Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-06-07

| The home-cured ham IS slivered into semi-trans-
parent slices, and wreathed with classic parsley.
The preserves and marmalade, for the manufac-
ture of which the Misses Phipps enjoy a five
miles fame, and poured, like liquid and rubies,
into their shallow receptaces of crystal. Wax
candles are placed in readiness for lighting on
the tea-table, in massive silver sticks-the Misses
Phipps have " seen better days with verdant
coronals. One bottle Of port and of sherry are
decanted, and put aside with the plates of al
monds, and raisins, and oranges for pre-coenal
refreshment. The supper tray is ready-laid
and then, after sundry injunctions to the ex-
temporised parlor-as we'll as kitchen-maid to
&C mind her manners the sisters 60 up stairs
to wash their hands, give the last touch to their
toilet, and to see once more that the bedroom is
in fit state for the reception of their guests
when they visit it for the purpose of taking
off their things"
Bonnets and boas, muffs, shawls, and mantles
have lain upon the countcrpane for some hours,
when my tale begins. Supper has been des-
patched; and to counteract the richness of the
hot game -pie-Pogis Parva is in noted sport
ing county, and you may be sure that popular
Aunt Rhoda has not to buy the birds she cooks
so deftly-the assembled ladies, with their feet
upon the fender, and their skirts turned back
over their knees, are slipping justa leetle very
weak brandy and-water." Their tongues have
|
not been idle at any time of the evening, but
now, fabricated by that gentle stmulant, they
wag like poplar leaves. 1t is amusing to note
the effect of after-supper alcohol-however much
diluted-on the feminine brain. The topic of
conversation is Mr.. Phillips, shy, autumnal
bachelor, who has recently taken up his resi-
dence in Pogis. So very shy is he that he has
had his pew in church screened, not only in front,
but also at the sides, with lofty cutains, above
which, when he stands up, the top of his head
can just be seen by his fellow-worshipers, and
behind which, at the service, he remains perdu
until the church is empty, having taken care to
be the first to enter it. All the week long, he
never stirs from his own premises, which he
| WOulu b6bm W nave Se1cCJcu lUE OuC pdk0 VI d
brick-wall and a high holly-hedge, which shuts
them in on all sides The rector is the only per-
son who has visited him. and he reports that Mr..
Phillips is an intelligent and well-informed, but
most ridiculously nervous man, with a perfect
horror of womankind. His servants, to whom
he rarely speaks, can give no further gratifca-
tion to their village gossips' curiosity about him,
than by telling them what he has for dinner
that he spends the day in reading in his study,
or moping in his garden; and that they often
overhear him walking up and down his bedroom
at night, talking to himself.
Here is a mine of mystery for rural specula-
tion Our ladies, irate at his misogynism, for
the most part are very uncharitable in their con-
lectures The rector's wife believes him to be
a concealed atheist. Why cannot he show his
face at church, she asks, like decent Chris
tian? Mrs Squills, the surgeons spouse, sug-
gests that night walking and talking point to
remorse for some great crime-perhaps mur-
der. Swindling finds more favor in the eyes of
Mrs. Brown, the retired tradesman 'swilc. She
would like to know whether Phillips as his name,
and how he got his money. " Perhaps he's u
coiner," whispers, in an awe-struck voice, her
daughter Belinda, great reader of romances.
Miss Harriet Phpps, who is suspected of hav-
ing had loveaffair long ago, is the only one
who is not censorious; she hints that blighted
affections may have caused his melancholy. But
this compassionate hypothesis, in common with
all its unkind predecessors, Aunt Rhoda scorn-
fully scouts In her opinion, the man is merely
an absurd hypochondriac old bachelor, who has
grown half silly through living by himself, and
having no one else to care for; and, as usual,
sharp sighted little Aunt Rhoda is right She
vows, moreover, that she will rout him out, and
make him take wife, and do some good in the
village instead of haunting his house like sell
fish old ghost.
=" Why not ask him yourself, Aunt Rhoda ? u
says Miss Brown. I" Next year is leap.year,
} you know"
= "Well, laughs Aunt Rhoda, g if can t man.
9 age it any other way, ,oiH"
t 80 Rhoda " exclaims shocked Sister Har.
riet
g Thus they sit chatting until the bells burst
: out with their joy-pcal at the birth Of the new
e year, when, with many expressions Of surprise
t at the quickness with which the time has flown
d they give each other the customary hearty greet
d ing of the hour and then the visitors clog anC
IS cloak, and scatter to their homes, tho rector
r wife tossing her head contemptuously when sh
l. meets the Methodists coming out from thei
,r 8, watch. night " service in their little meeting