Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-12-07

full Of blossoms for each. And Of her own
accord she knelt for the kiss
What is your Manner she remembered
to call as they went out of the yard.
Tommy" said boy number one, and
Jimmy" said boy number two.
The next day saw pretty much the
same scene in Miss Rebecca's door yard,
and the next and the next and the next,
only with each new day the procession,
headed by Tommy, was larger than the
day before. Miss Rebecca gave and gave
and gave. She finished the syringas and
plundered the ounce bush, until one
morning she woke to the fact that the
blossoms were almost gone. Another
visit and she would have given her last
spray, even the buds. And then the
click Of the gate under Tommy's fingers
would sound no more.
The day suddenly seemed less bright
and the air grew heavy. She should
miss Tommy.
Then she thought OF her roses. They
were blooming, now, in all their beauty.
but her roses were for the church festival.
1t was impossible to think Of their going
elsewhere. No, Tommy could not have
her roses.
she gave the last Of the ounce blossoms
to the outstretched hands, and worked
the rest Of the day with dull persistence
It was the last she should see Of Tom
my, she was sure Of that. Still, when the
morning came again she took her sickle
and made a pretense Of cutting the grass
She trimmed the edges Of the smallest
spear of green, and let no dandelion or
plantain leaf escape her; but no Tommy
came
So 1t went on for two long mornings
On the third day Miss Rebecca put on
| her second best hat and dress and stood
| irresolutely at her front door. She would
/ 20 and see the committee about her roses;
| rha On hy wa N
/ some of those back streets; she could just
/ as well as not and she hadn't been round
/ that way for ages; there was no knowing
what changes had taken place.
| She peered over her glasses in the al
rection Of the back streets, and her heart
| gave a thud. for there, trudging toward
her, alone, almost at her gate, was Tom
my.
"Ain't you got just one more nice
fiower?' he greeted her. RS come for
one more"
Miss Rebecca sat down abruptly on the
Tommy" she commanded. come
here"
Tommy marched up to her.
You go of and get all the other little
boys you can find. and the little girls
and come back here quick. and there1
be some more nice flowers; do you under.
stand. dear, all the nice flowers you car
carry?"
what did one day Of glory and self.
Importance matter; Tommy had come fol
some more flowers. and there were tht
rose. ~Ne would beg some for the fes
tival or Jy some, or get them somehow
but Tommy should have hers.
She waited at the side gate for th'
small rabble that gathered at Tommy
sunni ,, and when they came led then
into the guarded region. And while the
rified her bushes and climbed her tree
and trampled her grass she sat blissfull!
by watching the havoc. The angle
softened in her face, the years faded from
her eyes. And when the laden an,
stumbling children went out. she drew
Tommy to her side. She held him tight
while she said boldly. as one who nigh
have known children all her life, ''There'l
be apples and pears and grapes by an
by; you'll come and get them, won
your
Yes" said Tommy serenely; ar
come and bring all the little boys an
girls" Then he smudged kiss on tn
side Of Miss Rebecca's nose and trudge
of.
A belated sense Of humor awakened 4
! Miss Rebecca's breast.
Il shouldn't wonder" she sighed, 81
the next thing I'd be putting up a sigr
'wanted-Boys to climb over my bac
fences and help themselves TO m
grapes 1.-THE Outlook.