Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1872-05-01
Miscellany
From Scribner's Monthly
Fanny WinthrOp's Treat

"Well, Bertha, is Fanny all ready?"
Now that is just like papa,-to have
some idea distinctly clear in his own
mind, and labor under the illusion that it
is just as clear to everybody else.
So when papa startled US with this ut
terly distinctive inquiry, mamma patient
ly waited for further light, which not
forthcoming, | remarked in my usual du-
tllul manner 10 my wrath-provoking pa
rent: Certainly, dear papa, all ready,
but is it for dinner, or to be married,
please?"
The dazcd expression of his eyes was
suddenly transformed into comical min
Cling of establishment aud delight at our
obvious ignorance.
"HOw strangely iorgctful you are
growing, Bertha! You can't say any.
thing moro about my little slips of men,
DRY. told you yesterday that | would
take Fanny TO New York with me tonight
ifyou would get her ready in season."
| sprang three feet into the air came
down on my toes, ard swung dear cid
bothersomc papa around the room in my
delight, for--dou't sheer, girls, Il had
never seen New York in my life, and my
brain fairly turned with the Kaleidoscope
visions which the mere name brought into
view.
No fears vexed me that | must lose the
trip because father had neglected tC
speak of it until just two hours before thC
train would leave the station, which was
itself two miles fiom us. No, indeed fol
was not that long-sufferlng, quick -achicv
ing mamma of pine equal to greater
emergencies than this? Had | not seer
her dnring the seventeen years of my life
at sundry times and in divers manners
set right poor papa's blunders, bring orde
out Of his confusion. and make thing
that were not, appear as if they were
So, although the precious little WON al
looked grave, after single glance at III,
beseeching eyes, was not surprised tt
hear her reply gently to fathers outburst
"Of course, dear, she will be read,
for that" and then she briskly summone,
me up stairs to grand parade.
The result of this ceremony was skill
fully packed hat-box, and trinity cos
tuned little maid tapping impatient boot
heels at her fathers failure to put in a
appearance when the carriage was takel
around. But mamma finally unearthet
the sinner, and where do you think sh
found hint Calmly seated on his ow
bed, clad in overcoat, gloves, and ha
with his travelling-bag and umbrella a
his side and our tickets securely set i
his hat-band, while his own precious ex
asperating self was utterly abs,rted i
reading the last Nation.
1t required some time and eloquenc
on mammals part to convince him that h
was not on the train we'll under way TO
New York, and she the peace destroying
conductor.
Now mamma was quite too loyal t
her liege lord to admit his besettin
weakness even to me, but it was eviden
as she hurried the somewhat shameface
culprit into the carriage, that she regard
ed the trip as most dangerous expert
ment. l even overheard playful alter
cation in the hall, in which papa success
fully resisted her attempt to tie strin
arounn his finger. that he might be SURF
to remember to bring me home with him
"Do not well to be angry at faith
err with whom such precautionary meas
ures are no joke, but dire necessity
However no knight Of cid could have beel
more pronounced III his devotion thai
was father to me throughout that journey
i Although most Of its hours were to b
spent in sleeping-car, yet he purchase,
stock of reading material and of tn
usual corky apples, stale popcorn, ant
swindling candies of railroad commerce
sufficient for a wakeful weeks consump
ton.
When bedtime came, and our berth