Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-09-17
From Grahams Magazine.
The Provoking Little Creature.

In that small, brick tenement several years ago.
lived MIR and Mrs Graver, and their niece Phoebe
Lamb. Phoebe was now in her sixteenth year.-
She was rather under the middle size Uery fair uery
rosy, and with very black eyes. She had pretty
figure, to say nothing of well shaped hands and feet
She was, besides, very good-heaned and uery in
dustrlous but, unfortunately, in addition TO many
agreeable Uerys she OF a very uncertain temper
in short, spoiled by over indulgence.
Phoebe owned the small, new brick house next
door 10 her unce's old one. II rented for one hun.
dred dollars year, and this sum, with the many
presents she received from her good-mother caused
her to be considered among the young people of her
class quite little heiress. She had lovers in pIen-
ty. There was Abraham LAWSON the master car
penter, quite well orn the world, and no way dis
posed to consider the brick house as contemplate
dowry for wife. There was young clerk, Ste
phen Burns, with good salary and farmer by
the name Of Macfarlane who considered himself
the most sure of any Of her lovers in obtaining
the provoking little creature, she generally
called
But there was one young man who loved her
with the purest affection this was James Rey-
nods, the cabinet-maker He mad been very fond
Of her from her childhood. had always taken her
part in her little quarres with her young compan.
ions, had whipped several boys who made her ang-
ry in attempting to kiss her, and was the first and
foremost to speak up for her when she was call
ed a passionate vixen, even provoking little
creature.
In her heart she appreciated James Reynolds,
though in a worldly point of view he was inferior to
her other lovers but whmsically enough she
treated him with less cOrdality and lrankness
than the others. He was, however, in very good
business and bade fair, some day, 10 attain CON-
petence
Phoebe had just entered her seventeenth year
when James met her, one day, in shady walk, or
rather, when he followed her there, and without
much preparation, he told her in frank manly
way that he loved her, and trusted as she must have
known this for long time, that she would allow
him to hope for return.
Phoebe, the little gypsy, had expected this dec
/ laratlon for some time. She turned away her head
to hide the pleasure that this ayowal gave her.
But she would not give the poor fellow any hope
She said she was too young to think of such things
and be ought to look further, for there were many
girls who would be very happy to receive his ad.
dresses.
But where is the use ? said he-,where would
be the possibility even OF my paying attention 10
any other girl when my heart is fixed in you alonel
Dear Phoebe give me the least hope, and will wait
your own time. What would two years be, long
as they might seem could be sure that at the
end Of that time you would promise to be my
wife 2
She had hold of his arm all this Time, and was
happy enough, but she triaed with him, aud said il
must not be, that maybe he would repent, and SC
on. Sopoor James got no comfort, though from
her manner he did not despair. He still perseyer
ed, went TO see her every day for several days il
succession, and then nbsented himself for week
because she showed more attention to Macfarane
who was very assiduous, and who was supposed tc
be the one she would accept at last
Il Her aunt often spoke TO Phnbe about her co
/ mir nd cd I'll cha hava tab
Abraham Lawson at last, for that her other lovers
would all get tired and leave her.
u know one that won't leave me- she would re
ply archly, he will wait as long as please,
lfyou mean James Reynolds, replied Mr. Ora
yer, you may find yourself mistaken, for he viii
be ashamed always TO follow the whms and caprice
Of such provoking little creature as you are. Be