Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1863-01-01

SNiiui ilttlc HllpeTS, lnUl III ohVi'
was goodly array of festal ornomen''-qu''e
enough for their rehearsal.
Brutus helped them ~ well as he co"'u ny
carrying branches and garlandsin his mou'" anu
deposited on the little nlp.-,y1 1s't was 10 serve
them as sort of a natureADshainet' nav
ing hung their garlands and bouquets on the
nearest shrubs, and twincd iowors and branch
es of young lines amongst the caves OF stately
laurels, Rose desired h,r companions to I'M
agine as well as they could that tie most beau
tiful festoons of palm leaves and 'ho" howers
were hanging the whole way from the house,
with cocoa-nut lanterns blazing awal at inter-
walls. They were told, likewise, to picture an
arch of triumph at either edge OF h1 bridge,
with an altar of flowers and fruit in lhe centre;
and lastly they must fancy themssteS looking
at the green mound as most beuriifll throne
of moss. lotus flowers, jambo blostns, and tai
ipot leaves, with a bower by itsside, full Of
wine and cakes, and all the estor people as
semblc1 about them, with Tunchee,tie old blind
harper and the two horn blowers, who could
play anything, from cathedral must down to an
Indian war dance.
They all, as in duty bound, fancied what they
were bid whereupon Rose led her e Ter brother
to the imaginary throne. and babe the rest range
themselves about Then the child, in voice
Of grave earnestness, told them that the New
Years fete wss to begin-that she would act
"Mamma," while Edward would taxa the part
of Papa" At this proposal the rest of the
children raised such shout o. laughter as
quite astonished the goat. The idea Of their
fnther taking part in any lf.S,.uies, seemed TO
,l.;r infant l.,+ll--ss6 4. stupenaous
absurdity as to be beyond their small compre-
tensions.
Why, Rose, silly child might as well have
voted him to be the Pope of Rome, or even the
governor of the island Bul she taking her
brother by the hand bale him act the part al
loted him whereupon the boy said he would
try aud look as grave and unhappy as he could,
but he was sure he could not look or feel like
papa
Rose chided him, and said that she was sure
their papa was very good, and loved them all,
and would not make one of them unhappy for
the world, if he knew it. Edward inquired if
that were the case, why dia he 20 away so often,
and leave their mamma alone for so many days
ard nights when she was ILL., too, it was all
the same.
But Rose was not to be put down in that
manner--not she To be sure, she did wish
that dear papa would no cave them so often
as he did she wished he would give up those
long journeys, burn the nasty canoe on the i'm
agnary altar OF flowers, and stay at home TO
take care of the cane pies.i and the people, and
Then she added, if Edk fould not act papa, ,
she Tggt', and tell tNl Deki 1he woaia do
and say on the MORO '5fs would first kiss
mama and the new baby, and sh them a hap
py New Year, and say that she had resolved 20
give up everything but home from that day /;
that there was to be no more travelling in the
canoe, but let mamma and the sugar works
have all her time. Then she would give grand
fete to everybody on the plantation and to
crown all, and to begin the New Year well, old
Pierre should have his liberty, and Brutus the
goat, he decorated with a new set of ribbons
Saying this, Rose embraced her brother, and
the whole party raised such shout of appro-
baton as might have been heard at the house.
Perhaps it was for at that moment, just as
they were going to dance, the conch-shel was
blown, as signal fortheir return to supper and
to bed. They started away home as rapidly
and joyously as they had come and in few
minutes more the island was as still as the
night that was closing fast over it.
Again the planter paced that quiet lawn but
that time calmly, slowly, and thoughtfully, un-
i'll the moon had risen above the palm trees.
Then, by that pale light, one might have seen
how changed he seemed how something had
been busy in his mind, and still was working
there, how heavy wintry clouds had passed
away, and summer calm refghed gently in their
place. Each word and syllable of those dear
childrens talk had found its way and done its
work within. A sweeter sermon. man clad in
priestly robes had never spoken.
The New Years day broke brilliantly as man
need wish to see it. The early morning breeze
from of the hill-tops came loaded with the
breath of forest flowers birds caroled merrily
from groves of shady trees the insect world
broke forth in one great universal hum of hap
piness the little river rippled cheerly past the
wooded island; and then the sun came gently
over the mountains, heralded by gorgeous rays
of rainbow quality, slipping the dewdrops from
myriad blossoms The household of the plan
ter had just begun to stir; dogs shook theiI
shaggy heads, and negroes rubbed their heavy
eyes, and, in their Oriental apathy, groaned that
the night had fed The earliest sunny rays o
the morning light that stole through the lattice
door and window found Florence still asleep q
y little more light, little more warmth, little
D more warbing of the birds without, and the
t sleeper's eyes were opened Was it vision o
: the night still lowering about her that she saw
n 1t was her husband, indeed, and with that new
born infant in his arms He laid it gently b,
= her side and bent softly aver her. as though
o she still had slept, and he feared to wake her
o kissed her scores of times, called her darling
? wife, and wished her and all beneath that roo
}. happy, long new year. Blessed wife |
II seemed as though new world had opened be
d fore her with fresh existence. And when h
is took her hand in his and asked her to forgive
$, him all the pas, and look only on the future
IS rich in each Others love, florence could no
speak, but tears of happiness, more eloquen
, no., ,,.,,l ,il al she had TO 10 tell