Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-09-26

WOuuulnS the prlde OF inc mover, VINO
contended that If he knew himself any
where 1t was among parliamentary prob
lens.
Mr. Wright, a genuine Jackson man,
moved at be expunged," This was lost,
because tho Board wished to avid ary
tn 9 that looked like leaning To ,'sson
i-u.
Mr. Snap had maintained his usual om-
inous silencc during the debate. Finally,
ne snarleu out in his way,-"Let the bust
ed tree keep its roots in the ground; why
don't you give Tictom leave of absence
and increase his salary2"
This suggestion, uttered almost at ran
dom by the speaker, was met favorably
There came near being a split upon the sal
airy question, a few maintaining that four
hundred and fifty dollars was liberal pay.
At last it was voted az follows:
"That Mr.. Tictom was requested TO take
a months vacation,-that his salary be
raised to five hundred dollars per annum,
and that Mr.. Amos Meeker, the assistant,
be appointed acting cashier during the abb
sence of Mr.. Tictom." The meeting ad-
journed.
1t was now Mr.. Grims turn in the thun-
derbolt line. He looked as little like Ju-
piter as Jerry, yet there was dignity al
most Olympian in the manner with which
he announced the vote of the Board to the
unhappy cashier.
Mr.. Tictom was bewldered. A months
vacation Why was that? A months
leave of absence! Where could he go?
Nl.o4 a,,1.l l.
was all indoors.
And that fifty dollars additional 10 his
salary! Another embarrassment. The
| quarter days now came around so fast he
could not spend his income, and his last
six months salary lay undrawn. Why did
the Board add to his perplexites at this cri-
| sis?
Jerry could think of nothing more pa
thetic than parting with key, and he
would have esteemed an ex-turnkey the
most unhappy man living. For five and
twenty years he had carried the bank keys
in little satchel in his left breast pocket,
near his heart, and tho frequency with
which he placed his hand upon his breast
to assure himself of their safety led Mrs.
Holm to imagine him troubled with affec-
tion of the heart.
To turn the keys over to another, though
it were Amos Meeker, cost him an effort,
but they were delivered without word.
He had somewhere read that travel was
a great solace to troubled souls. He would
take far-off journey. There was an old
aunt of his, living fifteen or twenty miles
away among the hills, if living at all God
bless her-whom he could visit and cheer
in her lonely days.
So little was he accustomed to journey,
that he would have started with simply a
undle-handkerchief with his bonnet de
mutt, a change of linen, and few ounces OF
snuff. But the more worldly-wise widow
would not have it so. SO Mr.. Tictom be-
came TO Mrs. Holm as clay in the bands of
the potter.
She bade Joanna bring down trunk
from the garret.
at was Seth's," she said, "but Seth be-
ing dead will not need it again"
She took out the woolens, examined
them diligently, hoping to come suddenly
upon rogue Of a moth. but in vain.
She urged upon the yielding bachelor a
blood-stone TO stay bleeding of the nose if
attacked; making the same cheerful re-
mark about it that she made upon the
trunk. She put aside some other valuabes
for him; some horse-chestnuts as charm
against rheumatism; a few herbs-worm-
wood for his appetite, if it should fail him
lungwort for cough, if he should have any;
| nt Of no nvaIo oh, ~
for miscellaneous ailments TO which he
might be liable away from home.
The traveller around the world to-day
takes only tithe of the precaution which
the good lady took for her favored boarder
against the ills which might beset him
And the boarder of to-day-are the wool
ems ever taken out of Seth's trunk for him?
Doth any landlady part with her penny
royal for his sake? If the tea and toast dc
not tempt, is the present Joanna sent for a
jar Of strawberry jam, wonder?
Mr.. Tictom took all this regard for him
in good part. The amiable man would not
have objected to touch of rheumatism for
the sake of pleasing the lady and proving
the power of the chestnut charm, but he
did not care 10 go far into consumption for
the chance of being-perhaps- brought
back with lungwort.
All the town knew of his intended de-
parture, and the why and hour thereof
and as the early stage-coach made its last
tarry at Tappan's corner, many of the
townspeople were already there to bid him
"good-speed." Tommy Teet was there In
his official coat, wiping something out Of
his eyes-saw- dust maybe. Jesper Frown
stood aloof as became a rival wood-sawer
without ba nix connection; luckier than
Tommy, there was nothing in his eyes to
wipe away.
The driver clucked, snapped his whip in
the ear of the right leader, and the coach
rolled away, Mr.. Tictom within and Seth's
trunk on the rack behind.
We do not propose to follow that morn
ing coach. Only one remark has come to
us of the conversation within it on that
day. 1t was made by q little old gentle
man of the readers acquaintance 10 his
neighbor, and the only time he opened his
lips to speak for the journey. "I had nc
idea the world was so large" he said, as he
| loOhSu upIOuu ioE LuOHlcHt OUT Vi tllt
moving window. This world had always
seemed very little to Jerry.
Mr.. Tictom had not been absent more
than fortnight when he received two let
ters post marked "Seetown." Ono was in
the hand writing of President Grim, and
the other was evidently directed by the ci-
devdnt "boy." Had the bank fallen? No
no that could not be.
Which should be opened Grst2 The de-
clslon fell upon that of the Meeker. He