Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1872-10-11
LEFTY DoRMER l..

Il would rather die" said Lefty pas
sienately.
Just SO, my dear; all young girls would
rather die than give up an unsubstantial
fancy for profitable reality. In general,
however, they do give it up, and they do not
die" answered her mother quietly.
Mamma, how cruel you re-" cried the
girl, with kind of angry despair in her
voice.
Because l am rational ? How cruel you
are, you ought rather to say Lefty, to
give me so much trouble when | am acting
only for your own good and when you know
that you will have to yield at last
al will not yield; | will die first :" re.
peated Lefty.
You are very fond of that assertion, my
dear but it does not move me: | know so
well that you will marry as | wish you to
do, and live into quite respectable old age.
You are healthy, though you do not come of
long-lived family on one side" She sighed,
it was conventional sigh; and then she
family murmured, Poor papa
30 mamma you are too dreadful with
your cold sarcasms," cried Lefty, finging up
her hands.
And you are too silly with your mock
heroics, my dear. Ii you had not me to
guide you into common-sense, what a mess
you would make of your life !"
What wreck you wish to make it !"
cried Lefty.
Silly little girl" said Mrs Dormer, with
compassionate contempt, " You are like a
naughty child who will thrust its hand into
the fire, and thinks it, nurse abominably cru
Ell because she tries to prevent it, The day
will come, my dear, when you will thank me,
instead of scolding me as you arc doing now,
that put an end to this absurd affair with
Mr.. Ratclfe, and gave you such an admira-
bic settlement in Mr. Nounsey."
admirable settlement A man old enough
to be my iather,--a man hate, and that no
girl could like,-only with money"
"And, having money, with all that por-
tionless girl can desire, and more than she
has a right to expect, said Mrs. Dormer,
taking up few stitches leisurely.
oh know you don't think it necessary
for a wife to love her husband" said Lefty
sarcastically.
To begin with by no means, my dear"
answered her mother, with perfect good
breeding and good temper Love comes
by habit, by the. fact of a pleasant home
where there is no STINT and where every
thing goes on comfortably. One man is very
much the same as another man, when you
know them and with moderate amount Of
amiability, well-principled girl is sure to
be happy if she is properly provided for"
Your opinions are absolutely monstrous,
and will have nothing to do with them"
said Lefty angrily.
Only to fulfil them, little goose, when
you have worked of the iroth." Mrs. Dor
mer returned the answer with slight laugh /;
and the servant at that moment flung open
the door with an air aud ushered-" Mr.
Mounsey."
A short thick-set, misunderstanding man,
with grizzled hair cropped close, broad, bushy
eyebrows, and that kind of mustaehe and
whiskers run together about a clean-shaven
chin which gives such wild-beast expression
20 face; confident, aggressive unsympa-
thetic-looking man man to push his own
way in the world without regard to those he
shouldered aside, and to hold bis own, let
who would want a man to be wary Of in
business, and with whom it would be neees.
sary to be cautious how one made him friend