Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-19
Cousin DOlIy---A Moving Tale.
ny ANNIE CLYDE.

II was the FIRST Of May, and as stood at my
window -diugy with the dust of our depar-
ture-and watched our last load drive away,
registered a vow, somewhere in the recesses Of
my spirit, that if the house to which we were
going provel decently inhabitable, nothing
short Of volcanic eruption upon the spot
should start me out Of it 10 hurry. Our
furniture piled upon that immense wagon had
a look that was Udicrously familiar What
with changing boarding places, aud other mu.
tstions which had beialen u.s. il had UNDER
gone transportation through the city streets
eight times during the six years Of our mar.
ried life, and began to feel that with a few
more peregrinations | should come to look up.
on it as public property and cease to feel any
private interest or concern in itwhatever. At
this moment Dolly stepped out with baby,
equipped for the walk to our new abode, aud
casting one parting look around the walls
which had sheltered US, not uncomfortabl Y,
for year, and witnessed the birth of my fir st
child, prepared to follow.
Dolly is a jewel. She is--or was the ideal
country cousin. Fresh aud sweet as new
mown hay, with cheeks like June roses and
eyes like blue violets, and in her tidy, little,
capable way as useful as she is ornamental,
she is as fair Il reproduction as we can hope
to find in these degenerate days, Of that nota.
bic woman whom King lemuel's mother re-
commended to him so highly. She has been
regular corps de reSerre TO me always, aud ac-
cordingly, when sent for her to come down
aud help me through the terrible convulsion
Of moving-day, she came without hesitation,
and treasure she proved
When we reached the modest edifce where
we were TO make q fresh attempt to set up
our household altar, the wagon had already y
arrived and unoadej, and every article was
ssfey housed many hands had made light
work ~, taking the baby from Dolly, dis.
missed her, at my husb>ods suggestion, to as
sst him in such arrangements as he should
attempt for the night.
! had hardly seated myself to the highly
congeuial task of cuddlns baby, when, to my
utter amasement, another team paused at the
door, and before could quite credit the sight
Of my eyes, three men had jumped off and
were tuggiag up the steps with heavy stove.
Now It had been the chief induccment to our
preser ove, and the cap Of the climax of
our "a aaction in making it, that we we're at
last tcl Ne house entirely to ourselves, and
what = present indications might portend
was AZ :, erfect loss to determine.
Fred :" screamed |, excitedly, as soon as
| could collect myself, Fred didn't you
hire the whole Of this house 2"
Yes, love" screamed Fred back, mimick.
iug my shril treble, "and the wood-shod
What's the row 7"
or tba
you vaut to know" | answered sharply.
" Somebody is moving in right on top OF US"
Fred came running down stairs, hammer
in one hard and bed.screw in the other
with scaed look on his rather grimy face,
aud encoauAe red at the door the men stagger-
ing in under their burden.
There is some mistake here" said Fred
in determined voice. These premises
believe belong to me-"
The men stared, set down the stove, and
one of them, tall. grave, manipulating fel-
low, returned his look somewhat deiiantly and
answered, There is mistake, evidently. |
hired this house some weeks ago."
"Will you give inc the date, If you
plesse2" said Fred.
He gave it. 1t was within the week in
which we had taken our own lease, but fortu-
natey for us some three or four days later.
Here was a dilemma. The man grew
shade paler, he was pale before, and leaned
against the wall in evident perplexity.
" Ii is most unfortunate and unaccount-
able circumstance" said he, and | shall in-
vestigate it at once. But in the mean time
my goods are in transitu, and |, it seems, am
in the street"
"Oh not SO bad as that" cried Fred, his
good heart coming to the rescue AS you
say, the matter must be investigated; but in
the mean time we will spare you one Of our
rooms in which to put your furniture until
you are able to make other arrangements. En,
Hannah 2"
had just opened my mouth to reply when
wild-looking halfgrown girl came flying
up the steps, scudding like very :" earthen"
vessel under bare poles, holding tiny baby,
which she thrust into the mans rather reluct-
ant arms, and calculating breathlessly, "Moth-
er has sent for ne and must 20 home straight
off here's the baby !" disappeared
You see am in desperate predicamont," F"
said be, trying to smile, but looking, man as
he was, as if it would be good deal easier to
cry. "l lost my wife about three months ago,
aud my housekeeper was taken suddenly i'll,
and compelled to leave me this morning, 30 |
have this young customer on my hands with
everything else" glancing down at the young
customer as if he were tempted to regard il
for the moment as rather a doubtful boon.
Fred without another word laid down his
hammer aud bedscrew, and, opening the door
to room as yet vacant, took hold with a
will, aud helped the men in slowing away the
strangers goods. BY dint of reckless piling
up they were at last all secured in that apart
ment and the piazza adjoining
| When this arrangement was completed II
was nearly dusk, and our involuntary lodger,
who had gone about helping with one arm
while he held his baby awkardly gathered up
ia the other, presented himself at our parlor-
door, looking very haggard and downcast
am afraid, said be, that shall have
to tax your hospitality so much farther as TO
beg to remain uuder your roof for the night.
| am almost stranger in the city, and with
this little fellow should hardly get on at a
hotel"
a Oh ! stay, by all MEANS" assented, and
was about TO add (what 1 should have done
long before il Dolly had not beeu indispensa.
bly, occupied, aud my own offspring chosen
that particular juncture TO exercise the func-
lion which Fred calls 4" tuning his pipes y,
" Pray let me assist you in the care Of your
baby" when he uttered an abrupt thank
you," aud turning hastily away, went into
his own room and locked the door.
by this time Dolly had got out the dishes
made a FIRE, and begun preparations for " tea I"
by putting over some coffee. Presently the
! poor, hungry, little creature in the opposite