Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-10-25

or was SICK, or sorry, or needy went to her,
as well as whosoever wished for sympathy
in health and gladness.
Dear Aunt Kenti When went in thore
she sat knitting clockod sock for young
Mrs. Cables first baby, with such look of
peaceful ropose on her face, that one would
bc willing to go over the same weary path
of suffering, If II should lead at last into
such land OF rest.
u don't know when I've felt sorrier."
said she, when l was settled at my work
| by her side, Than did for somebody who
came TO me last week In love affair. He
is man of whose love any girl might be
proud, but he is so full of humility and
self distrust that he doesn't even dare open
The subject 10 the young woman herself.
And don't know but it will cost him his
life He says he is sure II would if she
should refuse him, and I guess he is right
about H."
In an instant, Mr.. Brodhead flashed into
my mind, and my heart grew harder than
the Westinghouse steps.
"Why, Aunt Kent" said /, at Is too ao-
surdl lie has already been to the minister
and the minister's wife, to ask them to in
tercede for him. l wouldn't have man
anyhow, after he had made such goose of
himself"
Aunt Kent opened her eyes in mild as
tonishment, and then l remembered she
had named nobody. So l stopped sudden
ly and felt my cheeks begin to burn.
Dear child" said she tenderly, "when
haN fatt 81. Al 1
downs Of life, you will think more of a
good mans Low e than you will of these out
side manners. Mr.. Brodhead told me he
had boon in his straitto some of our mutu-
al friends, but he supposed they had not
spoken with you. And we mustn't Judge
him by the standard we would apply to
some people. lie is shrinking TO timorous-
ness, especially with ladies. And he says
he is conscious that he always appears his
worst before you. Poor man! I've seen
him sit at church with his eyes fixed on the
ribbon of your hat, as ii Guttered little in
the wind, and look so hungry and hopeless,
my heart just ached for him."
This time my face flushed with anger as
well as shame.
81 feel humiliated, Aunt Kent" said l.
~ hope nobody else has seen him make
such silly spectacle of himselfl'
bella, my dear, you are wrong" inter-
posed Aunt Kent gently. 1--WE must take
people as they are, not as we would have
them. The man is cast in delicate, sens
tive mould, and this is nearly or quite a
matter of life and death with him. doubt
if you arc loved again by 50 worthy a man,
and am sure you will not be any more
sincerely. / hope you will not be so mis-
guided as 10 throw away such treasure,
only for romantic notion"
l could not laugh at Aunt Kenrs tender
earnestncss, but | shook my head and felt
immovablc from the bump of firmness
down to my boot-soles. And thus ended
the third lesson.
Weeks after this, one day in the "dawn-
ing of the year." when the bees hummed
and the lilacs bloomcl, went out TO dig
blood-root where the road ran through a
bit Of woodlanda little north of the village.
Because if we didn't need it, somebody
might, and Aunt Susanna considered few
roots and herbs $50 handy to have in the
house" Presently / felt an unconscious,
magnetic drawing to look up, and there
stood Mr.. Brodhcad. To this day cannot
tell how he came there. II was as though he
had shot up like ficld-lily, right ont of
the ground, and as he stood with his eyes
dropped shyly as a girls, and his hand
some lip trembling, pitied him almost as
much as Aunt Kent had DONE
alt will kill me if don't speak and it
will kill me if do, and you don't listen"
said he, throwing oat his words in jerks
like water running from straight-netk
bottle, and looking suddenly at me with
such pathetic feeling in his great brown
eyes that | began myself to be abashed.
For what was l that he should be so stirred
by me?
"You couldn't care any for me, | sup
posc?' said Mr.. Brodhead humbly.
'Perhaps l might, don't know" re-
piled almost involuntarily.
Dear me! But n love-story sounds So
differently when man tells il himself.
And so, presently, ii was who trembled,
and cast down my eyes, and blushed and
it was Mr.. Brodhead who looked as though
he was master of the whole world, and the
stars besides.
Aunt Susanna, waiting behind the wood
bino window, thought l was gathering
herbs TO stock pharmacy, for the sun had
dropped behind the cedars on Mount Mar
garet, when l went home with Mr.. Brod-
head by my side. my hands empty but my
heart full.
Yes, we are engaged, and are to be mar
srl
And the moral Of my story is this:
"If you want your business done, 90 if
not, send"