Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-05-09

golden pot, perhaps not of genuine
gold, but still a gilded porcelain pot. 1t
was watered each morning by her maid
with rain water, and each evening by the
young gentlemen with compliments. They
all had something gallant to say about
the fourishing myrtle.
And what had they not to say about the
young girl9 She was so very beautiful
that they could not afford to think about
her, and so they did not think any more
about her than just for the time they saw
her. But when they beheld her they
sighed; the more charming she grew, the
more they sighed, whereupon she
again would try all her power of fas.
cinatlon to be still more bewitching. Her
head was wreathed with glorious auburn
locks, but to make herself still more en-
chanting, she decked them with garlands
of flowers, the one more magnificent than
the other. First she wore one Of forget
me-nots, then of rosebuds, then of Pro-
vence roses, then dahlias, then peoples,
and at last, grape-vines and leaves in all
the gorgeous tints of autumn. And while
the one wreath gave place to the other,
the one year passed away after the other.
At last she wore wreath Of pure gold
leaves; but there were now silver lines
in her beautiful tresses. She had not had
time to attend to her myrtle. 1t had
meanwhile pined away, withered, and
died.
"That is the way with all of u.s." she
sighed, glancing at the mirror. The myr-
tie was then thrown out into the yard
among the rubbish. Some little boys
found it; they coated the twigs with bird
lime and caught sparrows on them. These
were the flowers that the first sprig Of myr-
tie grew to bear.
The second of the widows daughters
was not exactly handsome, but neat,
pleasant little girl enough. Good-natured
and yielding, she accepted cheerfully
whatever lot might be in store for her.
When her mother was dead she went to
the house of her aunt, who was also q
widow, and her myrtle she brought with
her.
The aunt had q son, who was the apple
of her eye, but that was, too, about all he
was, and he never got to be anything
else. From his mother he received food
and clothing, light and warmth, a neat
little room, and as much pocket-money as
his doating mother could possibly spare
him; in short, he got everything he want
ed excepting his college degree, which he
had to work for himself; that he found
really too troublesome. When he became
twenty-five years of age he wanted
sweetheart, and he got her too. Aunty
assured the young girl that he was such an
exceedingly nice young man and loved her
so very much that it would be a shame to
say to him no, and the girl would of course
not have the burden of refusal upon her
conscience.
Consequently they were engaged, which
was both nice and convenient. Now the
old lady had both her darlings at home, and
there was billing and cooling from morn
ing till evening. His room was the only
one which faced the sun, for which reason
the myrtle was left there All, how many
sweet words were murmured and shipper
ed over that myrtle by the young couple,
and yet they never got tired of repeating
what they had said so often before.
1t is curious enough that myrtle cannot
be made to flourish in bachelors apart
ment. Whether it is the heat from the
close stove in winter, or the drought in
summer whether it is the tobacco smoke,
or for what other reason, one thing is
sure, that myrtles do not thrive very sat
isfactorily, particularly when they have to
continue the struggle for half score of
years, like this poor myrtle.
There is a kind of disease called honey
dew, for the reason that all the leaves Of
n tree which it attacks become covered
with swcetish adhesive juice like honey
or syrup. That disease now seized upon
the myrtle of the engaged couple. The
leaves got stuck together, and dust and
dirt covered them. In time it became i'm
possible to decide whether they were
green or grey. 1t was pitiful sight. The
lovers finally did not know any more
what they were to do with it, but then
the old woman died, and they got some
thing else to think of. They had to sepa-
rate, and however hard it was to confess
t, they were both convinced that it was
for ever. No such an engagement could
Of course come to anything. lie got
situation at a widow's-as her husband,
in fact, after having been for time her
business manager She became house
keeper to a widower, and when he found
out that she was clever and economical
and pleasant to get along WITH he con-
cluded that he might as well marry her,
an arrangement TO which she had indeed
no objection.
The myrtle was really too unfit to be
used for nuptial wreath, but the bride
groom said it didn't matter much, as he
was but widower and the ceremony
was to take place quietly at home.
The third daughter was far from being
handsome. That she had soft, clear and
earnest eyes, delicate complexion, and
sound white teeth, everybody was willing
to admit but she had also a thick, rough,
red head of hair, and a great abundance
offreckles, and therefore everybody agreed
to call her very homcly, and when every
body once comes to such conclusion, it
remains an undisputed fact Neither un.
Gle nor aunt invited her to their homes;
she went out amongst strangers after her
mothers death.
She got a situation on the manor of
rich squire; that is, she was engaged to
attend the lady as maid and seamstress,
and to serve the squire and his steward
as target for their clumsy wit and jokes,
not very choice, but agreat many of them.
Country air is wholesome and fresh. The
young girl soon felt herself at home in her
new place. There was more to hear and
more to do than she had been used to, but
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