The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-01-25
OUR BOYS And GIRLS.
Little Hubert's First Earnings.

toned New England winter. How cold
IT wasl The streams and ponds were
all held by n silent, icy dream, there
was snow everywhere, and in all wind.
loved places huge drifts had formed.
Snow-storm followed snow-storm, with
an interval of a day or two of binding
sunshine; and one morning the little
city of Springfield awoke to find itself
almost buried by snowfall borne in
during the night by strong winds from
the northwest. The streets were
blocked; and, as the struggling dawn
began to tighten the pretty, quiet town,
vague moving forms could be seen in
the upper part of the city, breaking
their way toward the central railway
station.
Some of these were the regular EN-
ployes OF the railroad company; Others
were men and boys out of regular work,
on account of hard times, who were
glad of any opportunity of earning a
small sum to keep the wolf of want
from their door. The voices of these
people, so early astir, attracted the at.
tenton of a slight, pale-faced lad in the
corner room of house on Gray's
avenue; and he opened the window,
pushed back the shutter, and looked
out upon old winters fresh ermine.
This is the heaviest snowfall yet,"
he said to his mother, who was kindling
fire in the small stove. I" mean to
take my little snow-shovel aud 90 down
street. Perhaps l may earn enough to
help about the months rent or TO buy
some more coal. 1t may brig me
good luck to start out to seek my fortune
on Westinghouse birthday"
Ard the first time il is celebrated
in Massachusetts as legal holiday"
smiled the gentle mother, who always
entered into ali Der boys talk as if she
was no older than he. You can go
out if you like, as there is to be no
school to-day; and snow never hurts
boys; they take TO it as naturally as
ducks so water. The flags that will be
hung out will be pretty contrast to
the snow that clings everywhere"
Flags everywherel How oddl :"
echoed Hubert. at will be like having
Fourth of July in the winter | wonder
if any one will think of fire. crackers.
wish had kept some over so as TO set
an example for the other boys, but l
shall not spend my first earnings. |
obdil VI ibS ONCiJ pChbJ hoibC w yOu,
little mother" And having eaten a
doughuut and taken cup of coffee to
break his fast, he put on his overcoat
and mittens. His mother, who had
been rummaging in bureau drawer,
now brought to light a tiny silk flag,
kept as a souvenir of some happy day,
and stuck it in the front of his woolen
cap.
There, that is to show that you are
in sympathy with the spirit of the day.
Good-by, dear, and merry time to
you'll"
The poor young widow watched the
bright boy ntil he turned the corner,
and then gazed steadily through little
space between two tenement houses to
catch another glimpse of him as he
passed down Main street. She was
glad to have him go out, this idolzed
only child of hers; for sometimes the
strain of keeping up cheerful de-
meanor before him was almost insup-
portable.
81 must always be cheerful in his
presence" she said to herself What
kind of a Christian example do | set for
him if am not; and have not Gods
promises =? Why should | ever be
tempted to give way to discourage.
ment?" And she took up her needle
and began her daily task.
Hubert, meanwhile, with his light
snow-shovel over his shoulder, and
whistlpgl as he went, trudged in the
narrow iootpath made by his predeces.
sors straight to the railway station. A;
he reached North Main street, he saw
= little way ahead of him a short, stou
man with a young, fresh, kindly face
and thick white hair.
"There, that is Mr.. Jack Mulliganr
ne said to himself. "He owns the
Connecticut River railroads l mean t.
ask him if | can help to shovel the snow
off the tracks"
AS they reached the entrance of thu
great passenger-house, he ran up to tn,
gentleman to proffer his request, find
ing score of others as eager in from
of him. The young old man marched
straight on to where painting, putin!
locomotive stood, steamed up, ready Il
take the first passenger train north.
''The New York train is thirty min
utes late, already, sir" said the engi
neer; and then, looking down at Hu
bert, he nodded good naturedly-for h.
liked boys and boys liked him-an'
said to the master mechanic: Luthe
Blanks child. Like his father, ism
he?
AS two peas" said the man, gain
gravely and steadily in the uplurne
face. =" He has kept the day we cele
brate in mind, while the perplexity G
the snow and the belated trains put tn
idea that flags would be in order quit
cut of my head. Haven't we bit c
bunting somewhere, Cap'n Fred?"
Glow is that, Owenp' said the Ell
gineer to clean-faced Irishman, VIII
was throwing wood into the fire. DO!
for there was not coal. on til
road at that time.
"I'll see, sor." And Owen rushe
away and plunged into the depths (
some mysterious tool closet, returnir
presently with dozen flags that wei
quickly made fast to the cab, the stean
chest, the dome and the headlight.
Here is one without staff" sa
Cap'n Fred, tossing it to Hubert. +"
is silk, and large enough to tie arour