St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-02-07
ynr tltr CHILDREN,
"BEN-DOUGHNUTS.v

Oh, mother, can't 20 skating on the
Pond-hole' It's just splendid skating,
and Abby Lotes coming for me-"
mo, Sarah Maria, you cannot go-not
one step"
"Oh, mother" said Sarah Maria, plead
ingly.
II don't see why you want to poster
me so, Sarah Maria. know it isn't fit
weather for skating why, it is a regular
thaw. Only yesterday noon those Sim
mons boys were skating on the river and
at two o'clock it was all open, running
water. Now don't want TO hear an
other word about it'-as Sarah Maria
opened her mouth. "Sit down in the
keeping room and study your arithmetic
lesson like good girl, and pretty soon
you can have nice hot fried dried-apple
turnover"
Sarah Maria went slowly out of the
room; her head was bent down; her fine
light hair, like thistle down, was braided
tightly in little braid which stuck out
stiffiy as she walked away; she jerked
her elbows and twitched her shoulders in
her red and black plaid dress.
Sarah Maria's round, freckled face was
all twisted and knotted up in the effort
she was making not to cry. She was a
"spunky" little girl.
Sarah Maria was not a very pretty
child, and red was not her color, she was
50 pink herself; and today she looked
pinker than usual, in her emotion. Even
the parting Of her hair was pink.
Shut the door," called her her. 80
the smell of the fat won't go all over the
house"
Sarah Maria did not quite dare to bang
the door, but she shut it in very decided
manner.
After Abby Lote and the others had
come and gone, Sarah Maria sat down by
the window and listessly began to study
her arithmetic lesson; but she did more
looking out ofthe window than studying.
Mother didn't say couldn't go and
look on, said Sarah Maria to herself,
presently. 81 guess III go just for a little
while"
So she put on her hat and coat, and
went very quietly out of the front door.
She knew very we'll that she was not do
ing right. She did not take her skates.
"Oh, goody! so you've come after all, j."
called Abby Lote
i've only come to look on a minute"
said Sarah Maria
"Oh, come on, it's such fun; the ice is
lovely 'Ben-doughnuts.'
II haven't got my skates"
mo matter; Carrie Mays just going
home. She'll let you take hers"
mo, guess not said Sarah Maria.
II can't stay only few minutes. I'll
watch the rest"
The ice was very soft and Timber"
bending up and down but not breaking,
as the children skated rapidly over it.
Such "bendy" ice they always called
"Ben-doughnuts."
Poor Sarah Maria She felt that she
must go on, and the children kept teasing
her ito try it just once across and back"
POOH" at last said one boy, you
don't darst to; youare 'iraid cat, that's
what you are. stump you to go across
five times"
This was too much for Sarah Maria,
she never could take Stump" In
twinkling she had put on Carrie Mays
skates aud had dashed out upon the
Pond-hoe.
" Pears to me, Tidy" said Grandma
to Sarah Maria's mother, you are just
leetle hard on Sary, Why couldn't you
have let her go to look on, or skate Just
a leetle mite? ?"
Nov, ma, said Mrs. Brown, as she
quickly filled and folded over dried
apple turnover. Il can't have YOU spoil
ing that child. 1t was not safe for her to
go; and know it is the best thing for
her to stay in the house and she must
learn when say no, mean it. lust see
how still she is"
Just as still as a mouse" said Grand
ma, with a sigh
81 am making her an extra nice turn
over with some lemon juice and a few
raisins mixed in the dried apple, for being
so good"
Sarah Maria did the stump of skating
five times over an especially "bendy"
place; then she and Abby Lote, hand aud
hand, thought that they would skate
across few more times on their own
account. 1t was really very exciting.
The big boy had gone home, and many
OF the remaining children were afraid to
venture far from the shore, the ice was
melting so fast.
Sarah Maria and Abby Lote decidedto
try it once more "to go across like light
ming"