Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1849-01-05
FFoW JTuHnWTs IIlQl
SOphy's Filtration.

| G o N T y 5 X r II.
"Well TO my mind a nicer Young man
does nj live anywhere than Archie Harris
So pleasant spoken, so good tempered, SC
civil as he is. You may go farther and
fare worse, can tell you, Sophy. It's al
very well for girls TO be dainty and particu
lar about looks, when they are young and
handsome themselves, aud think they may
catch any body, but it's no Joke for Cir
to settle herself with man who may be
unkind to her by aud bye. Archie Tlarri.
has that in him which will last in dark day:
as well as sunshine; something that won'i
wear out in old age, like your grandfather
here, that I've lived with for,y.fye year:
come next Christmas, and found him Just
the same, winter aud summer So, as
said before, you may 90 farther and fare
worse Sophy." And having delivered
her sentiments, old Mrs Middleton took a
pinch Of snuff, drew her chair little near.
er the FIRE with an emphatic "hem," and
then resumed her knitting, while she gIunc.
ed over her spectacles 10 observe what had
been The effect of her speech upon her
pretty granddaughter, who was seated on
the opposite side of the little round table.
engaged in sewing.
Sophy Middleton piled her needle with
something Of pctulant air, while her
grandmother spoke; and answered with a
slight tone Of yexation-"Everybody can't
think alike, that is certain. Archie Harris
its well enough in his way, but he is nj the
only man in the world, that is one com.
| fort"
"And why don't you like him J" pursued
the old lady, resolved not to give up the
point. Tell me OF one in the whole place
that is better, or kinder, or cleverer.
never saw such one at any rate, and once
upon time, Sophy, you thought Archie a
little better than most folks yourself, and
have only changed your mind since Philip
Greyson came home, I'm thinking"
"Philip Greyson, indeed p exclaimed
Sophy, with toss OF her head, while her
cheeks crimsoned in spite Of herself.
"Yes, Philip Greyson," said the old lady.
81 suppose you think, Sophy, because
wear spectacles. 1 am half blind, and can't
see as far as | used to do But have my
eyes about me, and fancy that Philip, with
his spruce uniform and navy buttons, will
make you forget poor Archie altogether"
81 am sure" said Sophy, whose thread
at that moment had got into such a knot
that her undivided attention was necessary
10 disentangle it-"lm sure Philip Grey
son is nothing to me"
81 hope he never may be, indeed"
said Mrs Middleton emphaticnlly. "These
young midshipmen are wild blades, my
dear, and should never know a minutes
peace if you were to marry one. But
Archie Harris, all Sophy, he is the hus-
band for you; such good son aud brother
80 quiet, and steady and"
"Stupid," said Sophy, supplying with a
laugh the word for which her grandmother
paused. "Why, last night at Mrs Morgan's
he scarcely said Ten syllables, and say what
you will, grandmother" she continued
reused by The recollection of her last even.
ing's visit, Everybody likes a merry, talk
alive beau, who has seen something of the
world, better than fellow who sits by with
long face, and can do nothing to amuse
one"
"And that fellow isn't Philip Greyson.
guess" said her grandfather, who, on the
opposite side Of the fire, was calmly knock
ing the ashes from his pipe. "Phil is ont
Of those chaps that have no lack OF word
in any company, il | may Judge from til,
way in which have heard him chatter a
his own fathers table"
"Chalter that he can, like a maybe
and with but little more sense. TO my mind,
said the old lady az Archie Harri
speaks but seldom, his words are always Il
some purpose, and he does't think it amis
, to be civil to old people, either. PhiliI
may know enough to pirate about to youn
/, folks, but il an elderly person comes by, h
is at no pains TO entertain him. Time
have changed since my day, when youn
men and women were taught 10 reverenc
" their betters. All well, ;" and Mrs Mic
dleon drew long deep sigh. and shooI
; her head significantly as she leaned over
mend the fire.
1t was in the pretiest, neatest whit
$ house, in the main street Of a pretty village
: somewhere in the Empire State, that Soph
Middleton aud her grandparents resided
Samuel Middleton, who from his silver
s hair, and general knowledge Of past event
: together with the melancholy fact that he
, blind, has long been dignifed with the til
e of "ihe oldest inhabtant," which title, b
). the way, the old gentleman particularly gu
d ries in, being fond of relating anecdotes
=. the place. which happened when he was
a boy, and adventures with persons long sin'
a dead, and though Brookville has not il
al proved materially during the last TWEEN
y years being off the railroad-yet the o
man imagines in his blindness that gre
changes have taken place, because Il
. Episcopalians have built a church, al
Squire Edgewood new house and bar
and descants largely upon the good q
y times, when Brookville was just settle
and mo folly or fashion had got into il
IS, A youth of induslry-for il was not u
Ss Ill advancing years thai darkness fell up
p" him-had secured for Samuel Middleton
a moderate competency, and at the old hon
p stead, with the kind partner Of his Joys
as SORROWS, and the orphan child of an Oh
"a. son, he had learned to bear with patien
and foritude the sore trial which il b
= plea sed God TO send him; thankful for
. past, contcnted with the present, and ie
NJ less of the future.
T. Sophy, so early orphaned as scarcely
ds remember any other care than that OF
no grandparents, was the life and light of