Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-10-03
The Leisure Hour.
PE.S.ELOPR,S U.BB.

My fatherand mother-in law were sitting,
one on each side of the open fire. My fa-
ther was reading the Country Gentleman
my mother was knitting a mitten. She
usually was knitting either mitten, or a
little red stocking, or baby's shoe, or a
wrstlet, or a shawl. Her eyes were not
good by gas-lght and, as she was a man
ager of the Old Ladies' Home, visitor at
the Orphan Asylum, and friend and pro-
tector TO fororn children in general, she
was never at loss where to bestow her
knitted goods. Not baby on our square
but came into an inheritance of mothers
pretty work as surely as into world of sin
and misery.
Missing the click of the needles, as one
does miss quiet sound to which the ear
has grown used, l looked up. My mother
had laid down her work, and was engaged
in tying knots at different intervals in a
length Of double worstcd. My father had
dropped his paper, and was regarding her
with an amused smile, in which there was
a world Of tenderness and gentlenoss.
"What are youtryng to do, mother dear?"
said I, at last
81 am trying to see whether 1 can re-
member how | used to make harness." an
swered the dear old lady, with smile and
a little sigh. mot the kind they put up
on horses ~ she explained, seeing my puz-
zled look "but that which belongs to a
loom."
81 never saw a loom?" said /.
"Ah, then I can hardly make you under
stand. The harness is very essential part
Of an old-fashioned LOOM"
"Did you know how to weave ?" asked.
"That she did, as well as Penelope her
namesake!' said my father, answering for
her. 81 think, however, that she would
have disposed of the suitors more easily
than that lady did," And my father quot
ed some Greek which sounded very nicely
though 1 didn't understand it. The old
gentleman read the classics a great deal in
the original, and was rather fond of quot
ing them. 81 believe" he continued, af-
ter pause, "that l owe my wife TO her
skill in weaving"
"Tell me about ~ said l, glad of any
thing TO divert me. You see my husband
was away about his business as an insur-
hhNC anu tucl y luu Dccll 81 ilduy
bad accidents that l could not help being
anxious about him.
ayes, do, father!' said my mother.
"Well, you must know, them" the old
gentleman began THAT l was an only
child, and my parents naturally thought a
deal of me. They moved from Vermont
into the Genesee country at very early
1av-inlpp1 my f1tbpr nf hn frct
settlers of Bloomfield. Some day we will
go back there, and see the old place. 1t
was wild enough when they went there /;
but in time the wilderness was subdued,
and bloss omed like the rose. My father
farmed two hundred acres, and owned
sugar and potashery. Potash used to
be called Genesee money in those days, be-
cause the merchants made their remittances
to New York and Montreal in that coin.
Well, / always had turn for books and
study, and / was not more than twelve
years old when my father promised me,
that If ] would stay and help him until
was eighteen, he would send me TO college.
| was very happy in the prospect, for from
| the moment he said so, l knew the thing
was as sure as human arrangement can be.
So l went to school winters, doing my Lat
in and Greek with the minister, and help
ing on the farm in summer, till 1 was
eighteen. My birthday came in June, and
my mother began directly to make my
new shirts.
Mother" said /, one day; "why did
my father select Dartmouth for me?'
"'Your father and his brother both went
there, and his folks lived in that neighbor-
hood answered my mother.
"'I never knew my father had broth
erl' said /, surprised.
"My mother started, and looked troub-
led. Then she said, mpressively: 'Abner,
You must never mention the matter to your
father. He has never spoken his brothers.
name since he moved out here, and he will
not allow me to do so. You were named
for your uncle, but then it was your grand
fathers name as well
"'But how did it happen2" / asked.
what was the cause of the quarrel, for
! suppose there was quarrel