Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-05-01

my arms and held him closely, so that he coulc
not escape to his Jealous aunt, and thought il
my secret heart that | would make him like The
brother Edward | had lost. In an instant tho
feeling that was u stranger had yanshed--my
/ heart had warmed so towards the little one whose
auburn head nestled in my arms. My husband
! looked pleased, and smiled giving his sister a
gratIed look. and observed the shadow of Il
smile on her lips hut it faded again as she
/ glanced at Julia When the clock struck nine
I ssJancr"sc and led the children to their cham
bcrs babe them goodnight as they went out
but noticed that Jdlia madc no answer
The next morning made it my business to
! go over the house and examine it, convcncnces.
/ The first step upon the broad, gloomy staircase,
/ chilled me but when, after visiting every room,
| sat down in the parlor again, was almost dis
couragcd. Such drcary, disordcrcd house,
! never saw. In every chamber the curtains hung
! over the windows like shrouds, and the air was
cold and damp as dungeon. There was dust
on the walls, on the windows and on the furni-
turc there was gloom in every corner The
| parlor, which might have been delightful room,
seemed like a Sepuichre. The furniture, as well
as the pictures. were covered with brown hol-
land locked bookcase stood in a recess. and
Il locked piano was by the opposite wall. | ask
ed little Mary, who had kept close by me all
| the morning, why this was so.
| Aunt Jane does not like music" she replied
land she keeps the bookcase locked, because
she says We must not read books until we are
older"
And why is the furniture all coycred?" |
asked"
"Thc parlor is scarcely ever opened said
! Mary" Aunt Jane wants TO keep it nice"
" Well, Mary" said. 20 now and ask your
aunt Jane for the key of the bookcase. | want
to see the books
She ran quickly, and returned followed by her
aunt who delivered up the key to me with a
dubious kind of grace.
81 hope you will lock the bookcase when YOU
have examined the books, maam," said Miss
| Fleming. 4" don't allow the children to spend
their time in light reading"
What are they now reading ?" asked.
They learn their lessons" She replied, short
ly.
She disappeared and opened the bookcase,
which found to contain most excellent Sc
! lection of books. The best poets the best his
torians, the best noycNtS, and biographcrS were
| there, making library. small, but ofrarc value.
1t was the first really pleasant thing had found
! in my new home. and satan hour or two glanc-
! ing over one volume after another, and rear
ranging them on the shelves
suddenly Miss Jane looked in, and in mo-
mcnt her face was pale with indignation. for
! '''Nit HN Atilt hAl vi Allt NtilANs iulitN III Il
charming old annual. Miss Jane took two steps
forward, and snatchcd the book out OF the chd's
| hand. threw it on the table, then led her by the
shoulder out of the room. was at first mute
| with amazcmcnt at this rough government then
| sprung up, and would have followed her, had
not the fear of an outbreak restrained mo.
"Selish creature" exclaimed. YOU arc try
ing TO make these children like Yourself; ruin
ing them for all good and happiness in life. In
Your labor Was XTthH fleming blind i'm " Wien NJ N
he left his children in your Keeping
| saw no more olthc children until dinner,when,
! by questioning, learned that they had been
| studying all the morning with Miss Fleming. |
informed her that | should sit with them in the
afternoon, as | wished to see what progress they
were making The look with which She receiv-
ed this announcement plainly indicated that
should be an unwclcomc listener to her lessons
and for few moments my heart so failed me-
| pcrpleXed by her contemptuous glances, that
half determined to have nothing to do with the
children, hut leave them to her, since she was
so jealous of them. But my better spirit pre-
vailed over me. They are mine noW,'
thought " ior am their fathers wife, and all
his arc mine, whatever difficulties find in tLc
way. have come here of my own free will
and nothing shall HOW deter me from doing my
duty"
After dinner Miss Jane and the children re.
paired Immediately to the chamber which was
used as a school-room. In a few minutes fol
lowed them. and quietly took seat at the desk
She was drilling them in arithmetic, sending
one after another to the blackboard, and talk.
ing all the time in loud petulant tone.
"Julia" she exclaimed, " if YOU make such
awkward figures III put you back to the be
ginning Of the book. Mary, will you stand up
right, or be sent to bed Decide now"
81 cannot understand this sum, aunt Jane,
sighed Mary.
"S Sit down, then, until you can" was the re
ply.
do you not explain What they cannot un
dcrstand ~ ] asked.
"All that is necessary" she replied :" Mar,
could understand her sums if she attended t,
me-
An hour passed, during which Mary silently
hung her head over her slate, and played will
her pencil, Miss Jane offered no explanation
Edward alternately counted with his fingers tn
buttons on his jacket, and drew houses ON hi
slate Julia, whose strong mind received knowl
edge almost intuitively, studied her lesson quiet
ly and without difficulty Presently she CAV
her book to her aunt, and recited her lessol
perfectly.
"Vcry well, julia said Miss Jane. "Yo
may go into the garden and amusc yourself"
10 theN not amusc themselves together :
| inquired with astonishment, not pleased wit
the idea of solitary, mirthless exercise.
I" Not unless they learn their lesson equal
t well," she answered. edward" !" she sudden
ly exclaimed /; :" as | i've the boy is going t
sleep. Stand in the corner, Edward, until yo
$ are awake"
, Edward coored scarlet and went to the col
! ner, rubbing his eyes. felt disgusted at tn
G total lack of system, order and justice whic
prevailed in this mock school. | was GROWN
frightened at the work before me, fearful thg
| Jane Fleming had sown more tares than m
. weak hands could ever root out.
r Seeing that Edward was crying, went to hi
o in his corner.
, $50 away I" he sobbed, when laid my han
i on his head" go away-you are not my mott
T en-"
Y made no reply to this, but asked him VIII
:; he cried?
, "Because am tired" he answered; can
i you and aunt Jane won't let me sit down"
81 and aunt Jane, Edward" said |.
4 eyes," he sobbed out "Aunt Jane say
4 you are come here to live always, and will max
me mind you, and make my father hate me
Al, ,.,l