Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-09-05

Endicott'--
"Hush, you spoil sportr "Now Lau-
ra ~ and "You be stillp were the protests
that met the statement of these untoward
facts and in the calm which succeeded the
tempest of expostulaton, Edith replied:
"My dear, somebody says that yesterdays
Puritan is to days Radical. Were Govern
or Endicott here among us I believe he
would smile benignly on our proceedings"
"Perhaps," retorted the unabashed Lau-
ra, "the old dgnitary would solicit you to
be his partner for the German, or take you
TO the theatre to see East Lynne"
Edith Redeemed half the pleasure of a
recent visit to Boston had been spoiled by
forced submission TO the prohibitions of
Deacon Winthrop, her guardian and grand
father. Recovering herself, she said with
her own inimitable frankness:
"Well, Laura, TIL dismonnt from my
high horse; he isn't just the animal 10
parade on this occasion. All we want is to
have good time after ALL
Matters arranged themselves satisfactori-
ly; the details of the merry-making were
settled, and Edith, spith of her reluctance,
was declared to be the only person capable
Of successfully maintaining regal state.
The eventful day arrived, as clear and
cold and fragrant day as ever graced one
of our lovely Junes. The village turned
itself out of doors young, old and middle
aged crowded TO the grove 10 witness the
novel spectacle, which was brilliant and
beautiful beyond all that had been foretold
concerning 1.-THE stalwart youths, the
white-robed, flower bedecked maidens and
children, and, center of the scene, our lady
Edith, crowned with apple blossoms, fair
est flowers and types of noblest fruit, fit
wreath for the reignng genius of a New
England summers day.
Among the youths who were foremost in
doing homage TO our queen was Robert
Sandys, young Southerner, who had been
sent North to receive his education and who
was under the charge of our good pastor
Various surmises were afloat as to why he
should have been domicied in this obscure
village. DR.. Abbott had been understood
TO say that he had in former times been
slightly acquainted with his guardian, but
further than this he never enlightened u.s.
Indeed it is doubtful if the good man him
Living almost exclusively in his study, it
was due only to his vigilant and energetic
housekeeper that he emerged therefrom at
the proper season TO perform his mnisteri-
al functions, and Laura Burnham once said
that if the doctor had received an applica-
tion in person from the angel Gabriel to
furnish one of the cherubic host with
board and tuition he would have siguitied
his willingness in irreproachabe Hebrew
without feeling doubt or surprise at the
character of the visitor.
1t was said among our young people that
Robert Sandys was hopelessly in love with
Edith certainly he was deaf and blind to
the destinations of her companions. As iUf
her, she treated him and every one else
with the gracious Irankness so charming
in friend and comrade, so discouraging
in coveted lady-love.
Well, the time wore on. The specified
exercises were ended, and the actors there
in dispersed into pairs and groups, prepar-
ed to finish the day in unregulated fashion.
Edith had seated herself on the arm of the
antique chair, which, wreathed with flow
ers and evergreens, had been her regal
throne, and chatted gaily to young Sandys,
who leaned over its back. Various others
of our choicest spirits were Immediately
around them, in attitudes more or less
graceful and picturesque. Laura's tongue
was silent for a brief space, as sitting on
the ground she tore open the wrapper of
some ladies' magazines taken probably
from the post office that morning, and
tlr,, ;,NtC hn,, Ion, ,,,t;
now. l don't know whether we were par
ticularly witty, but we certainly were un-
commonly jolly, and we jested and laugh
| ed and commented on persons and events
with all the buoyant arrogance of youth.
| Suddenly said Laura, lifting her eyes
| from her book, "see here! isn't this alb
surd ?"
| In her rapid and vigorous way she half
read, half narrated, to us the story she had
been reading. 1 remember only its gen.
| eral outlines. 1t told of young man who,
| far away from home and among strangers,
met with an accident which caused tempo
rary blindness. He was tenderly cared for
by "a previously unknown nurse, with whom
| he fell passionately in love, and TO whom he
proposed marriage, but who declined with
ineXplicablo horror, "saying God had plac-
| ed barrier between them." The lover re-
turned home, his sight was restored, and
finding it impossible to overcome his pas
| sion, and feeling half assured that il was
| reciprocated, he sought out the lady, de-
| termined to solve the mystery and over
| leap the barrier. The latter proved insur-
mountable; the beloved one was a quad
room, and the narrative ended with some
tall mock -heroics, parodied by Laura some>
what in this fashion.
"And would give my eyesight, l would
give my right hand, my new diamond
studs and all my real and personal estate,
to know that the only woman I ever loved
was not a quadreon There's nice young
man for you l wonder if he is intended
as a typical Yankee?"
"Did you ever read Caster said / sit
is one of the best of the crop of ant-slav-
cry novels which sprang from the seed
sown by Mrs. Stowe. Two children, q
brother and a sister, are brought up and
educated at the schools in Northern State.
That mystery surrounds their origin is
well known, but its true solution is not
guessed at, even by themselves, and no OBJ
lection is made when the young man woos
and narries the daughter of respectable
family. The marriage is happy one, the
husband forms a profitable business con-
nection, and all goes well until the secret is
suddenly divulged. Have you seen in
some pantomimic display garden of roses
change rapidly to barren field, dimly de-
serted through the falling snow So quick
ly changed the heros fair prospects. His
wife died, her family dsowned him, his