Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-03-03
The Leisure Hour.
O.fK'S LO.V'G RIDE.

The old Ashley country place lay fair
and stately, but very still, under the warm
| sunlight of one of June's beautiful days.
| To and fro in the wide hall, up and down
the broad stairs, in and out of the vine
shaded veranda futtered a little white
robed figure, restless as bee or bird, but
with no such industrious object in view.
The only child in the house, with literally
nothing to do that bright afternoon, was
| Oak Ashley. Mamma was in her room
writing letters, papa wasaway and grandpa
taking his afternoon nap; so the little girl
was left to her own resources. She had
stolen down into the kitchen once, and
tried to interest herself in old PHILIPS
starching and ironing; but the place was
uncomfortably warm and there had been
a constant stream of warnings and excla-
nations at every movement she made.
"Oh, look dar now, Miss Oak; mind
your white dress nebber see such a child
to get dresses black. Take care dem
frames; yer'll get yer mas lace sleeves all
rumfled. Spect you better go up stairs
honey"
ly, counting the steps by way of amuse-
ment, and sliding her little hand up the
broad balustrade it could by no means
clasp. Then she wandered into the par
TALLY darkened drawing-room, and en-
sconcing herselfin the depths ofa great rock
ing chair surveyed in the dim light the
pictures on the walls. The one which held
her gaze the longest was of a hot, dry des-
ert, its white sands stretching away under
a burning sun, until at the far-off horizon
lurid heavens and dreary waste of earth
seemed to blend No spot to gladden. the
eye, save where great rock lifted its head
and threw cool shadow. A stream of wa
ter fresh and pure, flowed from it, and in
its protecting shadow verdure had sprung
up. Toward this oasis three travellers
were struggling. One far out on the des
ert, was pressing forward with straining
eyes another had fallen little distance
from the longed for goal, and with feeble
strength was creeping toward it; while
the third, more fortunate, had reached the
blessed water, and was lifting a full cup to
his lips.
Oak vaguely comprehended in childish
way, the pictures significance, and remem-
bered the words her grandfather repeated
when looking at it the day it was brought
home-"A man shall be as an hding-place
from the wind, and covert from the tenn
pest as rivers of water in a dry place, and
the shadow of great rock in weary
land"
81 don't know what made grandpa say
life was full of cold and winds and tenn
pest though" she said, "and don't think
the world is a bit of weary land only"
| (sighing!a little) sin the long afternoons
when everybody is busy, and there's no.
body to play with. oh dear! l wonder
what had better do next"
| She slipped down from the perch saun-
tered into the hall, and from thence to the
veranda. Standing there, one dimpled
hand shading her eyes TO give clearer Wis
| ion, she suddenly espied her grandfather's
faithful hired man, and her own particular
favorite-Jem, the gardener and overseer,
the "gineral agint of outdoor consarns,"
to give his own expressive and not Hide
served title. In moment the child was
running down the steps and across the
lawn, sash and curls flying.
"Oh, Jem Pm so glad I've found your
she exclaimed in a tone of graduation.
"Well, thin, Pm glad too, Miss Oak,
though it was unbeknownst to meself in
tirely that was lost"
"What are you doing to the rose bush
esq" continued the little one, anxious to
have some one to talk to.
"Thryin' to persuade them to grow up fit
for gintleman's garden, an not be run
min all around, with no more civility than
wild bramble. There's many one in
gintlemans places, little Acorn, as shows
by their manners they don't belong there"
said Jem, with twinkle in his eye.
"Pm not 'Acorn'-I'm Oak" intcrposed
the child, half laughing, half-pouting.
can that's the next to it, akin yer par
din. Great oaks from little acorns grow" "
81 didn't any how" answered Oak, only
half satisfied. "What are you going to do
when the roses are fixed?"
"Well,' said Jem, meditating, "rm GO
in to hitch up the hoss an wagon and take
some corn over to the new mill forninst the
village, to see what the grindin's like they
be talkin' so much about grandfather
wants to try EN-"
The little girls eyes sparkled.
son. Jem, I'll go too r. she exclaimed,
clapping her hands gleefully; "Tll go with
you, shan't Jem p
''lts not me as will be sayin' no, if yer
mothers willing" Miss Oak" said Jem
good-naturedly; ''an' I'll take fine care of
ye."
The child sped away never doubling sue
cess, and before Jem drove around to the
avenue she was on the steps waiting for
him, little embroidered sacque covering
her round arms, and gipsey hat tied over
her curls.
"Take good care Of her Jem," called a
lady's sweet voice from an upper window,
as the wagon came up and the little girl
was lifted into it.
"rhat will ma'am," responded Jem