Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-09-04

WISH hhu never BoHe up lncrc But 1t is too
late to retract! ltwould break poor, dear Pris-
elias heart | am quite sure she would die of
grief! ] must &C through with it now-T see
no other wayr Mrs Brown wondered what
made her lodger Eroan so in his Sleep
On the other hand, Archy enocavored to con
sole himself by reasoning thus 1T wasn't in hu-
man nature to rnsist--she il such a charming
woman. Besides, was only doing my duty. I
should have the iamily to support any way can
keep them in the country. and spend as much
time i'll town as | choose shall probably
spend all my time in town, with the exception
ofnow and then few days in summer Though
really, and upon my soul, if it wasn't for Cyrus
and the children, think could be very happy
with Priscilla lie sank into half-conscious
state and fancied himself pursuing wild, sweet,
dangerous road, with two figures whirling in
dance before him, one beautiful and bright. but
nearly cnveloped in the others black, volumin-
Gus robes. One was Happiness, the other Mis-
cry and so they led him on until the former
quite disappeared, and the latter, grim inexo-
| rable, whlrled alone. He aroused with start
just as the hdeous creature reached forth a
skeleton hand to claim him as a partner and
once more Mrs Brown wondered what made her
lodgcr groan so in his sleep.
Archv was expected on the afternoon of the
tenth, and Cyrus was at the railroad station to
meet him when the train came in. The suryiv-
ing brother felt not only like a victim, but also
very much like culprit, when he stepped from
the cars spectacle to the group of loungers.
/ 'Harryunclarchy Uhat is. How are YOU, un-
Gle Archy') cried Cyrus, familiarly advancing
to shake hands. Got along, have YEP P'scill's
been drea'ful 'fraid youwouldnt come Abroad
grin from Mr. Drole. Laughter and significant
looks from the crowd. Embarrassment on the
part of Mr. Blossom
Where's your carriageP' p whispered the fu-
ture bridegroom, who, anticipating this scene.
had directed that a decent conveyance should
be in waiting for him on his arrival.
I Couldn't git no kind of one said Cyrus. j..
a loud tone of voice 'Jiukns usin his AL
words hoss is lame lIiiiek, that keeps the tav-
ern, had let hs'n; / told em YOU was comm
and didn't know what should do but not a
darned thing in the shape of a carriage could
| scare up. 30 concluded you could walk over
10 the house, guess YOU hain't quite forgot
the way; and I've brought my wLecl-barrer tor
your trunks
Always victim muttered Archv. red and
perspiring. perhaps at the recollection of his first
adventure with a wheei-barrow. He would
have given worlds-as the romance writer's say
had he never set foot III the village but ret
repression was now impossible He hastily
pointed out his baggage, with his gold headed
cane, and walked up the street. He had not
proceeded twenty yards when Cyrus came after
him. running his whee-barrow on the walk and
shouting to the retiring loungers to clear the
track He pushed his load of trunks to Arcllv's
heels, and there he kept it, occasionally grazing
his calves with the wheel, until the exasperated
bridegroom stepped aside and stopped.
Go on! he said boarsely.
Never mind amt p'ticlar,' replied CYRUS,
setting the wheel-barrow down, and splitting on
his hands. 4 just as lives you'd go ahead
Whcw. makes me blow q"
Archy raised his cane. but forbore exercising
it upon the Young gentleman's back, as justice
% seemed "a To t sGanr in of the pub
barrow followed, again at his heels And thus
the bridegroom trayersed the village, the head
OF procession which caused a general expan-
sion OF risible muscles and fattening of noses
upon window panes as it passed
by the furies,' thought Archv, Il can't 90
through with it I'll put stop to the insane
proceeding at once. I'll make some cx.use
I'll say, I've heard from California, and Benia-
min isn't dead. That wouldn't do, though
PriScillys had letter from friend that re-
cci'ed his parting breath. I'll tell her-rll tell
herIve got another wife. Then she'll reproach
me, and what shall say9 Say l thought my
wife was dead. but she's turned up again. That
Look out for your legs = cried Cyrus They
had passed the gate. Archy was met by Mrs
Blossom and four little Blossoms, soon to be all
his own. Priscilla clung to his neck. Bcniie to
ms hand, Phidie to his coat tails, leaving the
lesser Blossoms each leg.
4 am doomed " thought Archy. He assum-
ed gayety, though he felt it not opened his
heart and his trunk distributed presents re-
ceived a good many more thank and kisses thar
he wanted; withdrew to the solitude of his !
chamber; conferred with Priscilla, who follow
ed him thithcr, and whom he found, after all his
doubts and despair, to be the dearest and best
of women. He came out brighter than he had |
gone in taking his seat at the tea table, with
blossoms three and four on each side and Pris- |
ella opposite. The children had quarreed TO !
sit near their uncle, and that rare indulgence
had been granted to the two youngest. Little |
Archy was barefoot, and he persisted in rubbing
his toes against big Archys troIsers. Little
Cilly blossom number four sprinkled him with
crumbs, buttered his coat-sleeve and tipped ov- |
er his tea-cup. Archy (the uncle) was beginning !
to have very much the air of parent.
The presents had so much excited the child !
rem that the house that evening was perfect |
little Babel. And this is the family am 60
ing TO marry groaned poor Archy; 'oh, what |
a victim Cyrus was practicing upon new
hddle, IN the kitchen, and nothing could silence
his horrible discords The domestic-a recent
addition to Mrs Blossoms establishment-let
fall pile of dishes, deluging the threshold with
fragments. Benjie upset the table with lamp
and pitcher, which saturated the carpet with oil
and water, Phidie and Archy quarreed, and
cried an hour after they had gone to bed. Mum
ber four was sick, i'll consequence of eating too
much of Uncle Archy's candy, and had to be
doctored. Priscilla was harrassed-and shall
we confess it p-cross. Add to the picture the
melancholy coloring of the season-imagine the
dreary whistng Of the November wind, and the
rattling of dry leaves and the naked boughs-
and you have some notion of wise, comfort
loving old bachelors reasons for home sickness.
Archy retired to his room Ican'tgo through
with it It's no use I'll break it to Priscilla
-gradually lly-Out I'm resolved to do it, Sup
posing make believe I'm insane, and tear
thingsP Insane! I've been insane Oh, Ben
jamin-'
Rap, rap gently at the door. There she u.s.
said Archy Now, Blossom, be man ? He
opened; Priscilla entered. She observed his
excited mien with look of alarm.
Dear Archy what is the matterP'
What wonderful influence there is in wo-