News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1895-11-21

ptCulldE HOlS6 ONeIuedUs duus lOOhiuS
up, saw a large flock of wild geese
flying steadily southwark. Their
queer "honkl honkl" floated down
through the quiet afternoon air.
"Oh how [ wish that we could
spread our wings and sail away
south, like thatP' Alice said re-
flectively.
And then to her geese. You stupid
creatures-why don't you join your
fellows and go with them to seek the
plashy brink of reedy lake, or marge
of river wide, instead of staying here
to be roasted? How low they are
fyingP p she added, looking at the
wild geese. which were now just over.
head. Their cries sounded more
plainly, and she turned in astonish-
men at an answering cry from the
baru-yard. There was a strange
commotion among her geese. 81
wonder if they recognize some distant
relatives" she said, laughing; but
her laugh gave way to CONSERVATION
as she saw one big fellow spread his
wings and fly up toward the wild
geese. Another followed, and another
and Alice seemed rooted to the door
step as she tried to realize what it
meant. would they all go?" 1t
seemed so; for when she sprang up
and called Notwithstanding the
peculiar call she always used at feed
ing-time, and scattering the corn for
them-they paid no attention to her,
but with harsh, strange cries rose to-
ward their new acquaintance, and
clumsily, but swiftly, joined them in
the air.
She stood fixed to the spot, watch
ing the departing geese as if fascinat-
ed, while the chickens flocked around
her to pick up the scattered corn.
1t had happened so quickly! Yet
she realized all it meant; no delig ht-
ful lessons; no happy, busy winter;
only the old humdrum work-all her
summers work lost! A food of bit
ter, angry thoughts rushed over her.
She dared not turn and meet her
mothers eyes-not yet. At the
thought of her mother, the angry
thoughts fell back, but the tears
came, and that was almost as bad.
Quick !! Alice Creightou!' she said to
herself, "you must turn round in a
minute! Be your mothers own
daughter, and don't let her see how
this hurts!"
She watched the flock until it faded
from sight in thG distance. and then
turned to her mother with a laugh
(that was not altogether forced, after
all, for the humor of the thing struck
her for a moment) and said -
&C. wonder if they took it for per-
mission? | shall be more careful
how | give advice in the future. One
doesn't usually expect to have it
taken"
Her mother looked at her search
ingIy; saw the struggle she was max
ing to keep from breaking down en-
trely, and said, lightly, l am sure |
never saw advice taken quite SO
promptly. The geese may not have
been so foolish as you thought them. y
Neither dared TO say any more, and
Alice scarcely looked at her mother
as she went about her evening work.
Her father was very much troubled
when he heard the story. My poor
little lassr' he said. q have heard
of riches taken to themselves wings
and flying away, but | never knew
the wise old proverb to be quite SC
literally fulfilled"
"Now father Alice said, trying tc
laugh, "you are disgracing the
family; for plainly see tears in your
eyes, and you know they are forbid
den here"
She kept brave face until she was
upstairs and alone in her room, anC
then she cried herself to sleep
And mother, in her room below
knew it, though she heard no sound
and her heart ached to comfort bel
brave little girl.
, "Can nothing be done for her
John ?" she asked.
Nothing" her husband answered
sadly. II would give anything tt
be able to help her, but l can't THU
J winter"
Mother thought about it far into
the night, and at last confded tt
him plan she had made.
} She watched Alice narrowly all tn,
week, but the girl bravely Tough
: down her encouragement, going
) about her work cheerily, and MOI
thOWing aside her drawing in disap
: pointment, but working at it as earn
. estly as ever. In those days thu
: mother wrote a number of letters
! when Alice was out of doors but sale
never word about them. Thanks
: giving passed, and December came
/ and with it the drawing teacher; blu
Alice, though she did not join hi
classes, was learning other lessons
lessons beyond his power to teach.
On Christmas morning, mother
face wore an unusually radiant smile
: and father went about laughing anC
= nodding at mother and trying tt
, look mysterious; and Alice's wonde
increased; but matters reached eli
max when she found upon her plat
7 a square envelope, from which fell {
, thin letter and little folded slip o
blue paper.
She opened the blue paper-it wal
, a check for fifty dollars.
, The note read :-"Send your girl tt
| me, and I'll put her in an Art Schoo
, for tho raat nf fha xp;ntou ooI ,roJI