Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-11-29
The Leisure Hour.
THE L.FST FE.sTLFBR.

The broiling sun poured down over the
town, and even the shady street with the
elm avenue, was brcathlessly hot. Inside
the Weston's old-fashioned frame house,
however, there was a sense of freshness,
and the broad, matted hall, with cane seats
and the huge bowl of pond lilies on the
marble table, was a place where, if there
was any GOODNESS to be had, YOU were sure
to find it. Mrs. Weston and the girls were
up stairs in white frilled dressing jackets
and petticoats, fitting in and out of the
large, shaded bedrooms, and backward
and forward across the upper hall, putting
the finishing touches to their preparations
for journey which the girls had caused
their father TO substitute for their usual
quiet stay at some place among the hills,
not more than two hours from home.
Mr.. Weston was a successful lawyer, de-
voted to his profession, and never so hap
py as when he was going on in the beaten
track, home to one o'clock dinner, home
again to six o'clock tea out again to his
Office after tea, and back again at nine
o'clock at the latest. When he was young
man he had been half over the world, and
he knew his own country pretty thorough
" east of the Mississippi, but, TO his think
ing, no spot on earth was quite so delight
full as the elm shaded city where he had
lived nearly all his life.
1t was not large family. There were
only the two girls at home, and one son,
James Weston, who was married and lived
in New York. Jenny and Lily were as un-
like as possible in appearance. Jenny
whom her father called Jenny Wren, was
rather short and quite plump, with brown
hair and eyes, rosy cheeks and a cherry
Tipped mouth which seemed to laugh mucl
more than most peoples, and fortunately
could show lovely, white teeth, and a sweet
bright, goodtemperod expression, which
quite made you forget very pug nose
Lily was the beauty of the family, and Jen
ny took immense pride and delight in hc
tall, graceful figure, abundant golden hair
pure, satin-like skin, with the faintest ting'
of pink in the cheeks, and large, clear, vi
olet-blue eyes. "My tall, white Lily
she used TO call her sister, who had some
times look Of fragile delcacy to alarm
one, and though not i'll, was never very
strong, and was taken care of at home, n
If she had been a piece Of fine, old china.
Both the girls were like their mother
from whom Jenny had got her plump
rounded figure, and Lily her golden hair
violet ewes and delicate straight features.
Come, girls" said Mrs. Weston, as thu
black laundress, with her face shining liki
ebony, brought u great pile of snow!
whiteness, hot from the iron, "you mus
leave packing these things till afternoon
and get ready for dinner now, for yol
know how your father dislkes waiting.
the sun is so hot. I'm always afraid of hi
getting a san-stoke."
"rhis is the last day of it, mother, ant
before we get back the weather will be cool
Aren't you glad wore going tomorrow
Think of the White Mountains and Noun
Desert and Niagaral" and Jenny gave
little squeal OF delight.
ANY letters, papa2" asked Lily, as Mr
Weston came into the parlor few minute
later.
"Here is one for your mother from james
| hope nothing is amiss with Fanny or tn
children" Mrs. Weston opened the letto
and read aloud Gould you or one of tn
girls come to Fannyp She has been In be
week with what the doctor calls "A bilious
intermittent fever, and though he assure
mo there's no present cause for alarm, h
says perfect quiet is absolutely necessary
and that she can't get well while she lie
in bed worrying about the children an
! servants, and they keep running to he