Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-04-04
TINE OLD nBGEuE-a MOOsIBR
RR.aLETF.

giving a fine view Of the wide, winding
river. The windows and doors of this cot
tage were draped in vines, among which
the morning glory and the honeysuckle
were the most luxuriant; while on each
side of the graveled walk that led from the
front portico to the door-yard gate grew
clusters of pink, sweet williams, and lark
spurs. The house was painted white, and
very green window shutters-old-fashio
cd to be sure, but cozy, home-like, and
tasty wilhal.
About the hour of six on Monday morn
ing, in the month of May, fine looking
lad of twelve walked slowly up 10 the path
which led from the old orchard to the
house. He was dressed in loose trowsers
OF bottle-green jeans, jacket of the same,
heavy boots and well-worn hat. His face,
was strikingly handsome, being fair, health
full, intelligent and bright, though now 1t
wore an indescribable family visible shade,
as of innocent perplexity or possible grief
The mistress of the cottage was at this
time in the kitchen preparing for the weeks
washing. She was middle-aged, stoutly
built, healthy matron, sandy-haired and
slightly freckled, blue-eyed, and quick in
her movements. Usually smiling and
happy, it was painful TO see how strongly
she now struggled to master the emotions
of sadness that constantly arose in her bo-
som like spectres that would not be driven
away,
A bright eyed golden haired maiden of
sixteen was in the breakfast-room, wash
ing the morning dishes, and singing occa-
| sional snatches from mournful ditty. 1t
was sad indeed to see cloud of regret and
anguish on that fair young face, and dim
ming the earnest spakle of those unusually
merry eyes.
Mr.. Coulter, the head of the family, own
er of the cottage and its lands, stood near
the center of the sitting-room gazing fixed
ly and sadly at the picture ofa sweet child
| holding a white kitten in its lap, W hich
hung on the wall over against the broad
| fireplace. A look OF sorrow betrayed it.
self even in the dark, stern visage Of the
man. Occasionally he drew his grzzled
moustache into his mouth and bit it fierce
ly. Evidently he was chatting under grief.
The cottage windows were wide open, as
is the Western custom in fine weather, and
the fragrance of the spicewood and sassafras
floated in on the flood-tide of pleasant air,
while from the great locust down by the
yard fence fell the twittering prelude to a
tinch's song. A white line of fog above the
river was plainly visible from the west
windows, and through the fleecy veil flocks
Of teal and wood ducks cut--swiftly in their
downward sweep 10 the water. A golden
flicker sang and hammered on the gate
post the while he eyed a sparrow-hawk
that wheeled and screamed high overhead.
The lad entered the kitchen and said 10
his mother, in voice full Of tenderness
though hardly audible:
ma, where's pap?"
"In the front room, Billy" replied the
matron soemnly.
Passing into the break fast room, Billy
looked at his sister, and flash of sympa
thetic sorrow played back and forth from
the eyes of one of those to the other; ther
he went straight into the sitting-room, ant
handed something to Mr.. Coulter.
The man looked at his boy proudly
siernly, sorrowfully. The lad looked int
his fathers face sadly, exultingly, heroical
ly. 1t was living tableau no artist coulc
reproduce.
"Billy," said the father, gravely, 81 tool
your mother and sister to church yester
day."
"Yes SIR"
sand left you to see to the things"
"Yes, sir" replied the boy, gazing ou
through the window, at the flicker as /
hitched down the gate-post, and inall.
dropped into the grass with shrill chirp
Sand you didn't water the pigsf"
5000! Oh, sir! Geeroody! Oh, me
Lawsy, lawsy meH
The slender scion OF an apple tree ros
and fell in the hand of Mr.. Coulter and u
} from the jacket of the lad, like incens
: from an altar rose a cloud Of dust, mingle
with the nap of jeans. Down in the mead
ow the larks and sparrows sang cheerily
t the gnats and flies danced up and down /
4 the sunshine, the fresh soft leaves of tn
vines rustled, and all was merry indeed
D Dilly's eyes turned up toward the face {
Q his father in appealing agony; but sti
t with a sharp hiss the switch cut the all
falling steadily and mercilessly on hi
= shoulders. All along the green banks {
/ the river the willows shook their shin
: fingers at the lining fog, and the voices
n children going by to school smote th
} sweet May wind.
n "Oh, pap, I'll not forget the pigs II
: more"
!. aspect you won't heather"
: The wind, by a sudden puff, lifted int
= the room shower of white bloom peta
o from a sweet apple tree, letting them ia
!, gracefully upon tho patchwork carpet, tt
It while plowman whistled plaintively in
G distant field.
= "Outch Crackee! oh, pap, papy'
It "Shut your mouth, ri I'll split you
It the back bone.
! How many delightful places In the wood
t, how many cool spots beside the murmu
r, ing river, would have been more pleasal
= to Billy than the place he then occupie,
# "Oh me oh me r. yelled the lad.
l Still the dust rose and danced in the Sian
J. ing jet OF sunlight that fell across Il
o rooms, and the hens out at the barn Gael
g led and sang for joy over new eggs laid
>, choice places.
f; At one time during The falling OF the 70
s. the girl quit washing, and thrusting h
e head into the kitchen, said In a subdus
rs tone:
d "My land, amt bill gittin' an awf
r one ?"
"You're mighty right" replied Il
]; mother solemnly.
,r Along toward the last, Mr.. Coulter III
n toed at every stroke. The switch actual
m screamed through the air as It fell. Bill
s. danced.
10 "Now, go, sirr' cried the man, fossil