St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-05-10
TWO BOYS,
.CEugene Field.

TWO BOYS.
There's that side door bell ring
ing again This is about the tenth
time I've jumped up to go to it."
Which was large stretch of truth,
q as Phil knew; but he felt enough i'm
patience for the tenth time as he
d opened the door.
want any buttermilk % asked
q the boy who stood outside. Nice
and fresh
"No; we don't drink it,
The door was shut before the
words were fairly out of his mouth
THAT looks rather hard for boy
Z on hot morning like this"
Aunt Esther was looking out of
the window, and Pills eyes follow
ed hers.
The boys frame was bent to one
q side to balance the weight of the tin
q he carried. He seemed about Pills
age, but there the resemblance ended
In nothing else was he like the we'll
kept boy who gazed out at him
from the shelter of his comfortable
home.
That's So" said Phil, with an in
SldIIl EJdDS VI OdCu dS ne
watched the laborious steps.
The next moment the boy, setting
his can down upon the brick walk,
stopped under the shade of a tree,
tanning himself with his old hat.
To think was to act with Phil.
The result of his first thought had
been the careless. sharp speech.
With his second he had rushed out of
doors.
Say" he said don't go-aren't
you hot?"
With one glance he took in the boy
from head to foot, his mind in the
same instant filling with wonder
why things should be so differently
ordered for this boy and himself
He had a good face, and the eyes
which met his glance OF friendliness
were frank, honest eyes, although
burdened, with a look of care which
he we'll knew never came into his
own.
Look here" he went on, 81 meant
that 1s-we don't any of us drink
buttermilk; but I'm pretty sure I've
heard mother say she uses it for
something in the kitchen. Come
round this way"
He rushed around to the kitchen,
the boy following more slowly, to
find his mother there giving some
direction. With few impetuous
words Phil paved the way for the
reception of the buttermilk.
Yes he said, turning to meet the
boy at the door. Il knew there was
neutrality-suspicious. says it always
IL.
kind of gingerbread, and sometimes
she doesn't know where to find it.
Here, Hannah-two quarts"
I'm ever so much obliged to
you," said the boy with smile, as
he lifted his lightened pail.
Don't hurry" said Phil, as he
started out the door. Cant you
rest httle?' he added, leading the
way to bench under a tree.
II don't know as l ought to-" said
the boy with a glance at his pail
Its hot, you see, and if 1 wait my
buttermilk won't be so fresh"
IN fix that. Hannah" he said
carrying the pail to a back lporch
You set this in the refrigerator fol
a while"
Hannah looked doubtfullv at the
pail. but, observing that it was
clean, contented herself with giving
it little rub, then setting it beside
the ice.
Phil sat down beside the boy anc
talked, forgetting the shabby clothes
and the bare feet in the realization
that one bov had much the same in
terests in life as another.
He took him into the house tC
show him some views of the World:
Fair, lent him book, and invited
him to visit the boys baseball
ground on the occa sion of the mex
match game.
There was new spring IN the steI
of PhiPs visitor, and a new light il
his eyes, as at length he took the ic'
cold butterm1lk and hurried away
He doesn't stoop with it as h'
did," said Phil looking after him
The pals lighter. And l guess
his hearts lighter, too, he woulc
have added only that he wasn't giver
to saying what he called sentimental
things.
But he felt that the hour spent il
showing loving kindness to on
to whom so little in the way o
kindness ever came was as grea
gain for himself as to the other
New York Observer.