Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-08-28
Pretty Peplta.

Is all Seville there was not a prettier
maiden than Pepita. Hsr eyes were
black as sloes, her rich brown checks
glowcd like damask roses. and when on
fesial days she wore her shoes with silver
buckles, her scarlet laced bodice, and
the fligree arrow in her jet-black braids,
she was the admiration OF all beholders,
and especially Of poor jose, the Image
vendor.
She was the sunshine of his life. But
for her indeed, and the elastic tempcra-
ment of the merry hearted fellow himself,
existence would have offered but few at
fractions to him. lie was miserably poor.
The little room where he lived was open
to the wind aud rain, aud could boast Of
no furniture save a straw pallet aud Josc's
workable. This last was strewed with
plaster images of every description pref
ty little statuettes to please the poor but
critical lover Of the beautiful, and the
wonderful green and yellow parrots, dogs
and eats to please the children, with
whom Jose was great favorite, many a
little one having become the fortunate
possessor of one of the brilliant treasures
by offering kiss in payment.
A little apart from the rest of the ar.
tccs Uttered about the table stood some.
thing closely hidden from view by a
green baize cover. The images knew
what it was. 1t had been their compan-
ion, or that Of their brothers and sisters
for many months; but, saving their kno 81.
edge, Jose's secret was hidden from all
the world besides. The thought of it
cheered his heart like wine all through
! the toilSome days as he wandered up and
: down the streets ofthe big city, balancing
his image tray upon his head, and crying
his wares IN many neat little verse that
he made up as he went along. He would
build air castles about il as he ate his fru-
gal dinner of black bread and olives un.
der some old archway or shady green tree;
and at night his farthing candle flared
and burned down to the very socket,
while Jose, softly talking to himself, ca
ressed his darling secret with loving fn-
gers, and laborcd skilfnlly and proudly to.
ward its completion. When finally the
candle, after one last sputter, went out
and left him IN the darkness save for the
stars that peeped through the roof, Jose
would fling himself upon his heap of straw
to dream of his secret and Pcpita.
This latter, however, gave him but
scant encouragement. She was flower
girl and sold flowers in the market-place
T. and when all the gay young gallants Of
the city would stop to buy rose and
speak flattering word, how could she
spare much thought to Jose, who could
only show his devotion in his humble, be.
socching eyes, for The thousand nameless
" attentions young. strong man can render
to delicate, pretty woman were monop'
) olized by Antonio, the son of the rich
q miller.
> Many and angry had been the discus
: sions in the miller's family about this
y strhuge nf.tuation of Antonio's
That yon, Antouio, who, with your
handsome face and fathers long purse
c can take a wife that will advance you il
the world-that you, say, should fling
0 yourself away upon Pepita-a pretty CIR
It's true, and honest enough, maybe
but"
. "Stop, mother!" cried Antonio, hi,
: '. forehead darkcnng into an angry frown
u :" no more Of this. Pepita | must anC
y will have, SO have care how you speal
of my future wife and the mistress of thi
7 house."
= The mother shrank back aud said NJ
!" more. From childhood this only son hat
been petted and indulgod, until now, il
his manhood, he carried every thing be
fore him with high hand; and as She
looked on her husband. who was daily
; growing more feeble, she felt it would
not be very long before his sceptre would
. pass from him into younger hands, and
that it behooved her not to irritate the iu
ture master. Yet this enforced submis
: sion to Antonio's whim was bitter tria
, to her, for she was proud woman and ac
customed to rule.
!" 1t is sorr owful thing to nurture
children and fiud you have only warmed
: vipers into life !" she said, bitterly, to hel
husband, after Antonio had left the house
May, nay, wife," returned the miller
n indiffercntIy, "Antonio is DO viper; bu,
you pull the rein little too hard some
p times. For my part, ! say, let the lac
J.. have his lass--she is pretty one but
: remember when you would have carried
the day over her head
]. So saying, the miller returned to hi'
,o;oo. br. tho uothar'o baart nao corr