Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-09-29

are coming home from school to 60, and we
must stay at home because Il selfconceited,
contrary curmudgeon-."
"FannyP my dear child stop and think what
you are saying You shock me very much. )"
My aunt's voice tremblcd and the tears came
into her eyes. could sec that she was blaming
herself for this unfilial outbreak on the part of
Fanny. The young girl softened Immediately.
"Forgivc me- dear mother, | will be careful
what say. But when think of what will be
said about our oddity and stinginess if we stay
at home, feel angry and ashamed. Now ma,
you can contrive to have us go. If you were
young like me, you would not like to be singu-
lar or ridiculous. declare" said Fanny haring
up again, 81 wish pa was either like other folks,
or else was where-where he belongs"
"Be patient, my dear Let me think about
it. want to do right. like to CRAFTY you,
but this constant deception is so trying.
should like to be straightforward and truthful"
"Well you can't. You might as well wish to
be IA patriarch. The question is how to
make the best of what is. You are not to blame
if pa forces YOU to deceive him. For my part
like to do it, ! would rather cheat him than
not, Don't sigh over that, ma, for that is some
thing that can't be helped either. 1t comes as
natural as my breath"
"Oh, Fanny, don't run on so. 1t makes me
very sad to hear you"
"Weve only ono day, ma" said Fanny re-
turning to the attack. Say that you will man
age this once to CRAFTY us, and it shall be an
age before | will teaze you again Just this
once. that's dear. darling mother"
Fanny had her arms around my aunt's neck,
and her coaXing smiles, and eyes moist with
tears, were very persuasive arguments with the
indulgent mother. I saw that she was yielding
"Let me think of it," she said, "till your father
comes home. | am inclined to think he has not
heard the pic mic mentioned. In the mean time
you can prepare curTants and citron for cake
and weigh out the butter and sugar
Fanny kissed her mother and ran off, per-
lecty easy in regard to uncle, now that an i'm
piled promise to manage him had been given
! awaited his return with a good deal of curiosi-
ty. knew pretty well how the victory was to
be gained, but the anticipation had certain
excitement in it that kept me from thinking of
anything else.
At last he came. My aunt went very quietly
about the supper, humming, as she worked, lit
tie snatches of music in apparant forgetfulness
Of uncle Zekiel's repeated admonition to
either sing out or let it alone. Now uncle Zeke
did not like music, any way, and it always irri-
tated him if he overheard any of us singing in
concert and thus dividing the enjOyments with
each other; but to irritate him particularly, it
was necessary for my aunt to hum over the air
by herself
"Do you know, husband" said she pleasant
w. as soon as his face looked dark enough, "do
YOU know that Seth Doolittle has got up one of
the foolishes plans for picnic, and expects the
neishbors to join in it ?"
"Seth Doolttlc is sensible man, ma'am.
You will please to stop sandering your neigh
bors.'
"But this is so silly" persisted my aunt.
"Silly You being judge, suppose. Where
is the picnic to be ~
Down in Sndiegs Grove. They are going
to have c.4m-bal.c and chowder."
when"
"Tiring themselves out and wasting a whole
precious day 5esides,' said aunty, meditatively
when" thundered uncle Zeke. "Are you
deaf? Whcn?"
"On Wednesday,"
"Wel it's the best thing I've heard of for
long time"
You won't think of having our children 60,
hu>hand?"
Think of the expense"
Expense is not the question. | am not so
selfish as to only consider how this or that may
affect my purse There is nothing so promo
tive of neighborly good feeling as such little
excursions in company. What would you have?
Would YOU live in desert? Not an innocent
recreation can be proposed, but you must lift
up your voice against it. 1t is well for the chill
dren that | am their father. 4 sorry life would
they lead if l were not here to look out for
them. Expense indeed | shall 20 down di-
rectly and order fuckers barouche for us to go
in."
AT least said my aunt, "do not oblige us
to follow the cookbook m our preparations.
Rich food is unwholesome, aside from the ex-
pense.''
"llow many times shall tell you that the
open air is the only place where rich food can
be taken into the stomach safelyP Didn't ex-
plain it to you last fall when we went to Plum
Island?"
"Oh dear" said my aunt, resignedly. "Well,
what shall cook ?'
"We will take chicken pie, cold tongue fruit,
cake, and as many kinds of pie as you please.
Don't spoil them by trying to economize. You
may as well do it cheerfully, for | am resolved
to go and to take you ALL Now, wife, try for
once to be reasonable. Here are our neighbors
inviting us to join them in harmless recrea-
tion, and you look as if you were invited to
witness a hanging
Uncle Zekiel strobe haughtily out Of the
house as he finished his harangue. He was
sure Of his authority now Fanny gave way to
ny lStcIlcdi laughter, anu SAT uOWn nat on lne
floor to recover. | began to compliment my
aunt, but the tears were in her eyes, and she
only said, ''Don't mention it. Forget it, if
possible'
went up to my room before uncle Ezekiel
returned; quite contented now that all was ar
ranged for our appearance at the picnic with
comfort and self-respect, sat down by the open
window to enjoy the beauty of the evening
Byand-by, heard the gate swing and directly
after my aunt, calling in an agitated voice.
"llusband husband DO hurry"
whats the matter?" He stopped short in
the middle Of the walk.
do hurry and see. The hogs have got out
of the pen, and they are in the cornfeld."
"Whai of thatP It's my own corn and my
own hogs. Don't be everlastingly amedling"
Well, uncle Ezekiel was obeyed, and we all
went to the picnic. 1t was years ago. Last
week had letter from cousin Fanny, and
learned from it that he is still the "head of the
family [Peterson's Magazine
AN INCIDENT WORTH REPEATING.
La Fayette S. Foster, who was recently re-
aI al