'em would be glad enough to
get any kind of clothes, without finding
fault with the ft." BY this time he
had reached the haymow.
"Oh, l wish l didn't care, but do,
do"
Just as before, Chubby felt better
when he had cried his cry out, and just
as before, he crawled over to to the
darkest corner and prayed a new
prayer. This time it was for courage
to wear the snatched jacket, and to
wear it with smiling face. This
prayer was answered at once, for there
was not boy in the class who looked
happier, or who studied with better sue
cess than Chubby did that first week of
school.
Then something happened. The stage
actually stopped at Chubby's gate; the
driver carried in box; in a whirl of
joy Chubby tore off the cover. There
was letter on top for his mother,
jacket came next, pair of trousers
next, and-but Chubby couldn't stop to
go to the bottom. With one war-whoop
he changed jackets; twas a glorious
fit. With another war-whoop he stood
on his head, and when Aunt Hetty
came in from her biscuits to see what
the racket was about, there was her
sister crying for joy, and there was her
nephew turning somersaults like mad.
What is the matter?" she gasped,
waving her doughty hands.
" A man. made Jacket" cried Chubby.
"Oh, Hetty," sobbed Mrs. Dixon,
my husband has found the right way
at last; he has gone to work like man;
he has sent these things, and is coming
himself, and there's your check, Hetty,
to pay off the mortgagel''
Aunt Hetty gazed at the box, then at
her sister, then at her nephew, and last
of all at the check. Finally she seemed
to realize what it all meant, and with a
little cry, fell to hugging Chubby, re-
CARELESS of dough, all the while ex.
claiming: "You was an instrument
yourself, Chubby; l heard you praying;
and to my mind, the removing of
mountains amt a circumstance to it,
not a circumstance!"-Ella r. Case,
in Ne,D York Observer.