Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-01

at evening parties, man who has wasted
and stalled his nature in the deepest flrta-
tions till he is thrty-ive years old-to dare
attempt to gain the fresh heart of my
daughterl Tell him, MOI and never let
me hear his name again"
elizabeth !" cried the father, aghast,
'you are beside yourselfl You cannot
mean what you say p
"I forbid you, husband, forbid you,
children, ever to breathe the name of that
man in my house. 1t is enough the sub
ject is dead" She arose and left the room.
"There," solioquzed Mr.. Corporal, ex-
ultation mingled with his anger. "Now
that she may call tyranny, and that is
just the thing never would do. Why, she
gave me no time to speak, or even to think!
As if either parent could have n right to re-
fuse to give a child in marriage without the
concurrence of the other It's monstrous
And yet-and yet have known good men
to do it, and good women to acquesce in
it and as sure as / live it never till this
moment struck me as an insufIerabe as
sumption. Well, well, we'll. 1 must over
haul my whole theory, if ever 1 had any,
on these subjects. Betty come here. Why,
there go again Why should 1 call her
to me? Elizabeth, my wife" (sitting ten
derly down by her side, "can it be poss-
BILE that l have made you suffer all these
years the sense of helplessness and subor-
dination that l have endured for a week i?
l who love you so dearly, who would give
my life, or my health, or my peace of mind
TO save yours?"
"My husband said his wife, with shin
ing eyes, 81 have never doubted your love,
and have never blamed you for what was
amiss in our relations together. l know
how nearly impossible it is for us to act, or
even to think, in direction varying from
the current of our age. But feel very sure
of late this current is changing, and know
that you, with your generous heart and
keen sense of justice, will be among the
first to take the new direction"
81 will, my love, will l only needed
to see. And now about these chicks of ours,
what had we better do?"
At this moment in steps Annie, with a
face in which hope and fear and a sense of
guilt and a sense of fun are combined in
equal proportions.
young woman said her father, "what
does that jackanapes mean by this re-
markable beginning of his domestic ca
reer?"
Father said Annie, laughing and cry
ing, "he didn't"
Didn't What's this evidence in black
and white?"
\ h1Sn net i.
he gave me the letter to read and hand TO
you, and as | was naturally working in
mothers interest, and thought you would
rather not have the joke go beyond the fam
lily, / said nothing to him, but .iust-copied
it with few variations. And oh, father
and mother both, | am strong and healthy,
and can work if need be /; and you We're
poor when you were married. And so,"
added this irrepressble young female,
"you know how it is yourselves"
"Have your own way replied these ri
dculous parents. "And nowhbout Julia /;
and here of course she comes"
''In regard TO this Mr.. Stringcr, Eliza
3 beth, you know the position he could give
our daughter; and as to the little reports
about him, there was never anything veri-
fed. never found him more than little
sharp in business, and never saw him
drunk"
"Willam," said the mother, "remember
that this matter never came to your knowl-
edge until Yesterday, whereas | noticed his
attentions months ago, and have been
quietly watchin and inquiring ever.siuce.
You little know a mothers sympatbetic