Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-01-20
The Leisure Hour.
n .sC.s.uP-.uEETI.vS; IDI.L.

"Now, Miss wider, DOut tneH CHICK
ensP'
"Just let me knit to the middle of my
needle, Draxy."
Draxy waited, her busy hands finding
something to do in the little pause. The
things on the table were straightened-the
daguerreotypes Qt was the best ROOM tilt
ed more accurately on their open covers, a
minute speck of dust dislodged from the
mantelpiece-all before the gentle "click,
click" of the needles ceased, and Mrs.
Wilder laid down her stocking.
1.-THE chick ens-let me see. 1t was those
six little broils of the speckled hens was
a-thinking of, and the pepper-and-salt
roasters. Mrs. Wilder viewed chickens
from purely practical standpoint That
will be enough, won't it?"
"I don't know'-doubtfully- folks eat
heap at camp-meetin'."
$50 they do. Well, then, kill three of
the black hens, and bake a pie. They'll
make plenty"
81 guess So" Business thus disposed of.
Draxy assumed chair and waxed conf
nedtial.
'hOW many vi our ioihS 10 gum 4ii''
Wilder?"
"You and me, and Mr.. Wilder and Ma
than, and Ellen, that's five and Lucy's
SIX"
"Lucyr
"Yes, Mr.. wilder said he guessed she'd
better, and Brother Parker plead hard
about it. He thinks she's old enough to
get religion, and ought to have it, and her
pa says there's no harm tryin', only he
won't have her hustered. l don't know
what to do bout it myself, but guess pas
right" And Mrs. Wilder ended with
little sigh.
"Mr. Parkerr' There was a concentrat-
ed and conspicuous sniff in Draxy's voice.
She said no more, and in another minute
got up and left the room, her errand ac-
complished. There were few waste places
in Draxys life. Satan might have dredged
round her for months without finding one
idle chink in which to practice his nefar-
ious arts.
Pretty soon the door opened and Lucy
came ina girl Of seventeen with the shy
beauty of wild doe in her hazel eyes.
The delicate cameo like outline of her face
was full of an expression of appeal. Not
that there was anything to appeal against
in her life, the petted only daughter of this
honest home. Some women possess tbat
look naturally, and before it, when COM
binol with youth and loveliness, the hearts
of men go down like nine-pins. Lucy as
yet knew not the value of her dover, but
such knowledge never fingers long.
"Where have you been, dear?"
"Over to Esther's mother. They are be-
ginning the camp-meeting cake, and staid
to help beat the eggs"
"Do tell I suppose they're making a
great fuss like the rest Of the folks?"
"Oh yes. Mrs Robbins has killed tur-
key and eight pairs of chickens, and had
two pieces of beef boiled, and Esther and
Hepsy were making gingerbread and rails
ed cake, and all sorts of pies that you can
think of-mince and apple and custard
and Canada plum-I can't remember half"
"Lond's sake! And who's going, Lu-
cyP"
"Mrs. Robbins and the squire and the
girls. and James and his wife, and aunt
Mirey, and-here the happy, girlish voice
sank a little only a close observer would
have noticed the iniection-"and Kane"
"Elkanah! want to knowl Well, it's
time he got hold of something good. You
will have to help Draxy make our pies to-
morrow, dear. The weather's splendid.
guess we're going to have good week."
This camp meeting, about which all Am
monoosac was in stir, was yearly affair,
| planned for and anticipated with eager and
| invariable pleasure. After the heat of the
summer and the toll OF the harvest, when
the hay was in, the potatoes stored, the
corn and corn -shucks safely housed-when
the rye and wheat had gone TO mill, and
the "boarders" to their city homes-came
in, in the beautiful September weather, this
holiday, which is half a religions exercise,
brought neighbors together frightened
the links of church brotherhood and old
friendships, and gave to soul and body
alike reireshment. But oh, what differ
ent thing 1t was to the different people who
were looking forward to 1t!
Mrs. Wilder, and other good matrons OF
her stamp, viewed 1t as a species of sober
jollihcation, combining much good cheer
with some comfortable preaching and pray.
ing. A time, too, for the exhibition of no
table housekeeping-of piecrust and fatteC
fowls, which, duly partaken of, might i'm
part to the occasion certain toothsome so
lemnlty.
Brother Parker, Of the Pemigewasse
Conference, on the contrary, regarded it as
crucble in which souls should be melted
and changed-a four days opportunity
during which the doors Of heaven shoulC
stand open for whomsoever pleased. II
his thoughts he saw them enter, some stain
cd and shrunken with sin, some pure an,
spotless as Lucy Wilder's--for Brothe