Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-04-03

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Changed ~ he repeated, he should never
have guessed il was Rose or Ohve-the girls
had grown so much. But no one else in the
dear old home had changed he thanked God
for that | saw him look steadily at my moth
er, and she met his look with one as earnest,
and then smiled-such loving trusting smile
| suppose she read in his that her son was not
changed, and he knew that she read it,
Ours was fcrvent thanksgiving that night
Once in the midst of it | Sobbed outright, but
it was pure happiness.
The next day at church-it may have been
entirely my own imagning-it seemed as if cv-
cry one felt glad in our delight After service
there was great shaking of hands, and deaf
old Polly Wheelock answered Rolfe's inquiry
about her health with "Yes, sir, see that you
are, and venture to say there's many one re-
joiccd at it myself. | am, indeed, sir" And
well she might be- for as have said before, he
was always good to the old and poor.
In the midst Of our comfort something bcfel
which caused us great fear of losing one very
dear to us. An elderly gentleman came to our
house one morning, announced himself as Mr.
Home of Edinburg, Scotland, and the cousin of
our Roses mother. He had come to America
hoping to find his younger relative, and take
her home with him lie had. he said wife
and children, who would gladly welcome her as
daughter and sister. Apparently he had no
doubt that she would willingly 20. 1t was his
present plan he said to spend few weeks in
travelling through the States, and on his re-
turn he should hope to find her in readiness to
accompany him. Friends with whom he was to
travel waited for him at New York, so that he
could not now at all delay his journey When
he came again he would willingly remain. Quite
needessly almost unkindly, | could not help
thinking, he gave her the very item of informa-
ton which had been most carefully preserved
from her namely that the banking house of
Brothcrson x Wells, of Montreal, in which was
invested Roses little fortune had totally failed.
This had occurred soon after Mrs. Lyndhurst's
death, and my father and mother, though ad-
verse to family secrets, thought best for several
reasons to say nothing at all about it.
Why, Rose, thought. belonged to us. The
possibility that she would 20 away had never
entered mymnd. Thccvening after Mr. Home
had gone away-and he went the same day he
came-Rose and talked itoyer in our pleasant
little room.
They had little right to her, said, they were
at best such far-ofr relatives.
As to right, Rose replied, it was rather ques-
ton of kindness. What right had she to the
warm. unvarying love that my father and moth
er had bestowed on her ever since She had need
ed ii If they were not the kindc>t and most
generous persons in the world-besides, she had
seen, herself
"And what had she seen ?" asked.
"Oh, Olive, have | not seen dear? Some
times your mother has quietly put aside the
handsome dress or the nice shawl, which should
have been hers, to buy something instead for
the two daughters have seen how the old
garments were turned and mended, by fingers
that would not grow weary, and the old furni-
ture was repaired, while there was no stinting
about books for the girls. DO YOU not remem-
bvi, oli'e, ti,c Handsome "irtin,i-r which Mr..
Carlton wanted her to buy and whose fragrance
and beauty brought back 10 her so vividly her
old southern home9 Yet she would forego the
purchase, and the next week came our copy of
Goethe All was done so thoughtfully and care
fully, Olive, that might never guess there was
one too many
Nor was there ever one too many, Rose -
And If you come to that, and count expense so
nicely how came it unnecessary for me to go
away to school? Who taught me all that know
otGermanand Italian, and music, too, and draw
ingP And then, Rose, who has made the whole
house, every one in it. the happier by her pres
ence? Besides said, NOW that Rolfe has
just come home, and we had all thought to be so
happy together. know it would 90 to his heart
To this she did not reply. 1t was growing
late, but there was bright moon, and looking
out ] saw Rolfe, who had been away all day,
coming up the walk, and went down to make
teafor him. Mr.. Ways, the clergyman's nephew,
was with him, and remained to tea but at last
he went, and then could tell Rolie all that had
occurred during his absence He said little in
reply, and when | said, "Why, Rolfe, thought
you would care about it :" he only answered,
80 do, Olive but his voice sounded quite
different from usual. Finding him indisposod
to talk with me, bade him good night and
went up to our room. There found the dear
child, with her head laid on the sofa pillow, fast
asleep. As | stood looking at her, | felt sure
that no one in all the world could care for her
like ourselves who had known her so many years,
and knet and asked Con to keep her, if it
were his will, among us who so loved her. In
truth, to think of her going to another country
was much the same as to think of her dying
heard Rolie's steps coming up the stairs, and
going to the door beckoned him. feared he
did not yet quite comprehend what it would be
to lose her. little while he stood looking at
her. | knew well he had never gazed on any,
thing lovelier. Her long silken hair had fallen
from the comb, her cheeks were flushed with a
rich, beautiful crimson, and some tears had fall
en- from the thick dark lashes, just like rain
drops on roses Now and then quiyering mo-
ton came oyer'her red mouth, and once or twice
she sobbed like a child that has cried itself to
sleep, and there was that holy look on her fore
head which, think, may be the mark of our
Savior.
But an expression came over Rolfe's face that
did not understand, a look of alarm. "Has
she been ill to-day, Olive" he asked
She had not said SO but | remembered that
she had been very pale-I thought from excite
ment.
"And she has far too much color now," he
said. He took her hand felt it too; it was
burning with fever.
And thus suddenly came on long and fear
ful illness. For three weary weeks and more
she recognized no one around her. DIR. War
burton was summoned, and he used to come
often. But Rolfe watched her night and day.
She called him Willie, and sometimes, when he
left the room, her eyes followed him with visit
fIl look, as she did not like him to be out of
sight. Sometimes she would talk, incoherently
indeed, but in low, and sweet voice. and in a
way that shew her heart to be full of guileless,
beautiful thoughts. One day Rolfe brought her
in some fowers-a branch of daphne, which she
particularly liked. Taking it in her thin, wan
hand, "Thank you, Willie" she said, "and the
next time you come, dear, bring me some leaves
from the Tree of Life, which grow fast by the