Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-19

| cemetery. WelIl Know you WOuluh I
like the place. I'll search again to-mor-
row."
"Thats right Don't despair. Get the
boy yard that shall be large enough to
tan his tide-by the sun of course"
"Timothy! How can you talk so about
our darling? Suppose we should lose Tod
dlcr."
"We'll not suppose it. Try again, Lefty!
Perhaps you'll run into an atom of Eden
that will come within the limits of our
spinnerless treasury. We must leave here,
as the doctor has rented ii. So he told me
to-day. Here's the morning paper. Let's
see what palaces want tenantr'
In half an hour she had long list of
places 10 see the next day. We must hnd
something or live in the street, which
would be unpleasant, though economical.
1t was all settled the next night. knew
| II by her smiles. A lovely cottage sill uated
50 and so, with two poplars in front and
back yard large enough TO hJid our weeks
washing on the line; half mile walk,
with buses, cars and none of the modern
| improvements.
"Hobson's choice, my DEAR" was my
| comment.
"The best we can get for our money, l
think" she replied.
That settled it, The next day would be
the first of Ma according to calendars and
landlords. My wife kindly volunteered to
superintend the moving, as 1 should be
busy all day and all night at the store trans
ferrng goods.
Get the honcstest and weakest looking
expressman you can find, and then flee!
TO move successfully, my dear, is an act
more difficult than TO win a battle"
"In theory, Tim, for yol," said Lefty.
"For you, tomorrow. 1t will be prac-
| tice." A look of grim resolution came over
her face, and I felt that we were already
half moved. signed the leases and then
we went into the different rooms together,
that I might say or look goodby.
1--WE have been happy here" whispered
my wife.
1--WE shall not leave the dormant echo of
an unkind word'-whch was the truth
81 am thankfu we have had even this
poor shelter" said, as 1 closed the door
10 the last room visited, never TO be opened
| again by me.
/ had gone some distance that evening
when it flashed upon me that in the confu-
| sion of my mind incident TO business at
the store and the many houses to rent,
about which we had been talking, the loca-
| ton of our new house had passed entirely
| from my mind.
Put it down on paper!" said to my
wife after returning; II can't trust my
memory for day or two" put the slip
in my pocket and turned away.
Don't go, Tim!" spoke Lefty with a
sudden and unusual sadness IN her voice.
Her eyes were fearful. at was bad luck
TO come back again"
"Pshaw! An old woman's superstition.
| I'll see you tomorrow, all costly settled.
There Goodbye! Goodbye, Tod y
"Good-bye, papar' cried TJd which
sound heard until l turned the corner,
thanking God for giving me such good,
patient, loving wife, and boy that was
as smart and strong as could be found in
the city, 'Tisn't everybody has such bless
ings, nor the hafof them more's the pity
for the good Of the world.
That was hard work we did that night
and day for "Crutch and Armless." Not a
minutes let-up until three O'Clock in the
morning, when we had a hot supper and
an hours rest. Then at it we went again
for the day. l labored with my thoughts
with my wife and her share of trouble, and
with wonderings as to how she was getting
along, and performed my duties as me-
chanically as steam engine. 1t was a
| lOOn 1oV tO m and Of ba
men was more glad than I when, early in
the evening, Mr.. Crutch came to the Office
door and said they thanked us very much
for the way we had worked and what we
had done, and that we might quit until
next day. He guessed matters would run
smoothly now. l was anxious to see my
family, and hurried away. After rapid
walking for a couple of blocks, it sudden.
y occurred to lie that WAS on my way to
my old residence, and that the street and
number Of the new home had passed from
my mind. 1t was lucky I had not depend
ed upon my memory, and that wife nae
given me memorandum.
Stopping under a gas-Iight, I felt in the
pocket where the paper should have been
II was not there. All the other pock ct:
were searched, turned Inside out but th,
precious bit OF paper was not TO be found
II didn't matter how l lost it, it was gone
Then l tried my best to recall the location
but hall dozen numbers and streets came
into my mind all at once. / had no trail t
the home of my wife and child. At
o'clock at night who could tell me wher
l lived? l was so worn out with work tina
this predicament brought the tears to m,
eyes fora minute. Apprehensions cumin
aled, and l shivered. What would Lett,
think of this absence? Where, o! wher
was she? When ii came into my confus
ed brain that she had said something abou
Stewart avenue-the number | could no
recall-I started on run for that street
and, reaching II, wandered to and fro
scanning the windows to see her face, tn
houses 10 note if any one of them answer
ed the description she had given. Vain la
Dor Sick at heart retraced my steps an
went to police headquarters.
"What is wanted?" said polite official
"An odd occurrence-Ive lost my wife.
"Yes? Bless your soul, that's not odd
Men come here with that news every day
, Do you know the road-the train she tookY
he queried
"Pshaw don't mean that" with an an
4 cry feeling at his stupidity. "My wifi
l moved on the lst, and | have lost the ad
! dress she gave me. lis funny, but deuce
, unpleasant" added apologetically, as tw
! or three men began to laugh.
"Well, that is odd" the official, oaptair
| agreed "but l can't see how we can hel
a you"