Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1907-09-02
WALTER LYMAN'S LESSON In
POLITENESS.

"Why don't she do her calling in
The daytime?" exclaimed Walter Ly-
man as he looked up from the inter
esting story he was reading. 81 don't
want to go way round to Twelfth
Street with her"
Mrs. Lyman stood by her sons
the shoulder. my son, would you
allow that poor old woman to go
home alone tonight? What if it
were your mother?"
81 couldn't imagine such thing,
mother. You'll never be like her."
sit is very icy. Walter, and just
think how terrible it would be for her
to slip down, and hurt herself; it
might be the cause of her death.
She was very anxious to see your
father, and she cannot see him any
time but in the evening, you know"
Walter was just going to say, "Why
doesn't father go home with her?''
but he remembered that his father
was always quite tired at night, for
bis work through the day was very
arduous. Walter got his cap, but he
was not in a pleasant mood, and IL
did not make him feel any pleasaI n
to hear his brother say, as he went
out of the door, 'sIf it were only
pretty girl, Walt, that you had to go
home with, you wouldn't have any
objections to make, would your"
"Now, Walter" said his mother,
as he waited in the hall for Mrs. Haw-
kns to finish her conversation with
his father, ST want you to be very
kind to the old lady, and give her
your arm, so she won't fall. She isn't
the most agreeable person I know;
but she has had great many sorrows.
She had boy like you, but he died
just when he was able to be of some
help to her. The Lord took her boy,
and now in her old age he expects
other mothers boys will help her"
| Walter was touched by his mothers
words, for he was tender, kind
hearted boy, and he really was very
polite and thoughtful on the way
home. He listened attentively to all
Mrs. Hawkins grievances, which she
pointed out in a confidential manner
to him. He began O feel sort of
championship for the poor old body.
When they got to the one room in
the tenement house that Mrs. Haw-
kins called her,home, she said: "Well
now, you're a good sort of boy to be
so kind to an old body ike me. Most
boys don't want to bother with old
folks. Come in and rest you while"
Walter left bis story in place
where his hero was in great danger
of being lost at sea, but his heart was
SO touched by the old lady's evident
pleasure at the attention he had
shown her, that he went in for few
moments. She showed him all he1
treasures; the geranium in the window
that had its first blossom just coming
out; she unlocked the bureau drawer
and brought out the old daguerreo-
types, and told Walter that this one
was her husbands picture, and tina
one her boys, and, although he had
been dead 40 years, she dropped {
tear on the glass over the picture
Once Walter would have laughed a
the quaint manner in which the DO,
was dressed, but it was too sacred
thing to make fun of. ST think
must go now" he said, when tn,
pictures were put away
"You make me think CT my boy,
she said, as she followed him to tb
door. "Won't you come round some
times of an evening, and cheer me u
? a little?n
Walter promised he would, and di
not forget his promise either. It be
came his particular missionary wor
to look after poor old Mrs. Hawkins
The schoolboys laughed about it an
: joked him a great deal, but they 500
e learned to respect him for the wor
!; he bad chosen to do. 1t was. oil
Y Mrs. Hawkins last few miles of tn
!. journey on cath. She soon wer
. home to be with those loved ones VIII
> went away from her so many year
: before.-Selected.