Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-10-03

had been visiting her, and had stayed to
help.
~ found my father looking older and
moro feeble than had ever seen him. His
ankle was better, so that he could go about
the house, and he sometimes got as far as
the barn but he had been obliged to leave
great deal to James White, his hire d man,
and things soon showed the difference. 1
had not been in The house half an hour be-
fore heard the praises of Mary Winder
sounded by both father and mother.
"'She says she saw good deal of you at
Aunt Abbey's,' said my mother.
"'Oh, yes answered she stayed there
most of the time. Aunt Abbey thinks tho
world OF her. Where is she2'
"'She is over at Widow Browns sitting
with Emma, answered mother. you
know the poor child has been in a decline
this long time. Somehow she has take to
Mary and feels as if she must have her ev-
cry day..
"'Supposo you go over and bring her
home, Abncr, said my father 'it will be
I quite dark, and the road is rather lone
some.'
|
a curious questioning expression as he
spoke, and a dim wonder crossed my mind
as to whether he suspected anything but
l dismissed it at once, remembering the
letlor Aunt Abbey had showed me. 1T
can't be- thought; 'he would not have
her on the place an hour
"'How did Miss Winder come hore?' 1
asked, as mother followed me out TO the
door.
Oh, she came up TO Rochester with
family from Vermont, and then came over
here to bring me parcel from Abbey. So,
of course. l asked her to stay and make a
visit ] had a piece in the loom which
Jane Pratt had just drawn in when she was
taken sick, and nothing would do but Ma
ry must finish it. She does beat all for
weaving that l ever saw. Then your IA
thcr sprained his ankle, and 1 wasn't very
well, so she stayed on and 1 don't know
what I shall do when she goes away. l
wish we could keep her here always
"Father seems to like her, too said /,
my heart echoing the wish.
"He does. 1 never saw him take so to
any one. lie said yesterday that if we ev-
er had a daughter-in-law he hoped she
would be just like Mary.
'Well, went after Penelope and brought
her home, and many pleasant walk we
had afterward, along that same lonesome
cross road. 1t was rather hard work for
me to learn 10 call her Mary"
"Yes, you used to scare me half to DEATH
saying Pen," interrupted my mother. 81
had to tell father it was a nickname Aunt
Abbey gave me. Oh dear! Pm afraid we
said and did good many things that
wouldn't bear examination. 1 have al
ways felt ashamed of the whole perform
| ance."
marrying me included, 1 suppose
We'll, matters went on so for some weeks.
l took hold of the farm work, and soon got
things into shape again. l went down to
Commencement and graduated, and then
came back to take hold of the harvesting.
l had quite made up my mind by that time
| 10 lie farmer.
"When the heft of the harvest work and
cheese-making was over, Penelope propos-
ed to my mothe: that she should draw in
piece of fine linen, for which the yarn was
ready. When she came TO examine the
loom, she found the harness in need of re-
pair, and as making harness is best done
by two pair of hands, she asked me to help
her."
~ don't know what the harness is I" said
"Well, it is the system of strings in q
loom, by which the threads of the warp are
alternately raised and depressed so as to
allow the passage of the shuttle. These
strings are knotted in peculiar and some
what intricate manner. We were engaged
in this process when my father passed
through the room.
"'Thats right, Mary !" said he. 'Har-
ness him up tight!
"'She has done that already" said L,
speaking without thought.
Mary looked scared.
| $50 much the better said my father.
Il hope you will both go as well in double
as you do in single harness. So saying,
he went into the next room and shut the
door.
"'I wonder if my father suspects any
thing?' said l. Mary looked very grave,
and l had TO repeat the question before she
answered.
"I don't know whether he does or not /;
but one thing know, Abner; | shall not
go on in this way any longer. 1t is shame
to deceive him and your mother as we are
doing. I have felt uneasy this long time,
and now have made up my mind | shall
tell him the truth this very day..
"'And suppose he orders you out of tho
house." said l.
"'Then I must gov
"'And forbid me to ever see or speak to
you againr
"'Then we must wait. Anyhow, Abner,
we never can expect or pray for a blessing
while we go on in this way
swell, we argued the matter back and
forth. 1 did not feel easy myself, for was
brought up to think lie the meanest of all
things. Finally ii was agreed that we
should explain matters that very evening,
only insisted on taking the task on my
SELF
$50 we did. After prayers that night,
told father and mother that Mary and l
were engaged, and only waited for their
consent.
"'All right! y answered my father. Il
couldn't wish for better daughter than
Mary, and I'm sure mother will say the
same
eyes, indeed 7 said mother, Il hoped all
along that it would be So
"Mary was now very PALE but she spoke
out clear and steadily:
"'Pm afraid you won't say so when you
know all about it, Uncle Nathan"
"Mother started at these words and turn
| cd ns nnln ns Mary hnrsnlf hnf fnlh nnl "