Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-07-10
NJ | S c E L L A N Y.
THREE OF US.

| Such spring day as it was the sky all one
mild blue, hazy on the hills, warm with sun
shine overhead a soft south wind, expressive,
and full of new impulses, blowing up from the
sea, and spreading the news of life all over our
brown pastures and leaf-strewn woods. The
crocuscs in Friend Allis's garden bed shot up
cups of gold and sapphire from the dark mould ;
slight long buds nestled under the yellow green
LEAKAGE of the violet patch white and sturdy
points bristled on the corner that in May was
| thick with liles-of- the-vallev crisp, cool, and
fragrant and in knotty old apricot tree two
| hluebirdS and a robin did heralds' duty, singing
Of summers procession to come and we made
ready to receive it both in our hearts and gar
ments.
Josephine Boyle, Lefty Allis, and l, Sarah
| Anderson, three cousins as we were, sat at the
long window of Friend Allis's paror, pretend
ing to sew, really talking. Mr.. Stepc, a Ger
man artist, had just left US and little trait of
Miss Josephine's that had occurred during his
call, brought out this observation from Cousin
Lefty
"Jo, how could thee let down thy hair so be-
| fore that man."
Jo laughed. "Thee is little innocent, Let
ty, with your pretty dialect Why did let my
hair down? For Mr.. Stepe to see it, of course"
That is very evident" interposed but
Lefty is not so innocent or so wise as to have
done wondering at your caprices, 10; expound
if you please, for her edification."
'I don't pretend to be wise or simple, Sarah /:
but didn't think cousin Josephine had so much
vanity"
"You certainly shall have preacher bonnet
LEFTY. How do you know it was vanity, nv
dear? | saw YOU show Mr.. Stepe your EN-
broidery with the serenest satisfaction now YOU
made your crewel cherries, and | didn't make
my hair which was vain ?"
Lefty was astounded. "Thee has a gift Of
speech, certainly, Jo."
81 have gift of honesty, you mean NV
hair is very handsome, and know Mr.. Stepel
would admire it with real pleasure. for it is
rare color. | took down those curls with quite
as simple an intention as you brought him that
little picture of Coles to see."
Josephine was right-partly at least Her
hair was perfect its tint the exact hue of new
chestnut-skin, with golden lights. and shadows
of deep brown not tinge of red libeled it as
auburn and the light broke on its glittering
waves as it does on the sea- tipping the undu-
lations with sunshine, and scattering ravs of
gold through the long, loose curs, and across
the curve of the massive coil, that seemed al
most too heavy for her proud and delicate head
to bear. Mr. Stepel was excusaby enthusiastic
about its beauty, and 10 as cool as if it had been
a wig. Sometimes | thought this peculiar hair
was an expression other own peculiar character.
Lefty said truly that Jo had gift ofspeech !;
and she, having said her say about the hair dis
missed the matter, with no uneasy recurring to
il, and took up book from the table, declar-
ing she was tired of her seam ;--she always was
tired of sewing Presently she laughed
what is it, Jo?" said l.
"Why, it's "Jane Eyre" with Lefty Allis's
name on the blank leaf. That is what call an
anachronism, spiritually. What do you think
about the book, Letty?' said she, turning her
1.-THE figure round in the great chair toward the
little Quakeress, whose pretty red head and ap-
ple-blossom of face boomed out of her gray
attire and prim collar with a certain fascinating
contrast.
Il think it has very good moral tendency,
cousin Jo.'
The clear hazel eyes flashed a most amused
comment at me.
"Well, what do you call the moral, Lefty ?"
"Why,-l should nk,-I do notquite know
that the moral is stated, Josephine,-but / think
thee will allow it was great triumph of princi-
pie for Jane Eyre to leave Mr.. Rochester when
she discovered that he was married"
10 flung herself back impatiently in the chair,
and began an harangue.
That is true worlds Judgment And you,
innocent little Quaker girl think it is the hight
OF virtue not to elope with married man, who
mas entirely and deliberately deceived YOU, and
adds to the wrong of deceit the insult of pro-
posing an elopement Triumph of principle
should call 1t the result of common decency,
rather,-a thing that tire instinct ofany woman
would compel her to do. My only wonder is
how Jane Eyre could continue to love him."
My dear young FRIEND" said ], rather grim
ly, "when woman loves a man, it is apt, re-
gret to say, TO become fact, not theory and
facts are stubborn things, you know. 1t is not
easy to set aside a real affection"
/ "lknow that, ma'am, "retorted Jo, in slight