Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1850-05-09

majesty What say you, Grace, are you not
overwhelmed with the honor =
This question was addressed to a quiet
girl, who had hitherto taken no part in the
conversation, but who replied with a smile,
s if your uncle is the disagreeabe person
you describe, | shall not be emulous of the
honor You design me; but if he is ia truth
an invalid, | will wait on him with cheer
fitness, for you know am accustomed to a
sick chamber
That's just like you, Grace always ready
and willing to do for every one, answered
Sophy. 'Of course he is an invalid
nabobs are. He has the govt, and we must
all creep on tip-toe about the room, les: an
unlucky jar might give him twinge, and
bring down volley, not of blessings, upon
our devoted heads. Then the liver COM
plant is necessary appendage, and blue
pills and calomel will abound Bah what
a house it will be to be sure; should not
wonder if he has a pet monkey and half
dozen macaws, and we shall have menage-
RE and hospital combined. If such is the
case, shall run off and get married so
don't wonder If some morning am mis-
sing.
And thus forfeit your claim to the for
tune in store said the sister; 'for my part
| am willing to take pill every other day,
in the hope that it will prove at least a gid
ed one, and will feed the macaws to u sur
felt
In fact, kill them with Kindness inter-
rupted Sophy, laughing Well, you are
welcome to all you can get 3: the pill will be
bitter if it is giIded | love my ease too
well to be shackled, even with golden fet-
tiers; SO Grace and you may divide the la
Dor and the reward
Grace will of course do whatever is re-
quired of her, said Mrs. Midway, gravely,
but as she has no claim of kindred upon
your uncle, she will not expect any other
return than my approval. And now girls
we have spent a long time chatting; must
60 and prepare for our newly arrived rea-
tlve's coming; and remember, Sophy that
you treat him with all Difference and respect
that you might have a little natural feel
ing
All fudge, mamma, laughed Sophy, ris-
ing from her seat; talk of natural feeling.
indeed, for cross old fdgetty fellow one
never saw, and scarcely ever heard of, ex-
cept when he sent you that superb India
shawl. tell you, mamma, it is a natural
feeling for his presents and rupees that in
spires YOU, and will have none of them.
except they come in natural way, without
any force put on my inclination You know
am little Pickle, and intend to be as
sour as vinegar
And as sweet as honey-water,' cried
Matilda, as she left the room.
Yes, and as insipid too replied her sis
ter following. As for YOU. Grace she ad-
ded, looking back, as you fortunately have
no selfish considerations you can afford to
be as you always are, Simple Grace, gra-
cious and graceful, and so saying, the moi
sy girl slammed the door after her. leaving
Grace 10 her daily duty of washing the
breakfast things, and arranging the room.
Mrs. Midway was the widow of a mer-
chant, who had left his widow possessed of
moderate income which they contri-
we'd should, like thin plate of gold, Cow
er large surface They lived up to their
means in every sense. Mrs. Midway gave
parties, kept several servants, lived in a
large house showily furnished, and dressed
herself and daughters splendidly. All this
could not be done without strict economy
somewhere; and while the soirees of Mrs.
Midway were pronounced delightful the
servants made many complaints of their daI-
ly fare. Mrs Midway was one of a class
there are hundreds who rob Peter to pay
Paul, and fast at home that they may ap-
pear to feast abroad.
The coming Of Jacob Midway, an elder
brother of her husband, who had spent his
life in India, and now returned to his ma
tive land TO enjoy his fortune and find an
heir, was ali important event to Mrs. Med
way. She would rather, to be sure, have
him unacquainled with certain parts of her
household arrangement, but she hoped to
reap golden harvest, and wished to give
her daughters an opportunity OF negotiating
themselves in his favor. These daughters
were handsome, snowy girls. Matilda, the
elder, had been decided belle for several
seasons. She was tall and slender, with We
ny fine dark eyes, rather long face, and that
distinguished air and manner that stamps
the woman of fashion. She was very anx-
ious to secure her uncle's favor, for she ar
gued tina; fine fortune might secure her
the alliance that her fine person had hither-
to failed to win.
The Youngest daughter, Sophy, with less
beauty than her sister, was stlll much adj !
mired. She had rafting, dashng way of
saying pert and sometimes shrewd things,
that passed for wit among the idlers who
surrounded her, though they often WINGED
under the keenness of her remarks. She !
was not amable, but possessed sturdy in
dependence that was redeemlng trait, and
though often displaying it in most dsa-
greeable manner, was IN reality much less
selfish than her soft-lipped sister.
The other inmate of the family whom we
have mentioned was Grace Addlson-'Ittle
Grace as she was wont to be termed in her
own happy home, but now Simple Grace
as Sophy loved to call her. The mother of
Grace was cousin of Mrs. Midway she
had been left widow, in very Strengthened
circumstances, her husband dying when
Grace was Just fifteen. Grief aud anxiety
threw her into a consumption, and she died
two years after, leaving her orphan child to
the care of her cousin, Mrs. Midway, who
had herself been tenderly reared under the
roof of Mrs. Addson's father, and upon
whom the grand daughter of her benefac-