Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-01-03

took time that Mrs. Tilden might give to her
dairy, or to making shirts and knitting stock
ings, and so it really troubled his conscience
The next spring he turned it into his corn field
and when his wife mildly intmated her disap
pointment, he said placidly, "Alter all, twas
thing of no use, and took time"-and Mrs. Til
den being a meek woman, and one Of the kind
of saints who always suppose themselves miscr-
able sinners, specially confessed her sin of being
inwardly vexcd about the incident in her pray
ers that night, and prayed that her eyes might
be turned off from beholding VANITY, and that
she might be quickcncd in the way Of minding
her work.
The front parlor of the deacon's house was
the most frigd asylum of neatness that ever
discouraged the eyes and heart of visitor
The four blank walls were guiltlcss Of any en-
craving or painting, or of any adornment but |
an ordinary wall paper and framed copy of
the Declaration of lndependence-or each of
the three sides stood four chairs,-under the
looking glass was a shining mahogany table,
with large bible and an almanac on it-and a
pair of cold, glittering brass andirons llustrat
ed the fireplace, The mantal-shelf above had a
pair of bright brass candlcsicks, with pair of
snuffcrs between-and that was all. The dea-
con liked tit was plain ard simple-no non
sense about it-cvcrything for use, and nothing
for show-it suited him. His wife sometimes
sighed and looked round it, when she was sew
ing as if she wanted something, and then sung,
in the good old psalm;-
"From vanity turn Off my eyes
Let no corrupt design
Or covetous desires arise
Within this heart of MINE"
The corrupt design to which this cstimable
matron had been tempted had been the purchase
of pair of Parian towervascs, whose beauty
had struck to her heart when she went with
her butter and eggs to the neighboring city
but recollectng herself in time, she had reso-
lutely shut her eyes to the allurement, and
spent the money uselaliy in buying loaf
sugar.
For it is to be remarked that the deacon was
fond of good eating. and prided himself OH the
bounties of his wife's table. Few women knew
better how to set one--cud the snowy bread,
and the golden butter, clear preserves and jel-
| lies were themes of admiration at all the tea
tables in the land. The deacon didn't mind
few cents in n pound more for nicer ham, and
would now and then bring in treat Of oysters
from the city, when they were dearest. These
were comforts, he said; one must stretch point
for the comforts of life J.!
The deacon must not be mistaken for ty-
rancal man, or bad husband. When he
quietly put his wife's flower patch into his corn
field he thought he had done her q service by
curing her Of an absurd notion for things that
took time, and made trouble, and were of no
use and She dear SOUL never had breathed a
dissent to any course of his loud enough to let
him know she had one. He laughed in his
sleeve often when he saw her so TRANQUILITY
knitting or shirt making, at those times she had
been wont to give to her poor little contraband
pleasures. As for the iiower-yases, they were
repented of-and Mrs. Tiden put a handful of
spring anemones into a cracked pitcher and set
it on her kitchen table, till the deacon tossed
them out Of the window-'he couldn't bear to
see weeds growing round"
The poor little woman had kind of chronic
heart sickness, like the pining of teething
child, but she never knew exactly what it was
she wanted. If she ever was sick, no man
could be kinder than the deacon He has been
known to harness in all haste and rush to the
nei ,hboring town at four o'clock in the morn
ing, that he might bring her some delicacy shC
had a fancy for-for that he could see the ust
of but he could not sympathize in her craving
3 desire to see Powers Greek Slave, which wa'
exhibiting in a neighboring town. "What die
christian people want of stm imOges?" hi
wanted to know. lie thought the scripture pu
that thing down-"Eyes have they, but they se'
not-ears have they, but they hearpot-nehliel
speak they through their throat They tina
make them are like unto them; so is every ont
that trusteth in them" There was the deacon
, opinion of the arts and Mrs Deacon onl,
sighed and wished she could see it, that's all
But it came to pass that the deacon's eldes
son went to live in New York, and from tha
time strange changes egm to appear in tn
! family that the deacon didn't like; but as Je
thro was smaTt, driving lad, and making
money at great pace, he at first said nothing
U bo
and brought box for his mother, which, beini
|. unpacked, contained a Parian statuette of Pau
! and Virginia. lovely, simple little group a
>, ever told its story in clay.
Il Everybody was soon standing round it il
Z open-mouthed admiration, and poor Mrs. Til
y den wiped her eyes more than once as she con
u | templated it. 1t seemed a vision of beauty i
Il the almost desolate neatness of the best raon
: "Very pretty, | s'pose,' said the deacon
u doubtfully-for like most fathers of spirte
u twenty-thrce oders, he began to feel a litte i
? awe of his son-"but, dear me, what sight G
money to give for thing that after all is of N
} use I"
e 81 Think" said Jethro, looking at his moth
d er's suused eyes, "it is one Of the most useir
. things that has been brought into the house thi
: many day."
IS 81 don't see how you're going to make thu
u u the young wisdom that had risen in his house
u hold"
: "What will your wager me, father, that wi
V prove out of your own mouth that this statuett
D. is as useful as your cart and oxen"
! 81 know you have got great way of comm
= round folks, and twitching them up before the
know where they are but I'll stan you on tn
question, any way" And the Deacon put o
ID his yellow silk bandana over his bald head, an
le took up his position in the window seat.
of "Well now, father, what is the use of yot
Sc cart and oxen !"
"Why, could not work on the farm witho,
them and you'll have nothing to eat, drink, {
4 wear"
4, "Well, and what is the use of our eatinI
sr drinking and wearingp
e, "UsoP why, we could not keep alive witho'
Sand what is the use of our keeping alive