Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-01-08

had encouraged him to reform-held out hopes
to which he had hitherto been q stranger, and
the love of the sweet young Jenny Brazier COM
pleted as it seemed his reformation.
Jenny never appeared so lovely as she did on
that unfortunate day of the reading of the will,
after they had returned to the poor little house
that was Jenny's own.
"No matter, john" she said, cheeefully, "you
will rise in spite of them. l wouldn't let them
think was in the least discouraged that will
only please them too well. We are doing nice
ly now, and you know if they do cut the rail
road through our bit of land, the money will set
us up quite comfortably isn't our home hap
py one if it is small? And o John, by and
bye~
An eloquent blush-a glance towards her
work-basket out of which peeped the most del
licate needlework, told the story-that ever new
story ofinnocence, beauty and helplessness, that
that bring cares akin to angels work.
For once. John Clarke stopped the gossip's
mouth. He held his head up manfully-work-
cd steadily at his trade, and every step seemed
a sure advance, and an upward one.
Baby was just six months old when the cor
poration paid into John Clarkes hand the sum
of six hundred dollars for the privilege of lay
ing track through his one little field.
"a handsome baby, beautiful and indus
trious wife, and six hundred dollars" thought
John, with an honest exultation, "wel, this is
livingw
"John," said his wife, rising from her work,
"look out"
lie did, and saw the old ne-horse shay drag
ged by a starlwart negro.
"Massa says as how the old barn is gwinc to
be pulled down, so he sent your shay" said the
African.
"Thank him for nothing" said John, bitter
la Init ola he g., ,,.n1 tb,
spirit, and better one smiled out of his eyes.
"John, you can spare little money now to
have the old shay fixed up, can't you? You
ought to- according to the will" said Jenny.
"The old trash ?" muttered John.
"But you could at least sell it for what the
repairs would cost" said Jenny, in her winning
way.
"Yes, suppose l could"
"Then I'd have it done, and bless me, I'd
keep it, too. You've got good horse, and can
have the old shay made quite stylish for baby
and me to ride in. Shan't we shine ?"
'Well, I'll send it over to IIosmer's to-mor-
row, and see what he will do it for"
"Look here Mr.. Hosmer wants you come
right over to the shop shouted the carriage
makers apprentice, at the top of his lungs
sold Deacon Joe's there, an says he's right
down glad-golly, it's hundreds, and hundreds,
and hundreds, and hun"
stop, BOY! what in the world decs ne moan,
jenny" cried John Clarke, putting the baby
in the cradle face downwards.
"My patience John, look at that child-pre-
cious darling I'm sure don't know, John
Id go right over and see," said Jenny, by
snatches righting the baby, "it's his fun, | sup
pose"
"'raint any fun, tell ye," said the boy, while
John hurried on his coat and hat "my gra-
oious guess you'll say it amt fun when you
come to see them ere gold things and the bills"
This added wings to John Clarkcs speed, and
in moment he stood breatlless in the old
coachmaker's shop.
"Wish you JOY, my fine Teller" cried Deacon
Joe
"Look hcre-what'll YOU take for that old
shay? I'll give you four thousand dollars -
cried the coachmakcr, in great glee.
Pour thousand - cried John, aghast.
"Yes, jest look at it Il, You're a rich man,
sir, and by George I'm glad of it; you deserve
TO be-"
The carrag e-makcr shook his hand heartily
What do You suppose were the CONSERVATION,
delight, gratitude--the wild, wild loy that filed
the heart of Clarke, when he found the old shay
filed with gold and bank Bills mean the
cushions the Innings, and every place where
they could be placed without danger or injury
thieves never would have condcscended to
the one horse shay.
Five thousand five hundred dollars in all =
Poor John or rather, rich John his head was
nearly turned 1t required all the balance of
Jenny's nice equipoisc of character to keep his
extatic brain from spinning like hummng-to
Now he could build two houses like the one his
uncle had bequeathed to his red headed cousin,
who had wished him joy when the will was read
the dear old uncle! What genuine Sorrow he
felt as he thought of the many times he had
heaped reproaches upon his memory,
Imagine if you can, dear reader, the peculiar
feelings of those kind friends who had prophe-
sled that John Clarke would come to grief At
first, Deacon Joe proposed to take the old shay
just as it was-linings stripped, bits of cloth
hanging-and upon tin trumpet proclaim the
good tidings to the whole town, taking especial
pains to stop before the house of Mr. Spriggs,
and blowing loud enough to drown all the forty
pianos in the universe; but that was vetoed by
Johns kind little wife.
ia! they'll know Of it soon enough" she
said, kissing the baby; 81 wouldn't hurt their
feelings"
They did know of it, and a few years after,
when John Clarke lived in big house they all
voted for him to so to the "legislater.' So
much for the old one-horse shay.