Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-05-12

soul, and hushed her passions into rest. 1t
would seem impossible for any one to look
upon her, in her innocence and purity, and
cherish vindictive feelings towards her but
the very contemplation of this innocence
and sweetness, only added fuel to Aunt
Phillis' fire.
Impudent little mink, muttered she, Il
wonder how she dares to sleepP
1t is hardly uncharitable to suppose that
she would not have been sorry if a stray
spark had fallen on her muslin night cap,
and scorched the bright locks that wander
ed over her brow. Aunt Phllis sat down
the candle, seated herself in front of the fire,
and placing her feet on the fender, fell into
a reverie.
1T is very cold, said she, at length, draw
ing large shawl over her shoulders I am
glad told them to keep up fire in Mr..
Banks room tonight Ifhe should get the
govt in his stomach, he might die, and !
wouldn't have him die for a thousand dol
lars, before
She stopped, for she found she was think
ing aloud, and became conscious Elmira
was listening, for she laughed aloud.
Pm sure there does not seem much dam
ger of his dying, with his red face and stout
body, said She Uncle Clements looks like
a shadow to him. But really, Cousin Charles
is very handsome, and seems very much like
gentleman too He is not dressed meanly,
either-and looks proud enough, though he
is so poor. Don't you think he is hand
some Aunt
Il don't think any thing about him, re-
piled she sharply; i don't want to hear
his name, or his fathers either | wish
they were both in Nova Zemba'
They might as well be in Nova Zemba,
as the place they are in now thought Elm-
ra, for all the comfort they get in it,
But she was prudent enough not to eX-
press this idea She began to take off the
ornaments from her hair, and while engaged
in this operation before the mirror, sud-
den thought seemed to strike her.
WAS mother very handsome, Cousin Phil
lis 2 asked she twisting a string of pearls
round her fingers, again and again.
What question !! repeated Aunt Phillis
She looked we'll enough, believe-noth-
ing extraordinary. WhyP
Because every one says Leila is the i'm
age of her, as if it were the greatest compli-
ment in the world. wonder who am like
for l am not in the least like Leila
You are said to resemble me, said Aunt
placent air Il heard MIR. Banks say there
was a striking resemblance
Now, Aunt, you know he never said any
such thing replied Elmira, deeply morti-
fed he said there was a family resemblance,
and that was all.-How can you say, Aunt,
look like youl There isn't a feature in
our faces alike-and then you look so much
older p
Elmira forgot her fear of her Aunt in her
wounded vanity; or she would never have
dared to breathe the hint that she thought
her older than herself, or less handsome
Really, Miss, cried Aunt Phills, giving
the fender push against the fire place as
she spoke it's great insult to be said to
resemble me, is it | am not so old or so ug-
ly, askp be ashamed to look in the glass with
any one. Really, these bread and butter
Misses think any body, who has arrived at
years of discretion, is as old as Methuselah,
and ugly too, forsooth. Well, the world has
got to a strange pass when little girls not
only think themselves wiser and better, but
younger and handsomer than any body else
She took up the candle with jerk, gave
the fender another push, and walked out of
the apartment in a highly acidifed state of
feeling.
Look like her, indeed = said Elmira, ex-
aiming herself critically in the looking
glass; the old fright She might have been
dug out of the ruins of Herculaneum, for
all the youth and beauty she possesses. -
Who ever heard ofsuch ridiculous vanity (!
Elmira was not conscious that twas vani-
ty equally ridiculous, which reigned in her
own breast, and caused dislike to her Aunt,
for the resemblance which she had pointed
ont, which all her injustice to Leila, and
GOODNESS and incvility TO her Uncle, had
failed to inspire. Alas for poor human nas
ture
The next morning, Mr. Banks and his
son breakfasted in their apartment, and al
most all ofthe servants in the household were
put in requisition, to satisfy his capricious
desires.
Mr.. Clements and Charles took their seats
at the breakfast table, but the pallid complex
ion Of the former, indicated that no refresh
ing sumbers had repaired his enfeebled
frame. AS Mr.. Manners observed the deli
cacy of his appearance, his slight appetite,
and that he was repeatedly obliged to put
down his coffee, to suppress rising cough,
his conscience upbraided him for his pusil-
luminous conduct, and the image of his wife,
once tenderly loved, seemed to rise before
him, in the person of her neglected brother
There was gravity, too, on the fine brow
of his nephew Charles, which he construed
into a silent rebuke. Then Leila looked
sad and he was ashamed to meet her unusu-
ally loving glance. His sister appeared in
one of her sour moods, and Elmra some
mint snllnn Altnnnthnr he hnd n -ror., nm