Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-08-13


ans boy, gave the correct reason for it
when he questioned:
Mamma, isn't Mrs. Lester's teapot
full of pennies ?"
Poor Teddy! On the top shelf of their
one closet stood useless teapot, the recep.
tacle of each spare cent. The child's acme
OF happiness centred IN chair which he
could wheel himself 10, and his faith in the
teapot increased with every addition to its
contents. 1t took long time to cover the
bottom, and the coins did not begin to
reach the hole where the spout ought to
have been. There was something most
touching in his wanting the one five cent
piece given him by his old grandmother
changed into pennies. because they would
help to fill up sooner And Teddy lay
back on the lounge as the Lester barouche
passed by the tenement house, and wonder
ed if it would not seem like Heaven to
rest against those soft cushions and look
right up into the sky, instead of getting
peep of it through the small window, for
the poor boy spent many wearisome day
alone.
Mr.. Lester had been glancing over the
evening paper, and dropping it to take his
tea, became conscious that his wife had
been addressing him.
"What is it, Edith You are extrava-
CANT, and everybody says so.''
Il extravagant, Mr.. Lester! and I've
only had two silks this summer BY the
way, don't forget my check for two hum
dred dollars in the morning; I'm going in
to the city. What was talking about
just this! | called at the parsonage this
afternoon .one of the ladies tries to 60 in
every day to look around a little. Mrs.
Rogers is young and needs advice though
she won't always take it Why, she had
her shades drawn up to the top Of the
sash when Mrs Hill was there the other
morning, and when demonstrated with up
on the plea that the sun would fade her
new Brussels, she actually said she must
have light whether carpets g'ew dlngy or
not; and, my dear, the shades have been
up exactly the same every day since. Very
good sense you think Mrs Rogers has
and is that all have to say? Oh, no !;
but the beginning of the remainder. While
[ was waiting for the minister's wife, | no.
ticed in a corner of the parlor something
new-an antique vase, as curious as
beautiful. 1t must have cost so very
much, and the bracket that held it was
elegantly carved by hand we have not a
more expensive piece of workmanship in
our whole house Hadn't she a right to
accept present? Certainly, my dear
I've no fault to find with her having all
she can get, but it is with the giver. The
idea of Mr.. Rogers doing anything as ex-
travagant as that"
Mr.. Lester had become accustomed to
his wite's voIubIity. Sometimes he quietly
listened, sometimes argued, and at others
tried to check the disposition towards
gossip which so evidently ruled her, and
was increasing rather than diminishing
Just now he wondered if all women really y
were like his E Elith-certainIy not as
handsome, and no one could grace table
as well as she. Even now, as she sal
taking, there was charm about the tip
ping of the dainty cup. Surely he was
and ought to be, proud Of her; yet there
was not the rest he needed in the talk with
which he was being entertained-a fail
sample of each evenings experience
Knowing but little Of her sex, he ques
toned if all women found pleasure in 81
severely crtielsing their neighbors HI
had no sisters his mother died when h
was boy, and boarding school, colleg
and hotel life, observed to ,show him wo
man as she is when worthy of the nam
she bears. John Lester had anticipate,
= having a home. had his ideal been to-
beautiful? He had asked for wife. HaC
he found the one he wanted
The parsonage And with the though
of it he queried within himself if the min
ister's modest little wife was seasoning
her husbands supper with comments upol
their parshoners. No; he was sure not
The night he sat up with Tony, Mrs Ro-
ers had brought some jelly to the slcI
man, and he was very certain that tn
sweet voice which had comforted Eunice
9r unconscious that any one heard it coul
:. never say i'll against another. With tn
J. vision of the little woman came a resolv
l. to be more Of man than he had eve
y been He would not logger sit at hi
). own table and allow his neighbors to b
d slandered when they were above reproach
n Filth, how do you know that Mr.
" Rogers bought the vase and bracket?"
d know it, my dear? With all possibl
e evidence one could want. Why, right o
1t the table lay card with the words, 'Fo
lie my wife-God grant that she may yet liv
7, many years to save and bless others, a
she has her husband Pretty, all that
st but, of course, it accompanied the vase
there were the nails and hammer used i
Or hanging the bracket. Then, too. wa
a standing before it when Mrs Rogers er
g, tered and as | remarked that it was
ID new and elegant ornament in their room
she exclaimed: 'Oh, yes and brthda
,e present from some whom | love yer
r, much | found it on my bureau th
is morning. Taking her seat, she spied tn
a. card and picked it up to put in her pockt
N with blush that made her look almo,
or handsome for once. do believe that st
lie was ashamed to tell me plainly that NJ
IN Rogers made the gift, and she ought to
lie ashamed! Yes. l say it exceeds anythin
rd [ ever knew of in the line Of extrav;
n Cancel"
Id Certainly, Mrs. Testers stateme'
m seemed most plausible, yet her husban
he grew strangely interested in the minister
Ill little helpmeet during the recital, and tt
IL manly resolve in his heart to purify tt
ht tone of his own wife's thoughts was tho
ID, oughly rooted. In firm but gentle voic
re he replied:
sp d" Edith, till you know that Mr.. Roge
gave his wife the vase you have no rigl
sst to say he did. Imagination is one thin
zee evidence another. 1t may be very app
IN rent to our acquaintances that you have a
'or a woman can desire to make her life ha