The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-08-19

.Aec 'HS N'"NihB-IOOm anu ulu my
best to entertain, which was poorly
enough. He is what goes to the MAX
ing up OF fashionable gallant, knows
how to bring in pretty sayfngs-aLant
your face, eyes, hair and figure, pick up
handkerchiefs, and almost an Aaron
Burr in helping a woman into car
riage. His patent-leather boots were
as bright and polished as steel mir
ror, and encased foot, small, of
course, to compare with his brains
After somewhat embarrassing silence,
the Doctor stammered out with, "Real-
~ Miss Herrick, am | to presume that
you have adopted your present style of
costume p
II am very happy to inform you that
l hare adopted it.
You certainly don't intend to con-
time the wearing of it p
lido Have you any serious objec-
tons to my dressing according to my
business p
pray, what business have you that
requires it y
Merely that j have volunteered to
90 to tcork and do something. I'm go
ing to take care of the garden this
summer, in addition to homework.
Our former gardener has gone to the
army, and there seems to be a demand
for the spirit of our good old revolu-
tionary mother / am proud that
there is enough of it in me to assert its
sway"
! could feel my cheeks flushing as /
spoke. A sickening leer hung around
the lips of the Doctors mouth He
evidently "failed to see the point" He
had studied medicine, obtained his
title, but never had the ambition or
tact to distinguish himself in his pro-
fession. He gloried in his idleness
and thirty thousand dollars. He left
with much fewer hourishes of his COM
pliments than usual, and was succeed
ed by Mr.. Hayward. When he left,
Mr.. Bower came, and was not slow
to surmise that Cousin John had been
using strategy" and giving my cour-
age trial.
They all left with the impression
that l was fast becoming strong
minded" woman, and altogether too
solid for their soft appliances of COM
pliments. My new costume acted as
an emetic upon my stomach of dear
friends" for they quietly withdrew,
leaving all ] cared for, however.
Among the latter was George Wayne.
He was neither rich, like Wilson, nor
gallant, like Hayward. You could feel
his goodness better than tell it. 1t
was something indefinable, that pleased
and satisfied He had good, hard
sense and that is worth more than
compliments without it. He did not
turn up his nose at my new determine
ton, but with his fine, gray eyes
kindled with a glow of honest admira-
ton and enthusiasm, he said, II am
qidd, Jennie, if there is one woman in
the village who has independence and
spirit to act in accordance with the
dictates of her better Judgment. l
was fearful that you belonged to the
heartless, frivolous, useless class of wo-
men, so common among the rich. |
tried TO believe otherwise. thank
YOU that by your change of base, you
have proven to me that you are, what
wish all women were, less enslaved
by fashion and given to false notions
of propriety."
My lady friends were apparently
taken by storm. They wondered how
| could wear calf skin shoes, and how
I / could endure to have my hands
Drowned and hardened by labor. They
would much sooner think of going to
war than to raking garden or pinching
the runners off strawberry plants, or
killing bugs on cucumbers, or feeding
chickens. And so they dawdled away
their time upon such delectables as
Wilson, Hayward and troupe, rejoicing
in pale faces, with spots of rouge, and
in delightful headaches and delicate
health. On the contrary, for present
enjoyment, l am as healthy, rosy
checked, red-lipped and happy as an
English girl Ny hands are brown
and hard, but stronger for the piano,
while my voice is fuller and clearer
than l ever dared to hope it might be.
can make capital bread and pastry,
and expect the finest strawberries in
town. Moreover, l shall have forty dol
lars to pay into my church, the SAM
tary Commission amount saved
by substituting myself in Bridget's po-
sition.
For fear some one may be malicious
enough to think / am advertising my
newly developed virtues, and apply for
a place in my good graces, III simply
add that George Wayne, when home
on his last furlough, took the precau-
ton TO secure life-lease from the said
b. Jennie HeIrick, including brown
hands, Bloomer and all, and when the
war is over, she will then swear eter-
nal allegiance to bluecoat.
! T. To-, Lon