The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-12-06
OUR BOYS AND GIRLS,
Little All Black.

grtate.t y easure ana recreation was
daily scamper along the valley road, on
the gle sy back of pretty All Black. He
was, indeed, iightly named. His thick
satin coat was of midnight blackness.
He was gentle, too, and possessed O
wonderful amount OF endurance and go.
He had been given US by our wealthy
PHILADELPHIA uncle, Clement MAdoc
Holt, because my twin bro.her and |
were both his nanesakes. We were
twelve then, and thoroughly dissatisfied
with our busy, ro3aic home-lite.
"Clem," said Maddy, the first Sep
TENDER day OF 1861; "we have worked
harder this summer than any boys of
our egg in the whole county. Pm sick
of it all, and so are YOU. Suppose we
end it by going awayl"
"You m, an by running off2'
eyes, Gem, ! mean just that. We
will 90 to ULc,e Holt in Philadelphia
But it's miles aud miles tiom here,
and we haven't much money" | added,
reluctantly.
Yet Maddy only laughed.
81 know it, Gem. All Black can
carry us both, and it won't cost a penny.
We want an educa ion, and we want to
q rich, like Unc Holt. We never
will here on ia hers farm. And so
I've made up my mind TO start to-day"
And | am goiug with YOU" L said,
admiringly. "What head you always
have tor planning and executing'
"Wait till We get out into the world,
Glenn. III paddle my own canoe, and
yours, to ~
. But, Maddy," l put in, uneasily
"can we--should we leave mothelT
Our ey, II to the four b,re feet on
he ground before US. Dear, patient,
uic mplainir mother For The mo-
ment we had forgotten her.
Steve is ten now, and most as tall
as we are" repisd Maddy, ct last.
"Hp'll be good TO mother, never fearP'
But we are her oldest sons" | sug-
gested again, with only half emphasis.
"She'll be glad enough that we went,
if we come home itch some day, and
grown up men al that"
BAT she may die before then"
faltered.
"Don't say or think it, Glen. We
have our own wav to make, an we've
GOT to make it. No help from father OF
mother eith,r +, for that mater. We've
goL to 90, and now for the Engagements
We have two good suits apiece, an
they can 90 into one bundle. In fict
Glen, they are tied up already, down
in the bushes by the lane gate"
" Why, M ,doc HohV' | cried, il
establishment.
"You see, I've thought about it
long time" he went on. You cal
ride All Black 10 night as usual an
wait for me out in the road"
"But won't we give mother good
by9'
1t can't be, Glen. She'd read u
through in a minute"
"AIl right" | said, slowly. For
great lump rose up in my throat at tn
thought.
Alter chores, stole back to tn
kitchen.
Mother" l asked, with assume
careessness; may Madly aud L rid
All Back?'
= "Of course, child. Don't you do
every nj ght of your lives?"
l kissed her for the answer an
turned to walk away.
"Clem," she called, care you sick?
Ono, mother"
"Be careful of the pony. Faith,
Z thinks he isn't well. Don't go far, al
y be back before dark"
And l went on without wor
Brother Steve was whisting in tt
: wood shed, and father was down in Il
poultry yard. Maddy, l knew, WI
waiting for me out in the road.
saddled All Black, and was off in
moment. had left home.
Glenn" cried Maddy, from ii
hedge. IL guess it's all right E
around. I've got the clothes, am we
put on our second-best suits rigI
here"
1t was hurriedly done. Indeed,
never remember dressing in less tim
And soon were up and away.
"We're one hundred sixty poun,
for All Blacks back" said, with
forced laugh. "Father thinks he
sick, but that is nonsense"
Gwen reach Philadelphia in week
said Maddy. We're no weight at ,
for Canadian pony"
"What will we do when we g
there?" l ventured.
Work." aid Maddy again.
"But won't we go to Uncle Holt'si
mot at first. He would send
back On sight. And we've got to 81
All Black. Errand boys don't tide {
horseback, and |, for one, am goiI
into g ocery. See if don't have
store OF my own in ten Years. timel I"
you'll let me tend it for 20
, Maddy?'
"Of course. But you amt ambitio
enough, Glenn. You must earn stor
too."
"Unce Holt may help u.s."
" Perhaps-perhaps not. Better n
depend on him f)r anything"
All Black was going at good ga
l looked back, and our farm house "
already out OF sight.
Maddy," l ventured again, "whe
are We going to spend the nighl?"
so, don't know. Ina woods som
where, guess"
/ shlvered at his answer. If the
was ever coward born, it was myse
7 Clement Holt. And we were going
sleep in the woods. Why. the thong
of il was terror to me. We hdsten'