Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-05-23
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change in after years. Let US make our chill
dren remember home as a pleasant place, not as
a theatre Of exactions, notifications and quer-
ulous complaints"
The ghosts came once more, and the chill
dren, siding with their mother, this time the in
nuence Of the Murkes was vanquished and an
nihilated.
"Uarrie, Murke and have been comparing
expenses, and il frightens me to find my own
triple the afhonnt of his; we must retrench."
"ln what wayl ] am ready"
"ln a hundred ways. Our house is too
large, obr fires are too BRIGHT our table is too
luxurious, our children dress too WE'LL we have
too much company, our pew at church is too
expensive the Murkes have pew close by
the door, they hear quite as well and pay only
half the tax that is required for ours they
close two-thirds Of their house, and thus are rid
OF the expense of heating it,"
"Wait minute! b! their water pipes have fro
zen and flooded it three times this winter the
expense Of repairing cost more than several tons
of coal''
"That was emily on accident. Murke covers
his fires with ashes, and the coal burns half as
long again in consequence.
"Yes, and their sitting room is like Green
land"
"Cool rooms make children hardy"
"Oh father broke in a little voice, "don't
heat our room with ashes and water--don't!
Coming home from school the other day. I
should have cried with cold, but kept think
ing of our good, bright fire."
YES" outspoke another, "and last week
called Willie Murke in here TO warm his hands,
he looked so cold as he was running by; and
he stared as if he never saw parlor before,
and he asked me if we always KEEP, our piano
unlocked, and lived in the front room, and had
silver spoons on the table, and other plates for
pudding. He said he wished iha, he had
mother like mine. Why, you can see sparkles
Of ice on the inside of Mr.. Murke's hall door
all winter long"
"Hush, children, don't interrupt when your
mother and are talking. The butcher calls
here, Carrie, twice week and Murke says
they use sailed and dried meat, which they pro-
cure at wholesale and pickle themselves"
''Do you like pork very much'' whispered
Lizzie Lighte, pulling her mothers sleeve.
"And Mrs. Murke doesn't use butter nor
pork for frying griddle cakes little dry salt,
they assured me, will answer every purpose"
II know one thing, I'm glad mother doesn't
have gtiddfes creased th SALT ven,ured Liz
zie.
"Then .hese potatoes, small and poor as they
are, cost over cent apiece. Murke substi-
tuies Indian dumplings."
"Boed n water, suppose, palaiable Give
me another piece of chicken, Charles, if you
please" was Mrs. Ligh,e's only reply.
"Wha, do they make instead of sweet pota-
toes!" asked Lizzie, who as very fond Of the
latter delcacy.
Mrs. Lghte looked smilingly for her hus-
bands asg spsEer W liz. va. sueu ,oxur,e. NV cm,u
Mr. Murke is saving agains. he grows old.''
"Why, father, we'll take care of you when
you are old and mean to have home just like
ours, sweet potatoes and all,' said the child
"yet the Muikes do have some uxuries, for
; when the cake gets burnt, Mary often brings
the crusts to school for ber luncheon she says
, her mother told her that they'd make her
, breath sweet, but solid cake was poisonous
shouldn't think she'd give poison TO her COM
pany."
The ghost was banished; but the thrifty wo-
man, known as Mrs. Murke, came one last time
10 Tie home oil Charles Lighie.
There was 10 be funeral on the morrow /;
the sofa BY the ireside was empty, and dust
was gathering over the work-box that stood on
the centre-table; a group Of children were hud-
ding together, crying as il their hearts would
break.
After the long life work, she had folded her
hands at last, and the corpse lay waiting for
burial Carrie, The provident mother, the faith
A fu wife. the good, gentle, sympathizng friend ;
h and as Charles Lighe stood watching her, with
sorrow too deep'for tears, Mrs. Murke came to
n offer consolation. She said
"Yes she was good, and a kind neighbor TO
h me. ] shall never forget her early influence
!, over my husbands but, Mr.. Lighte, we must
s not waste time in grief; and every sorrow has
$ lis compeusations. You have now one less to
support in these hard times. Your wife had a
great many children, and was ambitious for
6 them. and liked TO keep up good appearance
in the world She was an excellent woman,
but you may find another tha, will do as we'll
as she, and save your money beside"
o "Ah," broke forth the husband too grieved
n for anger, "she spent for us she watched,
J. and planned, and wasted all her strength for our
IS welfare this house is full of the works Of her
II hands. My heart is full of recollections of her
patient love and industry. have too often
IF panied tho gentle hear, that is sleeping here, by
repeating your advice. Yesterday my partner
:, ship with your husband dissolved to-day, Mrs.
" Murke, beg leave 10 dissolve my acquaintance
with Yourself"
e And they buried her, that good Carrie.
:. "Wih the frui, of her hands, she had ''plan-
ted a vineyard" and when she was dead her
husband and children dwelt therein.
: The Murkes added gold to gold, and "laded
c their souls with that thick clay" They built
a fine house, and gave great formal party ev-
" cry year; then covered the furniture, packed
y away the silver, locked the parlors, and lived
in a few small back-fooms.
II Mr.. Muike's daughters married early; 10
II escape the ungenial home, accepted the first ad-
y venturers that offered themselves, and one by
d one came back 10 him, with wasted health and
/. ruined hopes, and family of children. His