Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1866-11-30
NO. AS.

claimed the sedate Stephen. horror struck.
"Why should there be 2" said Matilda
with spirit. DO you doubt whether wo-
man has an intellect equal to that of man ?n
us there "a female Shakespeare 2" asked
Mr. jenkins.
Yes" said Matilda promptly. Did you
never read Mrs. Browning's poems 2"
Il can't say that | have" returned Ste
phen.
"Ah, then l shall have the pleasure of
making you acquainted with her"
She rang the bell.
jane" said she "go up to my room and
bring down the book you will find on the
table"
Jane did so.
1--WE have an hour before dinner, it seems"
said Matilda looking at her watch-"In
what way can we better improve it than by
perusing together this noble monument of
genius 2"
Mr.. jenkins looked terrified but. before
he had time to raise any objections, Matilda
had commenced
She read aloud faithfully for the hour re-
lerrcd tot seemed three to the unhappy
Stephcn-who had not the slightest appre-
hension of poetry and description.
lie was quite delighted when the dinner
bell rang, and so was Matilda in her secret
heart
II am afraid" ;" said she. 'we shall have TO
rest from reading till after dinner. but by
commencing Immediately afterwards we
may get quarter through before tea time"
"Ilow many pages arc in the poem?' the
young man inquired hesitatingly.
Only little more than four hundred
was the encouraging reply.
The dinner proved not very sociablc
meal Matilda confined herself entirely 10
literary subjects, and avoided all attemps TO
change the topic.
Good gracious p thought the young
man, "and this is the young girl II was TO
marry. Id as soon marry dictionary, al
though she is pretty, but then she is
stroug-minded woman 1 should be talked
to death in less than a month";
Stephen jenkins stopped two days but
at the end of that time. announced that he
should not be able to remain longer. Dur
ing that time the poor man had heard more
poetry than ever before in all his life, and
conceived a deadly hatred against the whole
tribe of female authors, particularly Mrs.
Browning.
Where is Mr.. jenkins % inquired Mr..
Parker on his return.
''Gone. uncle" said Matilda.
"Gone when did he 90 ~
"IIe only stopped couple of days"
"Why, he was to have stopped a week.
What was the matter with him?"
Il think, uncle, he was disappointed in
me-" said Matilda demurely.
did he leave no message for me p
"Here is note, uncle"
Mr.. Parker hastily broke open the mis-
sive and read os follows:
Dear Sir In order to prevent misun-
derstanding, | ought to say that l don't
think it will be we'll to adhere to the foolish
compact which was entered into some time
since, in regard to my marriage with your
niece. Though very charming lady l do
not think our tastes are at all congenal, and
L hereby resign any pretensions l may be
! supposed to have had to her. Regretting
not to have had the pleasure of seeing you,
| remain very respectfully,
STEPHEN JENKINS.
why, the puppy has had the audacity to
resign his pretensons to your hand :" eX-
claimed the indignant uncle.
"Then l can't be married?" inquired Ma
| tilda. in comical disappointment.
YES, you shall marry the first man that
offers"
1t is very remarkable, that on the very
next day Edward Manley should have ask
ed Mr.. Parker's permission to address his
mecca permission which was at once ac-
corded. The marriage took place within
few weeks, and | don't think he has ever re-
pented marrying stl0ng-ninded lcOmdp.
THE CREDITORS STRATAGEM.-Four
creditors started from Boston, in the same
train of cars, for the purpose of attaching
the property Of certain debtor in Farm
lngton, III the state ,ol Name he owed
each one separately ana lney each were
suspicious OF the OBJECT oi the other, hut
dared not say a word about it. SO they
rode acquaintance ALL talking upon every
thing except that which they had most at
| heart. When they arrived at the depot at
Pennington, which was three miles from
where the debtor did business, they found
nothing to put em over the road but n
solitary cab, towards which they all rushed.
Three got in and refused admittance to the
fourth, and the cab started The fourth ran
after. and got upon the outside with the
driver He asked the driver if he wanted
to sell his horse. He replied that he did
not want to-that he was not worth more
| than fifty dollars, but he would not sell hlm
for that. lie asked him if he would take
one hundred dollars for him.. YES sad
he, The Fourth man quickly paid over
the money, took the reins, and backed the
cab up to bank-slipped it from the har-
ness, and tipped it up so that the door could
not be opened. and jumped upon the horses
back and rode of 'lick-a-ty- while
the insiders were looking out of the Win
dow, feeling like singed cats. He rode to
| LAWYERS and got a writ made and served,
| and his dpbt Spcura and UOt hnCk 10 thp lO-
| tel inst rs the "insiders" came up putting
and blowinp. The cabman soon bought
back his horse for fifty dollars. The sold
men offered to nav that sum if the fortunate