Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-07

] Efuilu OIlI pll WV iSlIllu w lItt
whole establishment; and as there
was yet good half hour till supper
time, they agreed TO try little re-
hearsal of what they would wish for
the morrow. In moment, every
one SET to work. Green hougIs
were torn down broad leaves wee
stripped from their branches paln-
blossoms and rose-apples were 'wn-
ed into chaplets and garlands ind
leaves and fruit, and flowers, wrc
so transformed by their many sRl-
ful lutte fingers, that in short the
there was a goodly array of fcstal
naments, quite enough for their
/ hearsal.
Bruius helped them as well as \
could, by carrying branches and gai
lauds in his mouth, aud deposItlns
them on the little mound that was
TO serve them as sort of natural Oh
,omnn. Having hung their garlands
and bouquets on the nearest shrubs,
and twined flowers and branches OF
young lines among the leaves OF
stately laurels, Rose desired her COM
panions to imagine as well as they
could that the most beautifl fes-
toons of the palm-leaves and show
/ flowers were hanging the whole way
! from the house, with cncol-uut Ian
terms blazing away al intervals
They were told, likewise, to picture
an arch of triumph at either end of
/ the bridge, with an altar of flowers
and fruit in the centre aud lastly
I that they must fancy themselves hook .
ing at the green mound as most
beautiful throne of moss, lotus flow
efs, lambo-blossoms, and iahpot-
leaves, with bower by its side full
of wine, and cakes, and fruil, aud
all the estate people assembled about
them, with ronchee, The old bind
4 harper, and the two horn blowers,
who could play anything from calhe-
T dral music down TO an Indian war
( dance.
They all, as in duty bound, fan
cied what they were bid, whereupon
Rose led her elder brother 10 the i'm
aginary throne, and bade the rest
range themselves about. Then the
child, in voice of grave carncslness,
told them that the New-year's fcte
was TO begin, that she would acq
" Mamma" while Edward would
take the part of p" Papa At this
proposal, the rest of the children
raised such a shout of. laughter as
quite as,ounded the goat. The ide'
of their papa taking part in any fes
tivities, seemed to their infant mind
a joke of such stupendons absurd
ty as to be beyond their small con-
prchensions.
Why Rose, silly child, might as
well have voted him to be the Pope
of Rome, or even the governor of
the island But she, taking her
brother by the hand, babe him act
the part allotted him ; whereon the
boy said he would try and look as
grave and unhappy as he could, but
he was sure he could not look or
feel like his papa.
Rose chided him, and said that
she was sure their papa was very
good, and loved them all, and would
not make one of them unhappy for
the world, if he knew it. Edward
inquired, if that were the case, why
did he 90 away so often and leave
their mamma alone for so many
days and nights; when she was il
too, il was all the same. II
But Rose was not going to b |
put down in that manner not she
To be sure, she did wish that dea
papa would not leave them SO oftel
as he did she wished he woul,
give up those long journeys, burr
the nasty canoe on their imaginary
altar OF flowers, and stay al home t,
take care of the caue-pieces and IN,
people, and so make dear mammi
and all of them quite happy. Thel
she added, if Edward would no
act Papa, she would, and tell then
what she would do and say on the
morrow. She would first kiss nam
ma and the new baby, and wisl
them happy New Year, and sa
that she had resolved to give u
every thing but home from that day |
that there was 10 be no more travel
ing in the canoe that mamma am
the sugar-works should have all he
time. Then she would give
grand feIe TO every body on IN
plantation and to crown all. AM
begin the New Year well, old Pier
re should have his liberty, and Bru
tus the goat be decorated with
new set Of ribbons, Saying this 4,
Rose embraced her brother, and IN
whole party raised such a shout o
appreciation as might have bee
heard at the house.
Perhaps it was, for at that mo
ment, just as they were going
dance, the conch-shell was blown.
as a signal for their return to SUP
per and bed. They started ava
home as rapidly and joyously a
they had come aud in a few min
utes more the island was as still
the night that was closing fast owe
| il.
Again the planter paced the quie
lawn, but this time calmly, slowly
and thoughtfully, until the moo /.
had risen high above the palm-trees.
Then, by that pale light, one nigh c
have seen how changed he seemed !;
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