Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-10-09
NJ | S c E L L A N Y.
LYDIA LANKFORTS WEDDING

Having shown me the chambers of the house
the dairy -room with its hundred cheeses, like
so many iattened spheres of gold, ranged upon
shelves-the wool-loft, in which were stored the
results of three seasons shearing-the yellow
white blocks of tleeces packed away, in regular
rows, to the ceiling, with little asles and arch
es all of WOOL. and having explained to me,
very innocently, that this crop, reaped from the
backs of sheep, was a commodity which increas-
ed in weight by being kept, and that it would
probably command a better price per pound
another season than this, the young ladies of the
farm conducted me to the pantry, where they
exhibited a trayful of extraordinary hens eggs /;
then to the wash-room, to show me the glossy
water-tank, supplied by spout from the hill I;
and finally, asked me if would like to see their
grandmother ?
"By all means - replied; and they accord
nglv led me to a sitting-room, where the old
lady sat- with large grey cat in her lap, knit
ting sock which was precisely the color of the
cat.
"Gran'ma !" cried the younger of the girls
the prettier of the two, if there was any differ
ence in their beauty for they were both hand
some as cherries-"Granma ma" she repeated
raising her voice. for it appeared that the old
lady was rather deaf, "hcres gentleman come
to see you"
"a gentleman from Boston," added her sis
ter, laughing.
From Brston !" echoed the old lady, putting
on her spectacles 81 declare! Why didn't
you tell me-ld have slicked up little. No
matter now, though How do ye do ? So you're
from Boston, be YEP
There was good -humorcd smile of curiosity
on her face as she examined me through her
glasses: and at the same time | observed that
both the girls were laughing.
0NOu'll have to tell VOur story about the gen
tleman from Boston. !" said Della Ohat was the
Younger in the old ladys ear.
"And Lyddy Lankfort's wedding" exclaim-
ed the grandmother, quite merriy "That's
Jest what come into my head never hear OF
a gentleman from Boston but | think ont, d.
believe. But | couldn't tell it my memory's a
faiin on me so. Here Susie! you take up this
stitch I've dropped I've took up many stitch
for you, girls, when you was children, and learn
in to knit, and that's all the good it ever done
We. | guess you'd go without stockings, If yC
didn't have me to knit 'em for ye, for all knit
tin on 'em yourselves
Having given Susie the sock, with this Sc
we're comment, the old lady wiped her glasses
and held them pensively in one hand, while she
gently stroked the cats neck with the other
The cat purred Susie bent blushingly over thu
sock Della played with a string looked witt
pretended interest at the pathetic picture of the
old lady and her cat but was, in reality, think
ing how handsome the girls were, and how cap
tivating they would be had they possessed lit
tie sentiment with their fun, and been less shock
ingly practical
"Gentleman from Boston" suddenly burs
forth the old lady, with laugh 81 don't know
as I've thought ont for the last sixty years with
out laughin', no matter where was-even
twas in meetin' "
"Sxty years :" / observed. "That is lonl
road to look back over"
"Wa'al, in one sense, 'tis. There's beel
changes that make it seem so. Times WASH
then as they be now You'd think twas rathe
funny, wouldn't you, to go back to where ther
wasn't any railroads, or steamboats,, or tally
gratis ? don't remember as we ever used Il
see newspaper very often them days. And a
for chaises, and buggys, and such things, don
believe there was over dozen or so in all Con
necticut At least never see one in our vii
lage-only Deacon lanktort had a kind of
, one hoss wagin he used to drive to meetin', an
thought drea'ful smart
"The Deacon was one Of the richest me
there was in town; he had a noble firm, an
kept store besides-sold sugar, Calico broomi
Boston crackers, and no end of rum. Twain
considered any disgrace them days to sell run
Temperance-lneyer heard Of temperance whe
| was girl.
! "It's the Deacon's darter, Lyddy Lankfort.