The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-09-23

mind to be rich, he can't stop for tri.
fles, you know And the expressmar
laughed as If his joke was as rich n.
the subject Of it, and perhaps it was
My nephew's daughter met me MS the
wagon stopped, and welcomed me mos,
heartily. Jane and Lucy were sensi-
BILE, affectionate girls, fast growing to
womanhood. Taking my bag and
bandbox in their arms, they escorted
me to the house; and then leaving me
to the cordial greetings of their moth
er, they went back for my trunk.
That is too heavy for the girls
said, rising hastily to prevent it. But
Mrs. Graham held me back.
Felix expects me to manage such
little matters, she replied. He and
the men ere SO busy always, and their
time is worth so much more than
ours, she added apologetically.
did not meet my nephew till supper
was on the table Glad to see YOU,
Aunt Lois, he said as he shook my
hand furiously, and fastened to take
his seat. L suppose you expected me
at the depot, but this is my cucumber
harvest, and every hour is so much
gold to me. l shall get twenty-five
cents for every cucumber / can send
to market this week, and that will
count up the money fast The COM
placent, self-satisfied smile with which
this was said was revelation to me.
Have you read Mrs. IS last vol
ume =? | inquired of Jennie as she sat
for few moments in my chamber that
evening.
4 have hardly seen a book since l
left school two years since, was the
reply Father says. he can't afford to
buy them, and Lucy and I are too
constantly occupied through the day,
and too weary in the evening, to read
much if we had them The sigh
which followed Jennie's explanation
went to my heart, for / knew how she
loved to read and study when L saw
her in her childhood.
You are working too hard, l said
to my nephew's wife, as / followed her
through the round of toll from Tues
day to Saturday With SO many hired
men to cook for, and such dairy to
tend, you need stouter frame and
stronger arms than you or the girls
can boast
Yes,aunt, we are all doing too much,
she said sadly. But Felix is so bent
on getting rich, that he cannot afford
to hire help in the house; that would
take off the profits, he says, and the
wearied woman shook her head hope
lessly.
Sabbath came, and with it the morn
ing and evening family devotion, which
l had missed during all the week. l
suppose my looks must have showed
the surprise felt, for my nephew at
tempted hasty explanation.
we get no time for this, week days,
Aunt Lois, as you must have observed.
| have so many men ON hand that l
can't afford to have them lose half
hour in the morning, and they don't
value these things you know. have
to keep a sharp eye to business, my
self, to bring the year round about
right. But don't mean to give up
my religion; so we read two or three
chapters on Sunday, when we can
spare the time better.
Monday morning my visit was com
pleted, and l started for home. Felix
accompanied me to the depot, having
business in that direction. When we
reached the cars, pale and feeble
soldier, who had lost his leg in his
country's service, solicited help. My
nephew turned deaf ear to the NOV
ing appeal, his whispered apology be-
ing to me the two facts that he want
ed to lay up $1,000 this year, and that
really government ought to take care
of her soldiers.
When reached my home / sat down
and wept. And though 1 did not ex-
plain the matter 90 my neighbor Jones.
who came to meet me, did say to my
self, and l tell it in confidence, dear
reader, to you, that it is my opinion
Felix Graham is growing miserably
poor,
LIGHT AND DARK.-God doth chequer |