Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1855-02-10

heaft as vulgar and prOfane as n southern Blay
driver Her affections all fresh and vigorous
had reached out and entwined themselves viii
great tenacity all laround--around WHAT mon
ster a vile being, who, like the yenomous ser
pent, had poisoned her whole existence. Tb
early future looked as dark as night. Sh,
shrank from il, and longcd to de- She saw
no refuge now but the grave. Her situation
was aggravated by the loss Of her friends. :
Some had moved to the far, far West, an,
others had been swept of by cholera, so iha
Of her fathers family not one remained nea
her--not one. to whom she could unburdcn hel
heart-not one to give counsel or help. aat
Mrs. Sneeks was so exhausted that she fell
asleep. Then came pleasant dreams Of hel
dear old home Of those fond brothers and the
sainted mother, whose prayer appeared to hel
as holy as a seraph's song. More pleasing tc
her still was the presence Of her former com.
panion. Charles Eldridge was with her. His
arm seemed to support her. lie baihed her
brow, and leaning lovingly over her, said
MARY, my poor Mary %
Come come are you going 20 sleep ali
day" bawled out Sneeks, as he opened he.
door--"Your kitchen is in pretty 6x."
Unfortunate being She was In Paradise a
moment since, but in Pandemonium now
Her kitchen was in deplorable condition.
The men had taken their dinner, and eaten Il,
and then lef the house with the doors wide
open, and consequently the hens and chickens
had feasied upon the remnants. They had
scratched the pudding dish of the table. and
an abundance Of bread and meat had been drop
ped upon the well scrubbed aoor, for the still
unhedged brood. The cat had upset the cream
jar, and its contents had flown in a copious
stream across the room The sun was blazing
with great intensity, and the table was black
with flies. One would have thought that all
the hens and chickens and all the cats and flies
in the neigiborhood, had been holding one
grand jubilee together
Mrs. Snceks heard the voice Of a child. Il
was Charles Godfrey. He and his mother had
called, and the little rogue had run into the
kitchen, and the mother after him. The latter
stationed herself as near the door Of the bed
room as possible, and then relieved her mind in
very loud and emphatic manner:
"And 50 you are all alive together here
cats and hens, pigs and people. Really, father,
you have beautiful housekeeper ! must
congratulate you upon the comforts Of your
home, upon the neat and tidy appearance Of
your house. came TO pay visit, but see
that you are but poorly prepared for company.
Come, Charlie, LET us go I" and the stately
widow Godfrey walked to her carriage and
drove off. f
Come, Mary; why don't you come - said
Sneeks. -''i want the luncheon for the men,"
The poor victim was again trembling with
emotion. That hateful Mrs. Godfrey. Her
faunt was almost uncomfortable
The luncheon was procured, and Sneeks
started for the field.
Now" said his wife, 81 mus, wash the
dishes, clean up this house, brew barrel Of
beer, mend those pants, and get supper for ten
men, and 1t is now four o'clock"
All that work Mrs. Sneeks done before she
retired but il was the last she did for six
weeks. That night she was attacked by vio-
lent fever. In her lucid intervals she hoped
every hour would be her last.
But we cannot die when we would. Her
time was not yet. An uniaught Irish girl was
employed to do the work and nurse the sick
Harvesting was nearly over, and she did bet
ter than she had expected. Little attention
was paid to the sick, but for this the patient
did not care. "Leave me alone, let me die, -
was her constant prayer.