Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1871-10-05
THE GIPSY'S GLASS.

Clssy Thorne was sitting at her toilet
table, sGlppmga novel, while her maid En-
ma brushed her long, thick, silky hair
Some people said it was false, because there
was so much of it; other Christians were
certain it must be dyed, seeing that it had
that particular bright, golden tint which
is so often due to art; but Emma knew
better. That exemplary girl took the
same sort of pride in her mistress's hair
that good groom does in the coats of his
masters horses, and was never tired Of
currying-l mean brushing it. Fortunate
ly, the young lady took an equal pleasure
in her passive part of the performance, and
so both were satisfied. When the spoiled
beauty did not know what else to do, she
went up to her room, took off her dress,
and had her hair brushed; it was a ladylike
substitute for smoking pipe.
| wonder that Darwin has not instanced
the pleasure we feel in being stroked the
right way, in favor of his last theory. |
believe that Cissy was often very near
purring, especially in thundery weather,
when her hair cracked like an experiment.
'WeIl, Emma, did you 90 to the fair ~
asked the brushcc, laying down her book.
Eyes, miss, | did,
"And what did you see ~
81 saw Craftsmanship, where they rode
standing, and jumped through hoops Won
dcrful "
"And did you go on one of the round
abouts that are worked by a steam-engine,
which plays an organ 2"
''No, miss z" replied Emma, with an en-
phasis.
"Do you know, Emma, I should like to,
ifnO one saw"
'Lor, miss they are crowded with such
a low lot, they are"
Glow lots, as you call them, seem to
have all the fun," said Cissy, with a half
sigh. "And what else did You see 2"
81 went to a-iortune-tellcr."
"No! In a tent q
"Thelc were little tents about, but il
was a little yellow cart went into; not
in the far exactly, but in the clump, be
fore you come to it. She's wonderful"
as she, though What did she say
Tell me-" cried the excited Cissy, who was
troubled with ycarnings after the super.
natural.
"She told me all sorts of things which
she could not have known natural; a mole
on my back how long 1 have been in ser.
vice"
eyes, yes, but the future; did she say
anything about that ?"
"She did more, miss, she showed it me-
"Nom
ain round glass; as true as I'm stand
ing here | saw him plain"
"Your future husband ?"
GAS is to be yes miss"
The two girls had been playmates wher
very little, and there was much more "a
miliarity between them than is customary
with mistress and maid. SO Emma haC
to enter into all the mysterious details o
the cabalistic ceremony.
"What fun y cried Uissy. 81 should sc
like to go; / wW go The fortune-toller''
caravan is not actually in the fair, you say
and there will not be many people about i
we start early"
'Lor miss what will your pa and IN;
say?"
81 don't know; I'll do it first and ask
them afterwards, for fear they might OBJ
ject. We will go tomorrow morning, di
rectly after breakfast, mind"
Mr. Thornc was a steward; do no
mean an official attached to a steam packet
in charge of china shop full of white ba
sins, but manager of large estates in tn,
country; a well-to-do man, who had {
small property Of his own, which he farmeC
in the most intelligent ana neatest style
on the outskirts of the market-town o
Littelun. Mrs. Thorne was plump, good
natured, and lazy, yet somewhat prouc
and sensitive; she fancied the county fam
lilies were patronising, and she would no
be patronised
Gissy was their only child, and they
thought much OF her, honestly believin!
that there never was such another baby
child-maidcn. OF course the paragon
was never sent to school, and her govern
esses were selected principally with refer
cncc to their power of approaching he
merits.
Nevertheless, she was very charming
and had two lovers-I do not mean mer'
admirers, but two men who were ready t.
marry her, if she would but choose one o