Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-04-11


and my nature Graves a younger and dearer
companion"-
Horrd At that moment an odor of burn
ing. meat came most unplcasantly to my olfac-
tories. | begged to be excused, and fastened
into culinary quarters, to find the piece of beef
had so carefully prepared almost spoilt.--
Nervously caught holder from shelf, and
in so doing, succeeded in knocking mas favor
ite cut-glass pitcher, which fell with loud
crash breaking into a thousand fragments
Philip must have heard it. Oh, this mcal-gct-
ting, with lover in the parlor With flush
ed brow | went back to the old seat. Philip
smiled provokingly.
"Nelly," he then added 81 want a wife
Home will lack nothing, then, to render it the
dearest resting place this side of heaven. |
know little girl who is as precious to me as
life"
"Oh!' Just then, disturbance in Bridget's
appearance, obliged me again to leave. had
carelessly lett open the door and dame grunt-
er had taken the liberty to enter and taste the
pudding had set to cool
II was in no enviable state of mind that
hauled out the dining table, and laid the dishes.
As looked at the warm, heavy biscuits, un-
palatable meat, and burnt potatoes, my pride
and self-conidcnce vanished. / should not
have cared so much, had l not known what an
excellent cook and notable house-keepet Mrs
Dean was. Besides in the matter of the pal
ate, Philip had been an epicure from his era
die, and everybody knows that men think
more of their stomachs than of their sweet
hearts, To add still more to my trepidation,
Philip regarded me curiousy when | invited
him to dine. As he eyed the vands before
him, thought he was going to say grace, by
the sudden elongation ofhis visage. Ipoured
4 1
my secret discontinue, took malicious pleas
ure in seeing him sip the beverage. He was
an inevitable coffee drinker, but somehow, his
cup did not lower much.
What rare fun | should have had, if l had
not been Dinah We came to dessert at last,
and when / harded him the faky crustcd pie,
a relieved expression stole over his counte-
nance, which one tasting changed to a per-
ceptible grimace. What could all my highest
efforts? Alas had forgotten to sweeten
the apple!
Were vexations never to cease? By chance,
/ caught a glimpse of a reflection in the glass.
Was it mine? l glanced downward. Shade
of Ham, My faith in spotless robed heroines,
was gone at once. l was a tricolored exhi-
bition of red, white and black. Troubles
heaped themselves up strangely. wanted to
throw myself on the carpet, and cry like a
very cnlld. L uld nothing oil the KIND. In
stead, | burst into laugh, as the whole scene
came before me in its ridiculous light.
laughed till the tears rolled down my cheeks
and, as Philip became more disguised, my
mcrriment increased. | laughed when he went
away, though knew he would never finish
the offer so unluckily began.
Three weeks later he was united to Jenny
Wheeler. Soon after, attended party at
widow Deans, and had the happiness Of over
hearing Philips Indifferent remark to Fred
Lee, kind of explanatory apology for the
Irritation between us "a dear good girl bu,
poor cook"
In time my parents returned; and | was
only too glad to put off responsibility ol
which | was heartily tired. l shrewdly sus.
pected that my father had an eye on Philips
Golfers for he was Gloss toward me for three
days after hearing Of the wedding.
Just as though l could have helped it
learned two lessons that young ladies may
profit by. Firstly, it is different thing tc
play kitchen-maid with mother for overseer
than play the same without her. In the for.
mer case, if you forget sugar, saleratus or the
oven, she will not. Secondly never allow
lover, whom you wish tc call husband, to de-
clare his passion at breakfast, dinner or supper
time, especially if you are to prepare the meals
yourself. Be too busy, be skittsh, be any
thing, rather than allow it.