The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-12-18

autumn. The world was getting very
lonely, now, for the leaves were all off
the trees, and there were no flowers
left. Their father had gone away
somewhere to preach, and their mother
was not well at all that day.
- don't Just know exactly what
time it be-" said Boadicea. When
Fawther takes away the big silver
watch that peels off like an onion. SOS
he can see how to not preach too long
was only two times a day, light an
dark"
"The old cock that looks like little
tall house with wheels in it might tell
u.s." said Hannibal, mournfully.
1t only tells us two times day."
said Blandiui, with a little resentment
toward 1t in her tone, "seven in the
forenoon an seven in the evenin'. 1t
don't be half earnin' its standin'-
room"
eth hev to go to work ag'in when
tn tinker comes ia January" said Par.
thenia.
"Peddler's comm sooner nor that"
remarked Boadicea. "S,id the last
time he was here, maybe he kin fix it,"
Wish he could fix it fore Christ.
mas" chirped Euripides. Then eff
Santa Claus come, he'd look to see
what time it was when he got here, an
we cud set it back, an maybe he'd stay
longer, an give US more things outen
his cutter"
GO Tne teacher of the neighborng
school," said little Melpomene, doubt
fail hA sl,,.,
she could, "says there amt no Santa
Claus"
This theory was met with such a
general howl of maledction that it
dropped dead, and was no more re-
ferred to.
"But," said little Epictetus, another
says he hardly ever brings much of
anything down log. house Chin
blew"
81 wish we had frame house fur
him to come through" said Boadicea,
refectively.
can me too" said Parthenia.
"S'posin' we go to prayin' fur it,"
Prsyin' fur it" was a very COM
mon thing with the Colgrove children.
They did it in their own way, as every
thing else, but they were sincere and
earnest little devotees, and often found
their prayers answered. They had di
vided off in the matter of spokesman;
taking different departments, as one
might say. 1t was decided that Boa
dicea should pray for the frame house ;
and she did it something as follows,
while the rest said "Amen" with all
their little hearts:
90 Lord, we're much obliged and
thank you ever so much for this log
house that we live in. LIS good, as
log houses 90, although it isn't any
palace, like Nero used to have. WHAT
we want is frame one, SOS hat Santa
Ciaus will bring his whole load down
the chimbly of il, which please give it
to us if it amt a-askin' 100 much an
too great a trouble. Amen"
Just as the quaint little prayer was
done, they beard roaring sound
through the woods in the distance;
which told them that the Erie Il Kali
amazoo passenger train was comm e.
They all rushed out to see it, and, as
Usual, got as near the track as they
dared (Which still left an interim OF
several rods), until tie train had come
,nd gone.
Icdon't go 80 fast to-day as il gen.
orally do" said Parthenia. "Oh, it
can't be for stoppin', ken it?"
The Colgrove children had never
seen train stop before; it was great
sight to them. 1t was still greater
one when the passengers all alighted
from the one coach, and employees
began examining the wheels.
"Irs jes' as | tol' ye," shouted man
whom the children heard called "the
conductor" "This journals cracked
an ii amt safe to run the car another
rod
The children were very much sur
prised to hear that the journal was
cracked, although they had not the
least idea as to what that was. But it
gave then new and somewhat depre-
GATED opinion of the train to find that
it could be disabled in any way. They
felt good deal as the Mexicans did
toward Cortez' cavalry, when they
found that it was possible for its horses
to be killed.
All the passengers grumbled when
they found that the car must be left by
the wayside; but there was no help for
it, and it was pushed off the track, after
good deal of trouble, and rested peace
fully upon couple of rails improvised
from two un 'orlunate sapines. The pas.
sengers, with more grumblings, crowded
into the baggage-car, the engineer