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

was trying to tame me with it, as one tamcs
wild beast, nearly choked myself in my efforts
to keep from laughing.
CHAPTER II.
had not been long in my uncle's house with
out finding out that, stern ruler as he was, my
aunt had shrcwd tact in managing him, which
really made him powerlcss. lie had not the
slightest suspicion that she ever had anv will of
her own, or that she had once dreamed of OPP
position to his requirements; yet every day of
his life, he was managed and shifted about like
the wooden figures in puppet show
One evening my aunt followed me to my
room, in order to have a quiet, uninterrupted
talk with me. | had expected her, for | had
been unusually bold at the tea-tablc, and had
several times contradicted uncle Zeke, and held
to my own opinions when they happened to
conflict with his.
ut will never do, Mary dear" said my aunt.
"lf you reply to him as you did tonight, you
will make my way very difficult"
"lf you too would give him little opposi-
ton, think, aunt, it would soon cure him." |
said, eagerly.
mo, no, child 1t would strengthen his ideas
in regard to domestic discipline, and only lead
to extreme measures on his part. lie would
feel 1t duty to reduce us to proper submission
at any cost
"Aunt, how do YOU manage to live"
She smiled sadly at my earnest manner.
"1hs trait in your unclcs character annoys
and moriiies me exceedingly when it is exhib-
tied before strangers but the most deporable
effect grows out of the necessity of outwittng
him. | shuddcr often when think how expert
have become in the art of deceiying. And |
see no future when may hope to he frank and
slrecic WIN nm II he Woulu ON! 'ruSt me
10 taNc care Ul i'I'p nouscIolu matters should
oe haPp!. pu' u,'h come IN 10 i4ad your
"''N S"ou'uc's wl'n III! "'iNle''es wanted
W 'Vil you lllfl ""ch you orlstc up ana uciGhd
me vi 'he s,IS' you 10 not helP u.s. Out rather
"uu 10 ou! u,'ilcuI''eS'
well II doeS provoke me 50 to nave to rem
"er an account ior ever! chahce expression that
crosses my race aht 10 nave my thoughts
pumped OUT OF me oy iorce' ana theh discussed.
Talk OF the patience OF job What are boiIs,
or-
.. lnert there' my aunt playfully shut my
l'pS "'h Ier nehu' we VIII let the SUBJECT rest
"bHi VIII fanhy go TO her cousin party 2
i,; haI 'N, %"n' ,oas;, oi ~, u"i 'o's' ie Pool
,,'a ~, ,,o, noIo." 10 ', M
,,i -,;oios t "G ;ia, ",'0 ~ W."
to he her Cousin Rer,ba,s hir,bdav t,tc and on9
ly cousins we're TO be there. SO there could he
no objection ON the plea of avoiding improper
associates. think it was seeing Fanny's anx.
ietv that had made me so fractious at the tea
table. evil she 90. aunt ?" repeated.
IL think she will. But. Mary. YOU must not
say a word in favor of it, if the subject comes
mn at breakfast. You can he silent il rcuues,
it as a kndness?r
0Nps ount and I nromiso ,o bo s;lort ,vbor
Won do not ask il. | will never mcIdlr ognin
let him say what he will. will be as meek as
a-as a sheen
Ms aunt kissed me good night. and left me
to my own reflections upon the little drama of
lite that was being enacted around me.
went down to breakfast, the next morning.
in very much the same frame of mind that
would have been natural if had anticipated
seeing circus. Fanny sat at the table with
very red ewes, and handkerchief in her hand
rc.dy for use Perhaps she I'd been CRYING.
but her sly glanccs toward my aunt who looked
heartily ashamed of something, were ANYTHING
but sad ones When uncle Iekc came in, he
noticed Fannys apparent distress at once.
"What's the matter now? Eh Fanny ?"
81 want 70 90 IN cou,ip's birthday p,rt, I'm,
,,o,ber s,,s ,on J,n,, amnro,., oc ,Iio,r,;at mI
She don't believe you viii think il hest ~ hmy
now lace for my sleeves or now slinners" "
~, -.
uoh | approve oi lew cousins meeting
II - ~ - '.'"' i"'
your n'o.ler '.i sn!s zen, you can lIst INFORM
!our mother 'n"' sue Is mistaken iou can go
~ u'c party anu mere Is 'n' h'ohe! 10 ouE "hat
YOU necu' anu "heh you want an! pleasure
mani YOU Juo' 'o''ie 10 'ne ,aNe not forgot
u" t'"' WIS young once ana Always re-
me"'ner' r"H''!' 10 loNe ana hohor your par
o"'S
n eS, Nr'
, ne l 40 "ish you would Try 10 recoiieCi
,n'' 1t IS not your business TO decide what shalI
De done IN the famlIy. And pass those pota-
'o'S' YOU PieeSe' iou seem 10 'orSe' 'hat
VIC are 10 orIaA'uS' tniS morning.,
Ai'er oreakiaSt' when uncle had gone to his
WORK, ana was heiPinS fahhy trlm her dress
neaIu IN! aunt sign ueePly rs she ouSled her-
SCI, AT 'he other end oi the room
!, IT because oil deceivlns pa' whispered
fanhy 1--WE nave to 10 IT, or we should nev,
er nave any enjoyment but II makes her feel
pad one says we snail all learn to be decep.
1--WE ana 'rlcNy' put shc Is not 10 blame Is she ?
IefhaPs not l SAID ielt little doubt
lul ABOUT IT.
gu see' pursued Fanny me Is always on
me contrary siae' we are Obliged to hnmor
him' ana let nm oppose ana domineer' we
could not even get our text books Tor school in
any o'her way. lie would th'nk 1t great
waste OF money 10 DuN them. But when