Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-06-23
Tie Leisure H0ur.
DE.fD-H -HE.fDED.

"All aboard y shouted the conductor.
"Haye you got everything2" asked a
voice; and girls face appeared at the car
window-a face with laughing eyes and
pretty, wind-blown hair.
"Take care, Lefty" the old lady within
said; "don't put hour head too close.
heard once of womans chin being carri-
red clean off by Just such n piece of care
lcssncSs.'
"YcS," chimed in another voice, manly
and decp-chcsted with boyish squeak
Just discernible in il; "clean off, dimple
and all And the doctor, lac made another
chin of gutta-perch; the dmple was such
dead failure that
"Oh. mercy r. screamed his aunt; "the
hornets nest! l knew something was
missing. My,hornetsnest, Henry-it is in
the wagon. Run-run and fetch it; that's
a dear boy! | can't go without it,"
Henry ran, while the girls on the plat
form exchanged smiles and winks, and "a
secret laughter tickling all their souls, -
volunteered ad vice of various sorts TO their
departing relative.
care you sure that's the only thing left,
Aunt Suc?' suggested Dora. ~ don't see
the biggest book any where"
"lIere ii is" replied Aunt Sue, heaving
up substantial quarto. 81 think | have
every thing. Let me see," counting her
finger :--' Fighter, Earthly Paradise,
umbrella, shawl, lunch basket, moss"
big bsN, little bes - cried Fanny.
Where is the lovely bag? Oh, Aunt Sue,
what ever else you lose, don't lose thatv
81 have it safe said her aunt grimly ;
''but as for its lovelincss-w you know
my opinion of it girls, if you did give it to
me. 1t is extremely pretty, but most alb
surd gimcrack for a sensible woman to car
ry about :" raising from her lap as she
spoke choice little article in crimson Rus
sia, glt-clasped and fur-trimmed, and ex-
hibiting to her neices.
"Oh, aunty - clamorod an indignant
chorus chow base, how horrid of you
So pretty, so strong, so convenientV
"And with n mufl, toOw cried Lofty
"a mun to keep your ungrateful old hands
warm. l really wonder at you, Aunt
Sue"
"Mun, indeedw shifted her aunt, un-
dauntedly; "a blue silk aperture AS if
/ ever put my fingers in such place as
thatl No, girls, depend upon it, Mt my age
gimcracks-mercy the cars are going
Where is Henry! Why don't he Gomez"
In effect the train began TO move, though
so slowly that it was easy for Il walker to
keep pace with its motion. The neices
ran along, exchanging last words with theiI
aunt-saucy, merry words; for Aunt Sue
was laughed at and teased and beloved by
the gay bevy, quite as if she too had been
girl like themselves.
At the last second figure came leaping
al ong the platform, and large gray sphere
was thrust through window-tho wrong
one as it happened-and into the face of an
old gentleman, who shrank back aghast.
"IIornets !" he calculated. "Ugh ugh
take ii away What do you mean, young
man?"
~ beg your PARDON" said Henry split
ting with laughter. ~ made a mistake
ii ere, unity, here's your precious commod
ity." This time the object opped through
the right pane, and landed in Aunt Sues
lap. The cars moved ont of reach. "Good
by, good-by," resounded from behind
Aunt Sue waved her handkerchief, anC
then, quite regardless of the glare oi of
fence directed at her spine, proceeded Il
tie her treasure 10 the netting above, anC
to make herself generally comfortable.
"Theres the change at the river" sh,
thought, "and then can settle down fol
the day" And she proceeded to look on
and mark certain pages in "Figuier," t.
point pencil, and otherwise prepare for
course of chronological research as soon a
circumstances permitted. by this time tn,
old gentleman behind had recovered breatl
| and power of rcmonstrance.
~ suppose you are aware, madam" h,
said, touching her shoulder sharply, "tha
the nest is fun Of hornets in dorman
| state, who are very likely indeed to conn
to life again in this heated air -
"Oh dear, no, that is quite n mistake,
replied Amt Sue, facing round upon him
'I'iguier entirely conlradcs that notion
lie says"
"Madam, ! do not know who Vgge
may be, nor do l care what he says" in
terrupted the old gentleman. "All sa,
is that the hornets are there. If you d
not credit my word, you have only to lool
into that hole" And he pointed with hi
finger at the great gray nest.
"Well, that is lucky" cried Aunt sue
chcermlly. 81 was just wishing for an in
sect to examine in connection with III
book. Thank you, sir. You see he /
quite dead" extracting the hornet with he
pencl-point, and holding him up triumph
antly. "Figuier was right"
The old gentleman with deep offence
rose and changed his seat for one at n dis
tancc. Little rocked Aunt Sue, deep in In
study Of the hornotsi nor did She look NJ
until the conductor appeared, and II be
came necessary TO produce the "througl
ticket and have the strip torn from II
complicated ioldings.
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