Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1872-08-02
MISS EsIGGE,,s's .u.s.v.


Whether II was fear that impellod that
dcathless research, or fatality that was
reckoning her to her fate, know not. II
would seem however, TO be the former, for
she had often been heard to observe: "rhat
Of all the denominations on earth, n man Is
the most abominablc."
Indeed at the Informal tea-drinkings of
The allied forces of Chcstcrvillc, the three
Misses Wheeler, and tho two Misses Jones,
she had often exccled them all in the with
ering tone with which she would repeat
"Man manr' and no one could breathe
greater defiance at this foeman than she.
1t was at ono of these tea parties that they
had entered into solemn compact that,
in the event of Woman's rights giving eth
or of these allied sovereigns power over the
nation, an eastern law was to be by them
imported and improved, and husbands
buried with the dead bodies of their wives.
As Eunice Higgins well remarked:
"That would put an end to widowers pret-
ty lively" And with this remark the hy-
son flowed, and the wassail went on-with
such spirit, that Aureia Wilder, the most
radical, added another clause: "That the
children of Widowers should be throwed
in too, and not be botherin' the women"
This also was well received.
Now If any one thinks Miss Eunice Hig-
gins was woman devoid of virtue and
womanly graces, pity hm-he is so utter
ly mistaken. She had assisted a drunken
father through the world, till he made his
exit-sustained and supported feeble
mothor-and three or four children, older
but more helpless than she, till the mother
went home TO her reward, and the children
had found flourishing homes for them
selves, with the exception of the eldest son,
who had followed his fathers footsteps,
literally. Indeed, when one contemplates
the specimens of manhood she had been
most familiar with, her aversion to the
sex does not seem so wonderful. She was
now shrewd eyed, but good and kindly
looking. No home was brighter than hers.
No farm better managed.
The night on which commences my hum
BILE history, Miss Higgins went TO her
room in usual good humor. She had had
tea party. The allies had all been present,
and admitted unanimously that such fra
grant tea, such snowy biscuits and honey,
such golden butter, such cakes and sweet
meats had not been partaken of that sea-
son. The scene Of her benign victory rose
before her rs she took off the little switch
of hair at the back side of her head, and
pensively rolled it up ere She put it in the
top bureau drawer.
She saw again the pleasant sun shining
in through her house plants on the window
upon the crimson drugcet of the dining
room; the snowy tca-table with its silver
and pink sprigged china; the admiring
faces of her friends as they partooll of her
delicious food. But one memory disquiet-
ed her: "She almost mistrusted her lemon
extract was losing its strengih-the FROST
ing on the fruit-cake didn't seem TO be IA
vored quite enough But this haunting
matter was softened by the thought that
"she could get new bottle of extract to-
morrow"
BY this time she was arrayed in her long
white night-dress and night-cap. She fold
ed up every article of clothing and laid it
down at right angles, and locked up her
brenst-pin; and then, impelled by fate,
she calmly advanced to the side of the bed,
raised the snowy valances-gave a shrek,
and fell backward toward the carpet, hit
ting her head badly as she did so on
chair-rocker. There was Il man under the
bed
Miss Higgins had often fancied how she
would awe such a robber, such burglar,
with her fearless and searching glances ;
how she would defend her property with
life. Let us not be TO hard with her-she
is not the only one of us who has found
that it is more easy to dream of great a.
chievements than to accomplish them. She
is not the only one who at the first shock,
has shrieked and tumbled down before her
adverse fate.
But Euuce Higgins was not one 10 with
err away before a calamity. Not long did
she lie there; but as short time as it was,
when she lifted her head her man confront
ed her. He was a very little man, indeed,
not more than seven years old, and small
at that; very good looking, and well
clothed, although exceedingly disheveled
and uncomfortable in appearance.
SLOW came you under my bed ?"
This was the first question, but ii was re-
peated before he answered, with dropping
head and glances.
81 ruined away"
run away from where?"
"From our folks house."
"Who is your folks?"
"Father."
Here the dialogue terminated suddenly,
Eunicc Higgins becoming suddenly con-
scous that a night-gown and night-cap
were not tho proper raiment in which TO
entertain even so small man. Out in the
pleasant sitting-roo beneath the warm
light of kerosene cleaning through rose
geraniums, and the keener light of Eunice
Higginss eyes, the inquisition was contin-
ued. From which these facts were gleam-
cd: that the boy, Johnny Dale, had been
so tired with his father, because he would
not let him go TO a circus, that he ran a.
way.
1t was early in the morning, he said, and
he got ride with teamster, and had rode
with him until afternoon, SO he must have
come some distance. After the teamster
stopped he had walked on, and, coming 10
her door in the twilight, he thought he
would ask for some supper; but there was
no one in. Miss Higgins had gone "piece''
with her visitors. But the tea-table stood
there, laden with good things; he had
helped himself generously, and then, as he
heard her step outside, guilt which makes
towards of us all, drove him into the bed
room and ms the step came nearer and near
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