Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-08-13

ana expectation.
cannot offer you youth or beauty, continued
Uncle Jonas, smiling little, but can promise
you comfortable, and trust happy home, both
Tor yourself aud your mother, If you will be my
wiie You need not answer me now, Mary, but
IN day or two will ride over, aud you can tell
me then what you may think best. And good
Uncle Jonas, as he spoke, laid his hands Mary's
bright dark hair as If he would ask blessing on
her; Aher few moments, during which little was
said, Uncle Jonas mounted Black Charley and rode
slowly away. Mary sat by her spinning wheel,
but did not SPIN tiil the voice of her mother, re.
turning from neighbors, reminded her that it was
nearly sunset.
1t was some three weeks after the above event,
that the thin, spare form Of Mr. Joshua Staples
might have been seen rapidly crossing the green
lawn before his brothers dwelling His sharp ea-
lures wore an angry expression and his little pierre
ing gray eyes shot fire from under the covert Of
his overhanging brows. In his hand he grasped
small piece Of written paper, and he mutered some
inaudble words as he hastened on There was
quiet smile on uncle Jonas face as he watched his
brother from the window, but he turned to meet
him he came into the room, in precisely his
ordinary calm manner
Mr. Joshua Staples. without any useless ceremo-
ny, plunged at once in medals res
What does all this mean. brother Jonas said
he. What Sc! you to 90 and make fool Of your
self, at your time of life 7 aud Mr. Joshua shook
the crunped piece Of paper in his brothers face as
he spoke. |; is well YOU have me to care for you,
or you would plunge headIong into ruin.
What is the trouble, brother Joshua said Uncle
Jonas, very mdly,-what is in the paperl
Take ii, said Mr. Joshua, thrusting it upon him.
and thank heaven that have saved you from such
disgrace
Uncle Jonas smoothed the crumpled paper, and
read-his own marriage notice
An angry spot burned in his cheeks, and his eve
flashed but he subdued himself in moment and
answered, mildIy,-So, you think | have done
wrong brother joshua
To be sure do. You ought TO be ashamed Of
yourself, to go and set up a poor beggarly hussy
over your own flesh and blood
Nay. brother, you forget Yourself Mary Miller
may be poor, but she is no beggar.
Mr. Joshua saw he had gone loo far and sofiened
his tone little That may be, continued he, but
sftiu she must be TO have entrapped a man Of your
years into such idle folly. Unclu Jonas bit his lip,
but SAID nothing.
Come, said Mr. Joshua more calmly, if you are
lonely IN your castle OF house, James and Joseph
shall make you visit, they desire nothing further
than to make you happy, aud add to your enjoy.
Inenis
Very well, brother, said Uncle Jonas, do as you
please
Uncle Jonas said this in so apparently submissive
manner as II IN Difference to his brothers superior
Judgment, that Mr. Joshua was satisfied, and talked
and laughed as If nothing had happened.
The next day brought Jem and Joe, apparently
tor friendly visit TO their uncle but in reality as
spies on Uncle Jonas movements.
Everything went on however the same as usual !;
Uncle Jonas appeared to have wholly given up his
idle folly as his brother called it, and Jem and Joe
grew more confident and boastful than ever and
more idle and luxurious.
They were seldom up in season for breakfast,
ana one morning they came down later than usual.
AS they sauniered 'ndolen'ly lnlo the breakfast
room tney observed their uncle had preceded them
l MS was not however very uncommon event,
ana 'hey TOOK put i'''re notice oil 1t. Their break
lAs' was as wen served as they could reasonable
expect ye, tney TOOK Tue hoer'y oil hnding iauil
WIN everything ana using improper language TO the
Servants
won1er whete mat s'npId old 1901 oil Thomas
49, sa'u 1e" as ne rung Tue beh violently second
"",S WIN n JERK 'hal o.oKe the pun IN pieces.
No honas came ou' mere seemed TO be an
unusual ousue ana confusion m the nall, and IN
lew memen's' there entered Uncle Jonas with a
VIII him Iadv 80 h'Js "nu
Introduced 70 H. 'as,oss;shoJ s"SS, ~"
S"rorisa a,J %,' "a'o",'eu nepne"s ms rye
,bs;r d"lI conca;,as uy ','pl''eu a,.'na"VI 70
started nm a, his nreynoc,ad anro,.nn,a,, 49,
Do No, Ia, ne ;n'a,Spo, ,' "'" L"aaIc',. J.
men nray he seated an5 f.S ST'r v se""e e
said GOOD TIncle Ion" viii sI;"h'lv m.l;c;on, ,
So ~ ro"Hs' WIZ" S's"'y "a''o'ouS
jem aud Joe looked FIRST a, their uncle and then
at each other. in evident embarrassment Their
first impulse had been to seize their hats and rush
out of the house, but second thought said "Put a
good face on the matter, You may be heirs vet
Who knows 2" So they saluted their new aunt
with all the Doliteness thew conld mnstar and sbs