Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1869-12-17
General Literature.
OFT Nv THE R.EE.v..

Sprinkle! rain shower! right down on
Millie Warmers tasteful little hat and grace
ful shoulders, unprotected save by thin
shawl, notwithstanding the beseeching
glance of the prettiest pair hazel eyes that
ever looked up to a cloud in that way.
When Millie came to large white farm
house, she very gladly, and rather hastily
for just then there was a heavy peal of
thunder-openedt the gate, and went up the
tiower-bordered path to the house, and as
another peal of thunder was heard, accom-
panied by vivid flash of lightning, Mil
lie entered without ceremony She took
in at glance the contents of the room she
came to-a large, square room, plainly, but
neatly furnished-the cane-seated Chairs.
the pretty chintz covered lounge, the book
case filed With books and --Lsc..- -ss--usic, tha
violin with its case in the corner, the vase
of faded flowers, and the ornaments on the
mantel. There was no one there, but she
heard a childish voice in the next room.
and again knocked. a dark eyed girl OF
ten or eleven years opened the door.
Millie explained why she was there.
With the ease and good manners of one
much older the child bade her welcome,
placed chair near the stove, and took Mil
lies dripping hat and shawl.
Il was just beginning to get dinner, that
was the reason did not hear you knock.
1t will be long time before the shower is
over, and you must stay with us to dinner
1t will be ready by the time Ben comes
but that will not be for an hour.
'Es, dinnie'll be weddy when Ben tums.
lisped and laughed little girl of three
years.
The older child whose name was Hetty,
resumed:
Il can't get very good dinner. ain't
quite old enough, but Ben says do nicely.
He puts it on for me and l see to it. But
he does not allow me to take off kettles fol
fear / will burn or scald myself; but ]
think am large enough to do that. Hike
to have everything ready for him when he
comes in tired and hungry. l can't make
biscuit wish l could, for Ben likes them
ever so much but Martha, who comes il
to make bread for us, says she will teacl
me-
Where is your mother?' asked Mille O
the little Eva, when Hette was out of the
room.
'We is got no mudder but Ben,' the littl,
one lisped.
When Hette came back, Millie said:
Now have got nicely warmed, and my
dress will dry just as well at work as sit
ting still so / will help you get dinner
If you like me, I will make some biscuit
and will have dinner ready in very shor
time
Hetty was delighted. Ben would be glad
Might she look on and learn how?
Millie was young, and frank, and gay
and she and the children soon became very
well acquainted over the biscuit. She said
presently, trying potato with fork:
THE potatoes are done. 1 will pour IAN
water off so, and put them on again to dry
That will make them mealy. In few
minutes we will peel them, and then din
ner will be all ready, except taking it up.
The dinner seemed very meagre to Iittl
Hetty as she ran over the items in he
mind, potatoes, pork, peas, biscuit, butter
cucumbers, milk and water. She ha,
wanted to make tea for her visitor, but sh
declined decidedly. The poor child said
apologetically:
When father and mother were alive w
used to have good many things for din
ner, and Martha, our hired girl, used to ge
them all but when they died. and Squir
Johns said he bought mortgage on on
farm, and that we had got to pay ever,
cont the day it was due or lose everything
we had TO do without good many things
and we are very poor now, and Ben is n
fIaid we can't have enough to pay it, an,
they all say that we may look for no mere,
from Squire Johns, for he is very hard t
the poor, and he has always wanted ou
farm because it joins some of his own Ian,
where he wants to build. heard all abou
it when one of the neighbors was tall,in,
with our Ben, though he didn't want me L
know about it.
Millie had listened to this with n curiou
mixture Of feelings, for Squire Johns wa
a declared lover of hers, and though sh
had not yet accepted him, sho had beel
pleased with his attentions, and had cor
tainly given him encouragement. Moreo
yer he was to receive his final answer ii
three days from that time, and she was no