Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-01-19


self; burst not give him new coat or
hat in return for his mantillas and bonnets.
Tho idea of his getting me that bonnet.
How surprised he would be to learn that I
made itp'
The air of Harrow on sthe-Hall must be
peculiarly bracing, if the proverbial senti-
ment about the bird of st. Michael, attrib-
uted TO the boys educated there, be found
ed on anything like practical experience.
The goose, they say, is an awkward dainty,
being too much for one and not enough for
two. I know that If I had two sons who
task ed for more" after finishing goose at
a sitting, / should write to the Times. 1t
is true there are geese and the specimen
sent to the Maplesons may have been ex-
ceptionally good; but though they had
gone into training, as it were, by dining at
six instead of at one, and though they had
the fellow lodger to help them, they left
pickings; and If some Harrovian curls the
!. lip of scorn, cannot help il the truth is
my hobby.
When they had got their first glasses of
sherry after the meal, Harry said: 1--WE
must drink the health of Mr.. Anonymous,
please"
'Mr. Anonymous" repeated Susan sip
ping.
"Mr. Anonymous" echoed Mr.. Nichol-
son, who drank and then added, "Some
relative"
81 don't know" replied Harry. "He is
deed, or rather a succession of deeds with
out name. He sent us the goose, he sent
us the sherry; he has made us more valu-
BILE presents Do you think | ought to re-
ceive benefits without knowing from whom
they Gomez"
"Certainly," said the fellow lodger. "I
think you have told me that in one of his
first letters this unknown professed him
self friend of your-your mother. Am
not correct?'
"Yes. But why such mystery?"
"Oh, there are several reasons for that;
he may be ashamed Of not doing more. You
may have substantial claims upon him as
trustee of those funds which / think you
said had been unwisely invested or may
have a morbid dislike to be thanked"
at is strange anyhow" said Harry, "that
our mysterious benefactor should not have
come forward TO assist us when we most
needed it,
"When you lost your mother?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps," said Susan, "he was not in
England then, and knew nothing about
what had happened"
THAT is very likely" said Mr.. Nichol-
son, Especially as you were supposed to
be well provided for. Have you not said
SOP"
eyes," replied Harry; "our poor moth
er's little property was in a bank, which
broke, but, thank God she did not know
what had happened. She died in the be-
lief that her children were beyond the
reach of sordid cares"
at was about two years ago, think you
have said"
"Yes, two years last August. l was at
college whcn summoned away to her bed
side, for her illness was sudden and short.
And just as we were recovering a little
from the shock, ruin came. If had been
alone in the world | think / should have
enlisted or emigrated, for l felt very des-
pcrate; but fortunately / had Susan TO
look after, and that steadied me. We'll,
she must not complain. l was fortunate
to get my clerkship, and we managed to
save the piano, and few things which
were sacred in our eyes, from the wreck"
at was sad blow; and the cares of life
have fallen upon you early, my young
friends" said Mr.. Nicholson. "But par
don me for having led the conversation in
to such melancholy channel" he added,
seeing that Susan had much ado to restrain
her tears. do not know how it happen
ed"
"Oh, Harry and / often talk over old
times I like it," said Susan. "It would
be dreadful thing to avoid speaking of
mamma because she has been taken from
us it seems to me that those we love are
really lost when We Danish them from our
memories"
The old man bowed his head and sighed
deeply. "Have you any likeness of her ?'
he asked after pause.
"Oh, yes" replied Susan; and she rose
and placed miniature in his hand. He
gazed at il in silence for some time, and
then murmured: "How like!'
"You know our motherr exclaimed
Harry in surprise.
81 mean how like your sister," said Mr..
Nicholson handing the miniature to him.
"Oh, yes; there is a strong family resem-
.bance," said Harry. "But since you will
not have any more sherry, suppose we go
up to your room and smoke pipe, while
Susan makes tea"
"When the old man aud the young one
had settled down to the mutual absorption
of nice time, the latter referred again to
the subject of his personal affairs. 1.-The
only thing regret" said he, sis the way
in which my sister is shut up. 1t must be
dreadful thing for her, poor girl, to be
alone all day; and II is bad for her to be
without any companion of her own SEX"
"Have you no relatives or friends?"
asked Mr.. Nicholson.
"Our relatives cast us Off many years ago
on account of a family misfortune. But
there were some friends who got my pres
ent appointment, and who would have
taken charge of Susan. We declined be-
cause of that family affair; for Susan
thought and thought, that 1t would per-
haps be brought up against her, If she mix
cd in the society TO which these friends
would have introduced her. OF course we
did not put our refusal upon that ground;
Susan said she would not leave me and ]
believe they think me very wrong and sell
fish. am not confident that l am right
myself; and yet the pride which shrinks
from taking up old shame can hardly be
false pride-can it2"
1t is not anything to decide in a moment
the degree of pride which a man ought to
allow himself-to point out where the prop
or ends and the false begins-to beat the
parish bounds between sel-respect and
vanity. No wonder that Mr.. Nicholson
pulled hard at his pipe in silence. 1t was
evidently no lack of interest that held his
tongue, however, for he turned away his