The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-05-03
My Little Sister.

When was six years old | was sent
on visit to my grandmother. 1t was
very pleasant for the first day or two,
but after that | longed unutterablY for
home.
81 suppose she could go back to-
night" said grandfather.
con, tomorrow will be soon enough"
said grandmother.
Day after tomorrow will be most
convenient" said Aunt Martha. at
is not a matter of the slightest import
ance, anyway"
That was always Aunt Martha's
way-to insist that matters which were
fraught with veal or woe to me were
not of the slightest importance!
The next day was 80 long that |
felt myself growing percepubly aged.
Toward its close I comfOrted myself by
thinking that when | did 90 home my
mother would be sitting as usual in her
little low sewing. chair She would
| draw me to her and kiss me, and ask
me if had been a good girl. Always
when | went away she told me to be
good, and when | came back she asked
me if had been good.
! My father would make no reference
to goodness. He would say, Hullo,
chipmunkl What are you doing back
here? l thought l put you off these
premises once" And all the time he
would hold me tightly in his arms, and
| would put my face in his neck and
think what funny father he was, and
how kind and nice he was.
| would tell them both how homesiCk
l had been, and when they said they
could just as we'll as not have sent for
me before, would say, " 1t is not a
matter of the slightest importance"
Then they would be much surprised.
The next day after this long one that
/ have told of, as grandfather's hired
man was going to the town few miles
beyond our house, it was arranged that
he should drop" me on the way.
When he discovered how eager / was
to reach hume he said it was very in
julious to horses to make them trot. 1t
put them into fever. A slow walk was
the best thing for them.
This made me so angry that | slipped
cut at the back of the lumber wagon,
and ran home with all the speed | could
muster. Arrived there, l flew painting
through the lower part of the house,
and then rushed in dismay to the
kitchen.
"Sallyl Sallyl" screamed at the
cook; where is mamma? What has
happened?
Sally deity lifted me by one arm,
and set me with unnecessary force on
chair
Stop your noise" she said. " Your
mother is sick, and you're not to dis.
turb her,"
sat still for a few moments, trying
to realize the condition of affairs. Then
through the open door of the woodsheG
| suddenly espied pair of dirty boots
belonging to my father 1t was always
delight to me TO black my fathers
boots; and | instantly made amends
for past neglect by kneeling on the
woodshed floor, Selling backing
brush in one hand and beloved boo
in the other, and polishing it 10 a STATE
of glossy blackness.
Well, | declare! - exclaimed ia
miliar voice in the doorway; if hers
isn't papa's girl pitching into papa
old bouts"
dropped boots and brushes, anC
sprang into papa's arms.
Yes" snapped Sally, GROSSLY, " anC
, with big blotch of backing on be
, clean white apron
1t will probably wash out" sale
papa.
" Indeed, sir, but it won't" retorteC
Sally.
began to feel anxious and miserable
not that 1 cared for the apron, but
was afraid my father would reprov,
me. Instead, he smiled at me.
"Oh, them" he said to Sally, il
that case il will probably stay in"
My heart swelled, aud | assumed al
! air OF dignity. 1T is not matter o