Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-06-01

purple color of her sRlendid dress M
laughing into grandma's room, & MOI
shadow darkened her face, rnd. she IN
it very hard to keep back the tears, VI
Fine feathers make fine birds, but h
birds do not always sing the sweceAt
jamie, said grandma, after they were Hne
L know my little singing bird. jamie, ID
she is dearer than a dozen fine Las
Austin and Clara will come to-morif~
and he will tell us about his traveldi
foreign lands, and you will be far hapie
than you would be up at The housd}a
night, with dancing and confusion IL
L suppose SO, grandma, and Janet
her seat by the fire and went on knitttg
with peaceful face. II
The elder sisters came home with TN
pied plumage, but in high spirits.
Austin Bosworth had returned had
some polished gentleman, and had firb'
desperately with Lettie. IS
Why, grandma, he almost proposedh
her = laughed Margaret, who was engage
to Judge Lenard's hopeful son, and thGe
fore had no place for jealousy. Mr.
than one of the company predicted THAI
would be a match
Don't count your chickens before tie.
are hatched,' called grandma from her Il
low. Mr.. Austin Bosworth is no fool,s
can tell you =
What an old croaker.'
They were entering their chamber acrcs
the hall, but grandmother's ears were %
dulled by age, and they clearly heat
them.
Don't mind them, grandma. wbispss}
Janet, who had waited to help thenffa
aside their finery.
Mind them Do you think [ sh.i
Janet Leeds p
Next day Austin Bosworth came. HC
was too familiar with the old house to stp
for bell ringing, and he entered, crossing
the hall directly past the parlor door
where Margaret and Lettie waited in ther
tasteful afternoon costumes, and walked
straight on to Grandma Leeds room.
She was there with her work, her PLACID
face beaming beneath the white lace-bo,-
dered cap.
a graceful girlish figure half knelt be-
side her, wreathing with deft fingers a
bunch of evergeens into a frame for a
mantel-ornament, and her eyes were lifted
smiling into the old lady's face.
lie entered and closed the door. before
either saw him.
Grandma Leeds >
Why, bless my heart, it is Austin -
Come here, my boy
And the fine gentleman came and gaze
both hands to her in his delight.
jamie, my little playmate, too Wat
happy meeting Clara came do4 b,
dressed for a call, and declared she woad
come, but told her no L knew lie
amount of gallantry l should be obliged %
use, and | preferred that my first vikt
should be like the old ones
You are right. We are better pleasd
to have it so, are we not, Janet? "a,
His call Heightened itself into two hsdrs,
and during the time he told pleasant 10
ries and chatted like the boy of by-kne
days. but not once did Margaret's Or 1t
ties name pass his lips.
When he went away he met them con-
ing with disappointed faces from the pir-
Tor, where they had been waiting for hIt:
but he only lifted his hat and passed cut.
Then grandma and Jennie received eod
scolding, such as only these two knew o5w
to give, and the shadows of discohtnt
again fell on Janet's spirit.
All, that long, cherries winter Wal
a story Janet could tell you of disappos1teI
ments' of happy PaIttasunr5hicb.Shssd
49, @--- A~--a-- -
merrirneut XIV
She had only that one comforterlelG
patient grandma; for now that Ausk
Bosworth had come, the way was hard&
than before
He came and escorted Lettie to parts,
and sometimes chatted with grandma, bit
nothing more. She saw nothing moreA
she did not catch the good natured smils
he gave her from the sleigh as he role
away-and Lettie never told her how IL
ten he asked for her.
Alone with grandma, Janet wished for
better things, and wondered why she was
50 harshly dealt with
At last even the society of her aesd
was denied her, and in her bed
the old lady gradually faded away. Day
and night Janet sat beside her, with tie
that she was beyond earthly
lelp-waiting upon her, yielding to tte|
childish whims, and shutting out ever7-
hing youthful and beautiful from her
tight.
Playing household angel Margarc
aid
Working for grandma's fortune of oil
hoes and worsted stockings Lettie cruelly
ldded.
Doing her duty by the faithful woman
Who had taken the three motherless chill
lren into her own heart, and filled the LOST
mes place, so far as God permitted, he,
'wn heart said, and steadily she worked
N.
The first of May brought invitations to,
he last ball of the Bosworth house, aud
While the two elder sisters laid out the
merry, Janet folded her tiny missive, and
i'd it away next to her heart as a sacred
1T of paper, bearing Austin's firm, broad
upon it,
That night grandma was very i'll, and
7hen Margaret and Lettie fluttered in
Nth their gay dresses, Janet met them,
nd almost forcibly put them out of the
oom
beg you, girls, to have little respect
or poor grandma-she is very ill to. mi CHIT
Nonsense Don't be fool, Janet
nybody would think she was dying
: L believe she is.
Their reply came in violent slam Of
be door, and Janet was left alone with her
atient.
The hours dragged YEARLY, and over
ono by her long, sleepless watches, Janet
ell asleep.
Two hours later she awoke with a start.
nd in an instant she saw that dread change
isible in grandma's face.
Like one in dream, she walked to her
athers door and awakened him.
= Father, grandma's worse. 1 believe
or 6vInO Won rnuSt OO for nr