Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1873-05-01

manner, which made all his employees,
from Mr.. Saundets, his confidential
clerk, down to Black Sam, the carman,
and Davy, the errand boy, feel the
better when he spoke to them.
Miss Nancy is little late this
morning." observed Uncle McFar-
lane, as Brown, his man, brought him
the paper.
eyes, sir She was out till after
twelve last night, at Sans, sir!'
"Indeed! How was that?'
"Well, You see, sir, Sans girl was
took with a quick consumption last
spring, and his wife amt very rugged
either Miss Nancy, she's been there
q good deal, and when Susy was struck
with death last evening, she sends for
her. SO Miss Nancy, she went and
stayed till it was all over 1t was 4
great comfort to them sir. You see,
Sans wife, she's got little young
baby, too, and altogether it comes
hard !"
81 should say so indeed. We must
see that everything is done, Brown.
Find out when the funeral is to be, and
let me know, and tell your wife to send
them something comfortable when she
goes to market, But here comes Miss
Nancy. Send up breakfast, Brown
Breakfast was usually somewhat
silent meal, save for Alexis chatter
with his aunt; for Mr.. McFarlane al
ways read the paper, invariably ask
ing Miss Nancys permission.
"Why do you look at me so closely,
Alick p asked Miss Nancy, as she
caught her nephews gaze fixed upon
her.
81 was thinking how pretty you
are p answered Alick, with his usual
frankness. 81 think you are hun
dred times prettier than Miss Regina
Schuyler. that they make such fuss
about. And don't want her for a
stepmother. So there!'
"What is that about Miss Schuyler"
asked my uncle, laying down his pa
per. 'It strikes me that you are TAX
ing rather liberty with that young
lady-to say nothing of myself
"It wasn't me, father; it was Mr..
Bonsal,' answered Alick. "Mr. Bon
sail asked me if wouldn't like pret-
ty youuglady like Miss Regina Schuyl-
er to come into the house; and told
him no-I didn't want any one but
Aunt Nancy. Then he said Aunt
Nancy was an old maid; and | said
if she was forty old maids she was a
hundred times prettier than Miss Re
cina-and so she is !"
"We won't discuss that matter!
said my uncle, annoyed, but repressing
his annoyance, as usual. 'You need
not mind Mr.. Bonsall. We all know
his ways!'
There was someting in his fathers
tone which made Alick aware that he
had better drop the subject. Uncle
McFarlane went on with his paper,
but now and then glanced over it with
an expression of some interest. "Nan-
cy is pretty!" he said to himself.
'There is something in her face which
reminds me of my mother
Breakfast being over, my uncle put
on his overcoat, asking, as he did so,
his invariable question, "Have you any
commands for the city,"
"And by the way please see that
everything is done for Sans family.
The poor woman will perhaps be the
better for some port wine, or ale, and
let everything be nice about the fun
eral. will take the expense on my
sell. Sam is n good faithful fellow"
"Really Nancy is very pretty r said
my uncle, as he walked out Of the
house. II never thought much about
it before, but she is decidedly pretty.
Miss Regina Schuyler, indeed, Really
Bonsall is too bad to put such notions
into the boys head" And Mr.. Nc
Farlane pursued his way to the office,
unconscious of the fate awaiting him
there.
"Any letters, Saunders p he asked,
as he passed the clerks desk 81 see
the packet is in"
eyes, sir. They are on your desk,
and Mr.. Bon sail is waiting to speak
to you in your room. What ails Mr..
McFarlane ?" said the clerk to himself,
as his principal passed on. 81 don't
believe he ever before forgot to ask
for my wife. hope nothing is
wrong" Mr. Saunders had an invalid
wife, who was indebted to Mr.. Nc