The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-02-17

draughts were to be avoided; "and, -
SAID the eminent physician, "don't let
the little lady work too hard"
Her birthday came round some
where about Easter,--a great festival
in the house; the two parents made
her presents, and there was usually
some little gala organized for the day.
Happily, too, at this season, Mr.. Bruce
had a sort of vacation at his courts,
and putting on little extra pressure
IN advance, contriyed to devote one
day to q sort Of ati'ectionate idleness.
And it had come to one special year,
when Fairy Alice was nine years old
and the prettiest little queen Of her
age that had been seen in the
city.
They were TO start early ON the fos-
tiyal morning, take railway train to
some pretty country district where
there WAS abbey ruins, breakfast at a
rustic inn, wander about, dine on the
grass, and have n very happy day
generally. There was a friend whom
Mr. Bruce thought of a little wistfully
that morning, who had been of these
parties before, and whose cheerfulness
and hearty spirits had been the most
delightful leaven. On the last ami
versary he had been with them; but,
since then, circumstances had occurred
which would render his presence I'M
advisable. Fairy Alice was looking in
that direction wistfully also; but
though not in full possession Of the
facts yet, with a wonderful instinct,
she never alluded to it or questioned
her parents
This was an old friend Of Mr..
Bruce $, "a shrewd, long-headed, gen
ial, true, honest and blunt man Of
business; a burly fgure,a broad chest
a square head, a thoughtful eye, and
shaggy eyebrow sheltering it. A
brave, clear, healthy creature in mind
and body, with bell voice, and a
quick sharp manner. Captain Bell,
too, was his name, Commander
Bell" was upon his card. He had
served, not much within the range Of
shot and shell, but more in n pacific
yet not less laborious direction: III
guard ships and on packet stations,
and along the coasts generally. He
was now waiting for something more
in the same category
Fast friend he had always been to
Mr. Bruce, through thick and thin, as
it is called, rough and smooth. broad
and narrow, veal and woe Had often
saved and extricatod him in certain
little difficulties; had counselled him
always, and had, unluckily, specially
advised him again t that marriage
with Mrs. Bruce This interference
had one day unluckily travelled to
that lady's ears, how it does not
much matter now. 1t became the I'M
pardonable sin, naturally an offense
never to be forgiven. And before
long, by some ingenious device, kept
for such purposes in the conjugal
armoIy. and in the management of
which wives are tolerably skilful,
there sprung up a GOODNESS and an al
most positive hostility.
On this festive occasion, then, Mrs
Bruce had laid herself cut, even la
boriously, to be gracious. There
were several things which she could
not relish altogether, but she put a
violent restraint on herself There
was no moral ice allowed to
form. They went, they breakfasted
at the rustic inn, they saw the abbey
uins,-they dined upon the grass,
and were as happy as they had laid
out to be. Fairy Alice was in great
delight. Never did she SO much be-
long to a Reynolds picture as ON this
day. The sun that made the abbey
ruins SO picturesque, flashed down
across her haxen locks with a splen-
did gorgeodsness. A little hat Mas
perched on one side of her head, and
one of those Irish scarlet cloaks, of n
diminutiye pattern, was on her shout
ders. She did not skip and gambol
about in the grass, in which fashion
children of her age testify their enjoy
ment, but was quietly joyous and very
talkatiye, making light and wise re-
marks all through the day. Mr.
Bruce, the advocate, was dragging
no lengthening legal chain, and fol
time had got clear of the fatal lega
bondage 1t was, indeed, a very hap
Ply time for all. Mr. Bruce, the adyo
cate, was actually in spirits, and ever
became jocular.