Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-02-18
General Literature.
THE FJ.BRGREE.N. .nRSS.sGB.

There are few things moro dreary than
to ride through the cold and darkness of q
winters night, on a railroad train. Tho
| icy blast freezes you as you essay to miti-
| cato the horror of bad air, by an inch of
| open window. Dim, fantastic shapes glide
out of the darkness, and vanish as you
speed by. A sense of rushing blindly at
the unseen comes over the mind. 1t is as
if some comet in headlong race, had caught
up and whirled off victim. Far away
you see the flash of candles in distant win
dows, and somehow it adds to your for
lornity. There is cheer and comfort in
which you have no share, and people are
warm and happy; while you, a homeless
wanderer, following the track OF an ir-
responsible monster, just graze the edge of
their circle and are borne away again. And
then the monster gives n shrek which the
night re-echoes and If there is a burden
on your heart, it grows heavier, and the
little troubles of every day, which it is SO
easy to fight by sunlight, crowd in upon
you, and everything seems gloomy and o.
verwhelming.
1t was in something of this cerio mood
that Georgie Ware, lying back in her scat
with one soft check pillowed on her muff,
watched the outer darkness glido by, as
the express train bore her northward, one
| cold December night. Her cousin beside
her, was fast asleep, the fresh country ros-
es of her face undimmed by even the long
| days travel. But Georgie was not of the
sleepy kind, and, forced vivacity being no
| longer called for, her face had fallen into
| many listless lines sad to see in one so
| young. For she was only nineteen, this
| girl who was counting herself so-and,
strange to say, it is often in very early
youth, that lifc's burdens seom heaviest,
and most inevitable, and youths bright
| possibilities are least realized.
1 am afraid we older people would hard
| ly reckon Georges case so pitiable. She
had health, beauty, an abundant home,
kind parents, all sorts of tastes, faculties,
half developed capacities--a life still in its
| bud. To be sure, she and Allen Beckwith
had quarreled, and broken ofrther engage
ment but that was no uncommon sorrow.
Temper on one side, prido on the other, tho
well meant Interference of mutual friends
nothing could be more horribly easy than
the thing had come about. "Sho was
bored" she said. Life seemed heavy and
distasteful, and she needed a change, and
was glad to get away awhile, for this Christ
mas visit to Now England-that was all.
In the day time she could cheat herself and
the rest of the world--but now, in solitude
and darkness, her trouble took possession
| of her and great tear stain dimmed the
| glossy fur which pillowed her cheek. 1t
annoyed her, she pulled down her veil,
and hoped Hntty wouldn't wake up for Il
long time yet.
Hatty was obliging. 1t was not until
the lamps of Kinncut Station hared in her
face, that she reused herself; and by that
time, "Cousin Georgie" was the wonder OF
| style and composure, who had so impress
cd her youthful fancy. Papa was on the
| platform. Further on stood the swift Yer
| mont trotters, and the sleigh with its hot
| bricks and buffalo robes and as the bells
| jingled, and the powdery snow flew along
their rapid course, Georges spirits rose
She half believed her recent discomposure
a dream born of cold and fatigue. "I Ishall
be all right again now," she said to herself
as they drove up TO the door.
A warm welcome awaited them In the
ample old homestead. The hall stove flash.
cd its big eye of isinglass upon them, as
they entered, and the noble hickory fires
blazed and cracklod in each chimney
Cherry red reflections danced on the snowy
table-cloth, and glinted from the bright
silver tea pot got out to do them honor
And how delicious was tho anomalous mea
to taste and smell-savory chicken, pota
toes bursting their brown jackets, tea
smoking omolet, fresh squash pics. Moth
ing was ever better and George surpris.
cd herself by clearing her plate with wha
her uncle called "a real Green Mountain
appetite"
"The girls are so glad to have you bach
in time for the church drossing," said
aunty to her daughter. "Alico James was
here today to see about it, and when tolt
her that George was coming with you, sh,
hoped for help from her too. told he
very likely she could give them somo new
! ideas. suppose the city churches Rr,