The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-05-13

work in the garden, mailing up n rather
hayward vine, and singing over my oc-
cupation the serenade song from Don
Juan, when | heard n rustling in the
laurels, and ford good-natured face
thrust itself between the shining green
leaves.
I trust, sir, that your little boy en-
joyed his ride p
Extremely I said, stepping up to
the palings in my best manner, and l
have to thank You for your kindness in
giving him that pleasure.
Don't mention it, my dear sir, said
Mr.. Brancher. i love children. am
afather myself. Ionly thought it right
to come and apologize to you for offer
ing your brave little fellow ride with
out your permission, before we were in
deed introduced to each other
I am delighted to make your ac-
quaintance, said ALLOW me to shake
hands with you.
Z see you are, like myself, fond Of
gardening said the worthy man. 'Hah
what those poor people in towns lose 7
At that moment a pleasant female
voice called Henry Henryp
Pardon me, said Mr. Brancher, for
there's my wife calling me to set the
children their lessons. Au reyoir. l
trust we shall often meet
I expressed the same wish, and he
disappeared
An hour or two afterwards, burst
Of laughter in the next garden dis
turbed me as sat reading at my study
window. Now, my study was a first
floor room, commanding both my own
garden and my neighbours. l rose and
looked out Charming picture of rural
domestic pleasure There was Bran
cher, drawing huge wooden horse,
spotted black and red, and flowing as
to the tail On it was seated fine
chubby boy, while two little girls, and
another boy bearing bulrushes. attend
ed the procession with laughing digni-
ty. Mrs Brancher, a stout blonde lady,
knitting under beech tree, regarded
the ceremony with matronly delight
l opened my easement, looked out
and nodded.
AN work and no play mates Jack a
dull boy shouted Mr.. Brancher, his
portly face radiant with coutent as he
dismounted his child from his swift but
inanimate steed, and tossed him into
the air.
We are going out after dinner for
an evenings fishing, said /, children
and all We've got a punt moored
ready under the osier bank; will you
and your wife join us, and bring the
children {?
With the sincerest pleasure, said
Mr.. Brancher
'Half-past three is the time, I shout
ed again; it is no use fishing while the
suns hot.
NV wife and the children were de
lighted at the anticipated fishing party.
1T is so important, my dear, to have
nice neighbors, remarked Lucy, and
you're SO much away, you know, Ar
thur
We had hired second punt, and
put chairs in it for the ladies. The
children we divided. Principally at
represented time, the two boats, with
their laughing crews, pushed off past
the lock at Bybridge, for the osier
clump where we were to moor.
There could not be a more agreeable
man than Mr. Brancher, we all thought
He was so amiable, SO unselfsh, SC
chatty, SO determined to please and be
pleased, so well-bred, so anecdOtic. He
was evidently travelled man, for he
spoke of Calcutta and Lima; his ac-
quaintances were of a high class, for he
talked of my old college friend, Mount
cashel'
He was not, thank Heaven, what is
called "a lady's man, that detestable
mixture of obtrusive self-conceit, frib-
bledom, and small talk-but, still chiv.
alrous i'll his manner, and betraying q
good heart in every action. He baited
the hooks for the ladies, told fairy sto-
ries to the children, related feats in
angling for mud-fsh in the Balloon
river in South Africa To crown his
popularity, he had brought some cham
payne, and the merry pop of the sill.
vered corks started the swallows round
the osier island
We all enjoyed the evening; it was
: delightful to see the children when &
large prickly-backed perch. his broad
sides striped like a zebra, his transpa.
rent fins a golden orange, came strug-
! Cling up to the daylight. Our neigh
, Dor was indefatigable in batting hooks
plumbing deeps, extracting hooks from
fishes outlets, adjusting reels, an6
, teaching my boys how to strike from
the elbow.
AS the evening advanced, and tn,
white moth came on the water Mr.
Brancher grew audacious in his tri
umphs. He drew out the fish with the
> rapidity of juggler, he caught perch
with the eyes of their fellow-creatures
he even caught them with tho bare
, hook
AS we punted home, the converse
ton somehow or other fell on the au.
dacious hotel robberies that had lately
taken place throughout England, but
chiefly in the midland and southern
countries daring series of robberies
evidently planned and carried out by q
well organized and dangerous gang o.
high class thieves. / spoke of the aid
. | mod ,o,,,,oc Jor,va1 from fba no