, 1864-01-16

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held them before Jenny.
TT was my sister who wished to look at
your flowers, said Jenny quietly.
yes, bring them here, was Laura's impe-
rious command.
The old mans eyes followed Jenny as she
washed, wiped, and put away the dishes,
swept the room, and busted it, and then sat
down beside Laura, who was still looking
over the basket.
See, Jenny, this scarlet bunch. Will it
not bellovely with few dark leaves to wear
with my iew silk p
But whispered Jenny, you can't afford
it just now
Yes can. Father gave me some money
yesterday
TO pay the last dry goods bill
well l can have that carried to my pri-
yate account .f..
'Oh Laura, 1 hate to hear you talk Of
that private account. 1t seems so much
like cheating father
Nonsense 1t will stand till I am mar
ried and then l can easily save it out of my
housekeeping money
Il should not wish to marry in debt said
Jenny.
The peddler looked earnest at the sisters
you had better take this bunch, Miss
he said to Jenny. IF it amt convenient
to pay now, will call again
No, | shall not take them
Il wish my hair was light said Laura
Il should like to wear blue. Godfrey Hor-
ton said last night that forget-me-nots were
his favorite flowers
Jenny colored, and placed the bunch
again in the basket. -.t -..
Come, Laura, decide. You are keeping
one waiting whose time probably is valu-
able and then passing chair, she added,
BE seated, sir, you look tired.
Il am tired, indeed was the reply.
Il will take the scarlet bunch and these
red camelias, and this white cluster, said
Laura
But, sister, you cannot afford it,
yes, can Godfrey Horton is rich
The old man bit his lip.
Think, said Jenny, in low tone if you
love him, how much it will grieve him if he
should discover this deceit.
Nonsense Well, I'll tell you how to
remedy it. Lend me some money out of the
housekeeping funds
So, thought the old man, she is house
keeper Miss Laura always gave me to un-
derstand that that was her post
Laural Steal from my father
There don't preach
Miss Jenny, said a servant entering at
that moment, the dinner has come m
Jenny left the room, and still turning over
the gay flowers, while the old man pointed
out their various beauties, his eye in the
meantime, running over the distorted hair,
shabby dress, and lazy position, whilst he
mentally cOntrasted them with Jenny's neat
attire.
Not decided yeti" said Jenny returning
after a short absence.
NO Come here.
4 can't, father has sent home calfs
head, and am afraid to trust it entirely to
Margaret l must superintend the dinner,
make pudding, and the parlor must be
busted, and there is my white mule to be
finished
Before 1 would be the drudge you are,
cried Laura.
Drudge nonsense l have plenty of
time for enjoyment, and father cannot have
a comfortable house, if some one does not
superintend these things. When l marry,
you may do it, and she laughed merrily.
'As if I should not marry first ? said
Laura There, [ have chosen all l want
Shall call again for the changer said the
peddler. shall be happy to put the Misses
Somers on my list of customers.
yes, call again
So the peddler took up his basket, walked
home, threw aside his wig, beard and dis
guise, and wrote an offer of his hand and
heart to Miss Virginia Somers, which was
accepted.
Laura Somers has two sources of profound
speculation One is, why did Godfrey
Horton propose to Jenny instead Of me p
The other, 4 wonder why that old man never
called to be paid for those exquisite fowersT