Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-14

work hard on his farm during the week, and
then ride several miles each Sabbath morning
to preach. Healthy and hearty, the world evil
IDENTIFY went well with him. | was somewhat
amused by his conversation, as he walked with
cousin and myself to the school house, while
his strong minded, masculine looking wife edi-
fed Helen, and some of her neighbors. He
had turned his horse into Lorin's pasture, in
which the school house stood, and as we were
about to enter, he said:
81 hope YOU will see that my horse does MT
run awayP" to which cousin replied, as he gave
a roguish glance at me, who certainly appreciat-
ed the fun of the thing, quite as we'll as was
consistent with the time and place;
40, yes l will keep an eye on him"
There was magical Transformation in Par
son Lowther, the moment he entered the sacred
desk. The iovial, hail-fellow, wel-met farmer
was, instantly, the earnest, imprisoned striver
with the Lord for the salvation Of souls, and
this God, whose aid he sought with deaiening
voice, and pleading gestures, was not the ever
loving and omnipresent as well as omnipotent,
Father, in whose constant, watchful care | trust
ed; but terrible Being afar off, whose just
anger, towards all lie had created, was to be
feared, and deprecated. His prayer was abso-
lutely stunning, confined as it was within those
narrow walls, and the sermon also was power
ful one, though am not sure, but that its chief
force lay in the physical strength, manifested
in its delivery. | have no remembrance of its
text or general sentiment, but | recollect well
the startling emphasis with which lie spoke of
the arch fend, as present among us | inyol-
unfairly glanced about to see the eloven foot,
while the expression, upon my unluoty face, at
tracted the attention of the ministers Jealous
wife. From that moment, she watched me- and
her bold gaze was exceedingly embarrassing
If turned my face the other way towards the
meas side of the house, there was l4orin, sit
| ting by a window, and ever and anon looking
after that horse, with side glance at me, which
was very provocative Of mirth. Thus | was
obliged to sit demurey and let my poor eye
lids be weighed down by that heetic hunting
stare, of which was only too conscious. But
if good Parsoness Lowther, (she hal certainly a
fair claim to the title,) thought she read false
doctrine in my face, knew that read in her
words and tones of that most ludicious and un-
womanly, of all feminine accomplishments, the
power Of requiring obedience from ones hus-
band.
After tea, one of the men offered the minis
lister pipe. lie had already taken it, when
the keen eyes of his spouse, glancing beyond
the women, with whom she was conversinG,
caught sight of him.
"Mr Lowther-don't you smoker How the
loud words, and commanding tone, rang clear
as a fre-bell, above all other noises in the long
kitchen, drawing the attention of us ALL to the
obedent husband, who meetly handed back the
tobacco pipe, though the quick blood, which
mounted to his face, showed that he was not
wholly bereft of his maniness.
After the departure of the jealous Mrs Low
ther and her husband, we had the pleasant twi-
light and long evening, for we made long eve
nings though it was summer time, for such earn
est conversation, as better befitted the solemn
hours, than any medtations our pastor had
| awakened.
But must not stop to particularize each da,
of this charming visit Helen and had long
pleasant chats over our work, each finding pleas
ure in learning of the other such little feml
nine accomplishments. as her companion coult
easily iuparI, mus weaving u.--e'is of brigh
association about our work baskets, which
should ever after remind us of each other NJ,
lady reader, did you ever give your attention t
this method, of leaving pleasant, suggestiv,
mementocs of your visits? Let me just hin
to YOU the fact, that she who has taught on,
something, which helps her to give pleasure Il
her friends, often wins brighter and more FIRE
quent remembrance than the gver of costl,
gifts.
Helen, however, had other work, than coul(
be done by our needles, which could not b'
trusted to the housemaid and so she initiated
me into the mysteries of the dairy-room, ant
our chatting met no interruption, as the shallow
wooden cream bowl was repeatedly filled AM
emptied into the big stone jar. Lorin often diC
the ckurning and, when he was at home, ther
was always sport. His coming, at meal times
was ever signal for hilarious mirth. We play
ed with the children, or laughed at them, "a
they stood in open-eyed wonder, watching ou
merrment; but our jests and practical joke
will scarcely bear description, though they wer,
not, for that, the less enjoyable Helen hat
not the same overlooking fund of spirits, a
Lorin and /, but our games would ottentime
have tagged, had not her manifest enjoymen
Of our sport melted us to renew it. Beside
our indoor amusements, there were rides walks
and visits at the homes OF Uncle Lee and hi
other married children. Helen and Lorin usu
ally went with me, and at each place we receiv
ed cordial welcomes and urgent solicitations t
prolong our stay.
| Before left home, endeavored to coax m
husband into promise to come for me, at tn
g close of my visit, but was met by such cogeu
representations of the press of business, as il
S duced me to wholly yield my point. In my fire
= quent letters to him, | made no further refer
ence to the subject, than to occasionally expires
: my wish, that he could be with us, or forwar
< COUSIN Lorln urgent lnNltations LOT Hlm |
{ come, without one expectation that he coul
4 crafty US but merry fortnight had scarcel
t passed, when he came suddenly, to heighten e,
n cry joy by participatingit. All care was throw
S aside, and, for nearly week, we were happie
2 than children, in that capacity for happine'
o was greater, and quite as gay. The boys foun
n endless food for merriment in my perfect read
: ness to undertake all kinds of farm work, frol
Il boeing corn to milking cows; while they we,
quite as ready, with pursed up mouths, an
+ most laughably earnest efforts to place Il
IS needle just right, to help us upon our delica
o embroidery Then the evenings were well in
II proved opportunities for conversation, reading
y and story telling. At one time Helen and
n laughed till we cried, at funny story Russo
n told at another, we cried, till we laughed at OF
3, own foolishness in crying over fictitious grief
l. as we listened to an affecting sketch, which l.
|, rim read. But my pen would grow weary, we
| to write of all the means, by which the hon
e of our pleasant cousins become linked, in n
y thought, with numberess bright and cheerf
s associations.
s When we left, Lorin and Helen made pror
IS Use, which they confirmed by letter, to retu
our visit, vhen the State Fair should be held
II our village, the following September. Accor
y ingly, was among those, who waited at Il
II danot ,phan tho tardy lono and crowdad tro