St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-06-19
The Little InvaIid's Arbor Day.

The Little lnValid'S Arb0r Day.
Jackie was hunting up his cap, and
Betty, with one eye upon the clock, stood
at the sitting-room table hastily strap
ping her books together Grandma, who
had come into the room for Leslie break
fast tray surprised two big tears slowly
running down the pale little face in the
invalid's chair, which stood in the sunny
bay window,
Never mind, my pet" she said, stoop-
ing over Leslie, soothingly. You'll be
we'll before it's time for the roses"
Jackie looked up, and his bright face
clouded.
Don't cry, Leslie" he said. "Arbor
Day won't be any fun without you, any
way"
And then Betty came and put her arms
around her, cuddling her and saying;
Don't cry, sister,"
IL always helped before, you know"
she said, TREMENDOUSLY. It'll be so lone
some thinking of you all potting flowers.
Betty hoped upon chair.
"Ill let Thaddy out" she said, open
ing the canary's tiny house-door. Hell
come down and be company for you,
dear"
Presently she heard a chatter and
clatter around by the kitchen door, and,
yes, that was certainly Jackie's voice
mingling with several others.
While Leslie listened, Jackie burst into
the room from the kitchen, excitedly
dragging box, and after him bounced
Betty with an arnful of empty flower
pots.
Leslie's eyes wdened, and she parted
her lips for a question, when in at the
porch door appeared Miss Chase. At
sight of her teacher she gave a glad little
cry and held out her arms.
Miss Chase bent over her tenderly.
eve couldn't keep Arbor Day without
our little invalid" she said, kissing her.
"The boys will bring the wild flowers
here, and the day is so balmy l brought
the children down so we could have our
little busy bee as usual. We can keep
the muss on the side porch"
10, how good" cried Leslie.
Isn't it fun ?" crowed Jackie at her
side. "There are lots of flowers! You'll
see the pots we'll send down to the hos
pital this noon!"
Leslie's eyes shone with happiness.
The girls slipped in and out by twos and
threes, particularly her dearest chums to
consult her or bring her choice roots for
her own potting; and Jack and Betty
lowered over her, waiting upon her as if
she were little princess.
With loving, caressing touches she
cudded the frail little windflowers and
bluets into the rich mold, thinking with
a sympathy she never knew before of the
sick children in the hospital they were
soon to gladden..
IF Leslie just puts stick into pot it
grows" said Betty, aduiringly.
"And see here" chimed in Jack. isn't
this the beautifulest clump of violets? o,
say, Leslie! Somebody special ought to
have these violets. Wouldn't they make
splendid fighting roosters ?"
"Who could we send them to ?" unused
Leslie, tucking their roots back into the
parent sod. Then she called out, "Bar.
bic" and shy little girl slipped into the
room from the bustling group out on the
porch.
"Will you take this pot of violets to
your Aunt Jane, Barbie, and say Leslie
Hervey sent 'em to her for Arbor day
'specially?"
Barbie's glance grew terrified. She
greatly feared her grim, stern aunt, seat
ed at her carpet-loom in their cherries
home; and only her loving belief in Leslie
gave her courage to assent. The pot
was put aside in the window-seat, and
Leslie turned to another basketful.
"Hellol" cried out CHEEKY voice on
the threshold, and there stood DR.. Hyde,
twinkling down at them. what, Les
lie So, since you couldn't so to Arbor
Day, Arbor Day has come to you! All
right, dear. This shovelful OF woods
will do you good. Why, what beautiful
dog-tooth violets you have therel All
these flowers for charity? Could you
give me that pot, wonder? Pm on my
way to see poor little Bonnie Barber
He's getting over a fever, and how MS
ewes would sparkle if gave him those!
1l La