Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-04-28
BY VIM. E. RYTHER.
From the Miss Lesiie's Maga.ine.
THE TWO MAID EMS.
BY T. S. ARTHUR.

tina Green, lifting her mead, as Vlslter ell
tered the room in which she sat, busily en-
gagged in sewing. "You sec that am full
Of work y
$50 you seem to be- was the quiet reply, |
''but suppose you can spare tonight, for
work Of mercy :" SIS
GLOW work of mercy, Mrs. Hintonl
S'Poor old Mrs Bender is very ill--so i'll
that she cannot be left alone any length
of time. have been up with her two nights
in succession, aud am now looking for one
or two young ladies who will take charge
'Sof her tonight. Can depend on you 7"
"Not tonight, Mrs. Hinton. 1t would
be impossible 1t will take me till IL TO
night, and the most part of tomorrow, to !
finish this dress, which must wear at Mrs.
Corries party tomorrow evening Any 9th
er time would go with pleasure"
81 am really sorry for that have been
TO two or three this morning, and all have
declined on account of this party"
Hannah Ball can go as readily as not,
Mrs Hinton. She had her new dress made
at the mantua-maker's
81 have seen Hannah"
"Does she decline %
eyes"
"That's very strange What reason does
she give p
'She says that if she were to sit up to
night, it would ruin her appearance to-mor-
row eyening-that it would make her look
dreadful"
"There is something in that, you know
yourself, Mrs Hinton. Loss of rest has the
same effect upon me. don't look fit to be
seen for two or three days after loosing a
nights sleep"
''Yes, know that sitting up does not inn
prove the looks much," Mrs. Hinton
grayey remarked; and then after pausing
few moments, got up, and said, as she
moved towards the door
"WelI, must bid you good morning,
Martha time is passing, and / must find
some one who will relieve me, or shall get
sick myself"
81 do hope you WILL" Martha said. in
tone of concern. "Were / not situated
Just as am, should go with pleasure. -
And then the visitor went away. After her
departure, Martha Green sat thoughtful for
some time. She did not feel altogether
satisfied with herself, and yet, on reflection,
she could not see any cause for self-recom-
mendation. Sincerely did she pity the con-
dition of poor old Mrs. Bender, who was
nearly seventy years of age, sick, and with
out any one in the world up to whom she
could look and claim, from consanguinity, a
single kind office. ''But it was impossible
for her TO co. she reasoned, in the effort to
quiet her uneasy feelings, "under the cir
umstances-utterly impossible" Still she
sat thoughtful, without resuming her needle.
At length she aroused herself with the half
audible enthusiastically will go, of
course'-and that settled the matter.
1t was perhaps an hour after, that a
young friend and confdant, dropped in TO
sit an hour with Martha. The conversation
run, of course on the party to be held at
Mrs, Corrie's.
"You will look beautiful in this Dress"
the friend remarked, lifting portion of the
garment upon which Martha was at work
in her hand, "t suits your complexion adj
mirably besides being of rich material,
and attractive, yet appropriate and not too
gaudy in color.
II am glad you think So" Martha replied,
with smile of satisfaction. 81 don't be-
ieve there will be any thing half so elegant
at the party" "There will at least be one
dress there that will fully equal it, the Wis
tier said.
care you sure y in tone of disappont-
ment.
"Yes. As came along this morning,
on my way here, | dropped in moment TO
see Ellen Willard, and found her at work
as you are upon her own Dress She has
certainly selected it with exquisite TASTE
Much as | admire yours, really think that
should prefer the one she has chosen
She will attract much attention, of course,
for you know that she is girl of great
deal of taste, aud knows how to dress to the
very best advantage"
This intelligence had the effect 10 change
naturally the tone of Marthas feelings. As
far as was in her power, she concealed this
change from her friend, but after she had left
her countenance expressed much concern.
The reason was this. young man named
Alton, had paid her good many attentions
for the last few months, and of such a
marked kind that she had suffered her az
fections to become good deal interested
The extent of this interest had not become
apparent to herself. until within week OIL
two, during which time, she thought thai
she perceived slight change in his manner
towards her, united with, on two or three
occasions, perceptable preference for the
company Of Ellen Willard. One reason fol
her being unusually DESTROYS Of making, i
possible, the very best appearance at thu
party of Mr. Corrie, was to fix again the
wavering regard Of Mr.. Alton. To learn
then, that Ellen was likely to equal, if no
to eclipse her, was no very pleasant infor
nation, and it troubled her in spite of every
effort to rally her feelings.
o~I h. e.,