Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-06-13

! the inspecting clerk, and thence had been dl-
rected to the cashier with ticket for her pay.
On former occasions she had suffered from Gu
rious and wicked glances while passing the
clerks of several departments, as well as from
peculiar tone in which the cashier addressed her.
| To-day she was either more painfully sensitive
or the glanccs of admiration were more disgust
ingly prominentj and the cashier, after fumb-
/ ling as long as possible, handed her the silver
| she had earned with a careless but insulting re-
mark. Jennie flashed with Indignation threw
the money upon the counter, and curling her
/ lip with scorn left the desk. A hand touched
her arm, and kind voice slid, wait mo-
ment Miss DELL in so assured and command
ing a way, that she invountarily paused. The
gentleman stepped up to the cashier struck
him a smart blow on the side of his face with
the palm of his hand, tipping him over, took
the vacated stool at his desk, and by the time
the fellow had picked himself up, had balanced
his account, and was ready for him with the res
due of his wages. Then leading the fellow to
the door by the arm, he kicked him into the
street. A this was done so coolly, with 50
much ease and gentlemanly decision, that Jennie
could take no exception to even the last act of
the drama.
My store will be safe to you in future, Miss
Dell but will not put you to the inconvenience
of bringing your work. | will send a boy for
u
die, Mr. Brewer bowed Jennie out of the store
before she had time to cry or do anything more
than thank him with glance, which, breaking
from her late Indignation, was a curious inter-
mingling Of pride and gratitude.
The incident had recalled for the hundredth
time q terrible consciousness of her unprotected
situation, and she felt more keenly than ever
the utter helples.ness of poverty. Sometimes
the blood of proud ancestry dashed 10 her
- Al hn1 har h,,t tba
next instant woman tears chased each other
down her cheeks.
Il am so glad you have come, father. | have
, been very lonely, and then | was fearful
something had happened
t The old man bent little to kiss the eyes of
his aughter-kissing her eyes was the empha-
sis of his affecton-and his lips were moistened
by a tear which Jennie had unwittingly left there
in the haste of brushing them away to meet his
coming step.
What is this, daughter? Crying, my child ?
You are not sick, dear? Why, l thought my
brave girl never cried, however dark the day
might be;' and, with hand on each shoulder
the white-hared man held the bright-faced
daughter at arms length before him, gazing
loving inquiries into her eyes.
y Not trace of sadness in the beaming
face of the daughter now; so, after meeting his
: gaze aughingly moment, Jennie slipped to his
u side, leaned close to his shoulder, clasping his
u arm in her hands, and said
II 'Oh, nothing of any moment, father. We
= women have little foolish thoughts and troubles
of our own when we are left alone all day. But
: when father comes back again, Jennie is happy
Il enough isn't she " and the girl looked into his
: face with so much of beauty, and smile, and
{ Joy, that the old man forgot the dew drop which
= had dried on his lips, and went to wondering
e what made his daughter so happy, alone anC
u hard at work in that sober room all day.
The father forgot the sadness sooner for {
: jewel of good tidings which he was holding
W tight in his heart, longing to give it his daugh
e ter but wondering what was the most perfect
5 way to show it. Whether to raise the lid witt
II a spring and permit the Koh-i-noor to ilasl
g e with its diamond lightning full in her face a
e once or to lift the lid gently so that the ovet
ones eyes might catch its brilliance ray by IA,
'e and beam by beam. While the daughter wa
ii making the tea-kettle cover dance and thel
=; pouring sputtering water into the little blacl
u teapot, in the bottom of which very few bu
u very nice little leaves lay curled in fragrant eX
lo clusiveness and concentration, the glad fathe
'e thought the matter over While the torpid lit
tie leaves warmed into inevitable expansion b.
VI the heated flood, the glad father continued t
o' think it over.
n, n you look tired, father; have you WORKED
ie hard to-dayP
Vi Not very, daughter
'Why, you are pale, father; you arc sick,
We know
IN 1t is well that the girl dropped the plate fror
nc her hand, though it went down with a crackl
l9 into fragments, for the old man was reeling ou
u u of his chair. She Just in time to save hin
=" Without word, the daughter held him mo
mcnt, till she could glance into his face, an
NC then with a strength which she could alway
81 :, command when aroused, bore him to the neal
ID est bed and laid him there.
'ir' Father! Father"
u Not word nor a sigh of consciousness
We Jennie bathed his temples with water, rubbe
~ his arms, his hands, his chest called on hin
~ kissed him, and wept. His lips move
~ ,, "What is it, father?" and the daughters ca
li is close by the trembling lips.
III 81 have heard" "-faintly- y-"from-Robert"-
no fainter. "Robert is-he is"-the voice is to
k faint to be heard-the lips cease to move-th
old man is dead. No cries of "Father, de'
n father" no chafngs of hands, no bathngs
,rt that calm snow fringed brow will ever brin
a back the soul now freed at last from its cheel
Id less imprisonment of eighty years.
ws Straighten the stifening limbs, lone daugi
of ter; close tighter the eyelids he is gone. An
he the secret hidden in that unfinished sentence
it, too, is gone, and vainly will you try to tatho
ed its import The blow was terrible one. M
er- alone that this was her stay and companion
but her only support and her only friend No
EN- she was alone. Alone.
ire When all hope of restoration was gone, Je
ilk ME stood erect little way from the bed h
- head buried in her hands, and let the tide
MY loss and loneness sweep over her. In that i
his stant of time she drank the full cup and tast
her each and every ingredient. This made h
it calm. Another nature might have sunk; S
nd was lifted, strengthened. All the enegies
ur her heart came into active life (; and now, tea
y ful or quiet, busy or still, she was the san
se, strong, self conscious woman she had eN
been. She was even stronger and more cain
ln- A quick step upon the stairs and a careie
the rap at the door. 1t was the brght-taeeu Il
hts with bundle. ..
nix Mr. Brewer says as how this is nicer wor
r in and you may send back the other bundle sa
of the little fellow, boy like, as he came abrupt
,rc. into the room. his face beaming with pleasl
had and exercise. 30, Miss Dell and the boy t,
Of into awe-stricken quiet as he felt the presen
III III The second day before the BURIAL when, wi
'r,, 'Ia tbe aid of an old woman below, the body h
ali been carefully prepared, different step "
his heard upon the staircase and careful kno
md at the door. Mr., Brewer entered without
,ich word, gave his hand, and sat down. Then &c
ept tly alluding tn her loss asking to look on t
rth features of her father noticing her plants in