Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-06-27


wants, when out ofthe old gentleman's pres
ence. She had lived long time with Old
Rugg, and knew that he had goodIy share
of this worlds goods laid up in store for
some one, and she could not conceive why
she was not entitled to portion of it, mas
much as she had been an inmate of his
house, and slave to his whims for a great
number of years, and he had not, that she
knew of, a relative III the whole world.
Early the next morning, Old Rugg, as
was his usual custom, arose for the purpose
Of taking his morning walk, and dressing
HIMSELF he took down his broad-brimmed
hat, which always hung in certain place in
the kitchen, except when upon the owners
head, and which had for many years pro-
tected his bald head, alike from the scorch-
ing sun of summer, and the storms Of win
ter, and placing it upon his head, he sailed
out AS he opened the door, the bundle
upon the matrass attracted his attention,
and he stopped to pick it up, and move it
out of the way, thinking il to be bundle of
clothes, but the weight Of it told that il was
composed of something besides cloth, and
he sat down to examine it. While he was
busy with his hands unrollng the bundle,
his mind was revolving the probability of
some fairy's leaving him a roll of silver, and
taking this curious method of transmitting
it to him. But before his expectations had
been raised to too high pitch, the shawl
was unrolled and out peeped smiling in
FAINT. The old gentleman did not seem to
be at all displeased with the result of his
golden dream, for he smiled, and handled
the child on his knee, making however, as
all old bachelors do, very awkward appear
ance
Hitty was soon aroused and the child
consigned to her care, while Old Rugg pro-
ceeded on his morning walk When he re-
turned, he found his house-keeper in no
very pleasant mood. A new idea had struck
her mind. She was fearful the old gentle
man would keep the child, and adopt it as
his own, and should he do this, it would
probably be the means of loosening the hold
which she vainly imagined she had upon his
golden affections. She determined TO sound
him upon the subject, and .as soon as they
were seated at the breakfast table, she very
pettishly asked him if he intended TO keep
the child.
Keep her. exclaimed he Certainly in
tend to keep her. Who is better able to
keep her, and take care Of her, than am
and as long as l am as able as am now, she
shall not want for friends or home
TINS was death blow TO Hittys hopes.
If the child was adopted as his own, she
would, in all probability, inherit his proper
~, leaving the large dover which she had
long had in view for herself minus. and she
tartly replied
well, children can be had at all times,
if person wishes to adopt one as his own,
without taking up with an outcast, and rak-
ing the highways, for whatsoever may hap
pen to be left there to die
1T is my determination, Miss Hitty,' re-
piled he, SO adopt the child as my own, and
if the trouble which it will cause in bring
ing her up should prove too much for you,
you are at liberty TO leave my service at any
time you choose
This reply had the effect of siIencing her
and she did not venture to speak again upon
the subject. She saw in moment that she
had touched tender chord, when she stig-
matzed the child as an outcpst
She had for some time been receiving the
addresses ofthe village schoolmaster an old
bachelor, who had the i'll will of his schol-
ars, and majority Of the villagers. He was
avaricous in the extreme, his whole study
being how he could turn this and that to the
best account. Piety and virtue were sec
ondary objects with him, and ambition for
any high Of noble purpose, was altogether
out of the question, while his desire for ac-
curing money was unbounded. A love for
the root Of all evil had evidently been plant
ed in his heart while in youth, and the shoot
that had sprung from the seed had grown
with his growth aud strengthened with his
strength Some of the villagers had even
gone so far as TO say that he would not hes
itate to take other means to obtain money.
than those held out as right and just, both
by the laws of God and man. Certain it
was that he had never, paid any particular
attention to Miss Hitty until he had heard it
limited that she was to be MIR Ruggles' heir.
OF his birth and parentage no one had any
information, and he was always very studi-
GUS to avoid any mention of the subject and
never appeared free TO converse upon his
former life. He had managed to keep his
place in the village school, by the assistance
of few persons whose favor he had gained
and in whose praise he was very profuse.
When he made his appearance at Old
Riggs, the next evening after the downfall
of Hitty's hopes, on one of his love visits, he
found the blooming and beautiful maiden in
fit of deep melancholy, and tenderly in
quired the cause. She readily and without
any hesitation whatever, informed him of the
events of the preceding day, and con6ded to
him her fears as to the effect they would
have upon her welfare. Mr. Black, (for that
was his name,) sympathised deeply with her
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