Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-05-03
The Leisure Hour.
HUELDE.vG II HOTSB WITH n
TE.TCEP.
BY MRS. s. G. HALL.

'Let it alone, Lucyr exclaimed Granny
Grey to her young visitor. "Why did you
remove the shade?'
"well, dear Granny, only because real
ly wanted to see it,"
"See il r. said the very handsome woman,
with whom the aspect of youth yet linger-
cd. "Why darling, surely your eyes are
not in the tips of your fingers? You could
see it without removing the shade. You
mean, | suppose, you wanted to feel it2"
Lucy laughed. In common with all the
girls in Woollen Reach-the name of the
village in which Mrs. Grey resided-she
called her "Granny." 1t was her pet name,
the name of love, by which all the young
people, boys and girls, recognized Mrs.
Grey. Lucy Lynne was one of the good
woman's especial iavorites. There were
steadier and wiser girls in Woollen Reach
but there was not one gifted with gentler
heart or kinder nature than Lucy Lynne.
81 do not know what wanted, Laughed
Lucy; "but you all make such wonder
fuss about that cup that / thought should
like to know why and just now, when
YOU had done reading, and closed the book,
leaving Mr.. Grey's spectacle case in 1t for
a mark, 1 am sure you sat for quite five
minutes looking at that cup-at least your
ewes were fixed on it-and yet" The girl
paused.
"And vet what?" questioned Mrs. Grey.
"Why, though your eyes were fixed on
the cup, it seemed as if they were some
how looking beyond it; and then-indeed,
nd had
tears in them, and thought, without in
tending it, you clasptd your hands; and
YOU got up and looked at the sheet alman-
ac, and l thought you said to yourself,
"Thank Godn'
"Why Lucyr exclaimed Mrs. Grey,
"what an observant puss you are! little
thought you were watching me as a cat
would a mouse"
'That won't do, dear Granny" laughed
Lucy. "The cat watches the mouse because
she wants to catch and eat it. Now you do
not believe that want to eat your?
mo, dear child, l never thought you
wanted to eat me-" answered Mrs. Gray,
laughing in her turn but l did not think
you were so observant."
en- tea-cups in the house much prettler than
that old thing you lay such store by. Some
one said here the other day that the will
low pattern was considered very old fash
toned and in bad taste;' and you said it
was, and that you hated the sight of it, and
would have new dinner service as soon
as your ship came home but" added Lucy,
with a little pout, THAT ship is long time
on the seas. AS long as l can remember
have heard you talk of what was to be
done when the ship came home; perhaps,
when il does, Granny, it may bring you a
pretty cup to put under the shade, instead
of that willow pattern.
"No," said Mrs. Gray; "not all the cups
that ever came from China, even If they
were filled with gold, would be half as val
liable in my eyes as that discolored old
teacup of the willow PATTERN which
have cared for and cherished for thirty
years and Mr.. Grey values it as highly as
do"
"Granny, will you not tell me why" in
quired Lucy, "that also may value itP
know you think great deal of it, for you
| always aust lhe hUauc WIN Nohl ohh
hands"
"Ir you can sit still, Lucy, and listen to
me attentively, it will be a pleasure to tel
you why ! value that tea-cup. There
bring your favorte stool to my side and sill
down, and you shall hear not an imaginary
but true story, which 1 hope you will re-
member all the days Of your life.
"You know my husband was carpen'
ter-indeed, may say is; though he does
not work as hard as he used to with his
hands. | think he does with his head, ant
l hear that his power of calculation is cleal
and rapid"
sob yes" said Lucy; ~ have heard Mr.
Grey say that temperance kept his brair
clear"
81 married him when l was very young,
continued Mrs. Grey-"some said tot
young to take the cares of the world upoI
me but thought my husband who wa
avery well educated man, would teach m
how to bear them--at least that was what
thought and believed; but the real trutl
was, loved him very dearly, and If Their
are faults, we are not inclined to see then
in those we love"
"Then," said that saucy Lucy, lookin
archly up into Mrs. Grey's face, 81 do nc
! think, Granny, you love me very mucl