Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-12-26

his ancient friend day or so before the
weddings.
"That IL so,' replied Mr.. Tom Ravenel,
"baste enough when they themselves are
in earnest but dear Jack, it might have
been worse, ard we must try and make
the best of it,"
To the credit of the two disappointed old
gentlemen, they did make the best of 1t,
ailer their grief had in a measure subsidtd;
and when, in process of time a little PHI
Raven,l and a little Harriet Gourdine
Gailard made their appearance on the
st sc of action, and had got 10 be three or
four years old, no foolish grandlathers
ever made one half the fuss over grand
chill dren that Tom and Jack made. They
were on horseback COOK share of the
time, going to aud from each others plan
tatiuns, and TO and from the residences Of
their children, that they might report the
latest smart sayings of the youngsters.
When the two grandchildren had got 10 be
of the respective ages of twenty and nine
teen, and, indeed, for several years before,
they were almost constantly in each others
society, and now the good old gentlemen
with all their wonted ardor and enthusi-
asm, renewed the schemes and dreams of
twenty. five and thirty yeals ago.
Phil Ravenel, now Mr.. Philip Ravenel,
Sr., calling on Mrs. Hattie Gourdine Gall
lard one morning, remarked that "he be-
gan " feel quite venerable, seeing that he
had son who was courling young lady,
and couriing her by steam, too, judging
from the frequency of his sits."
yourselves over again, Phil" replied
Mrs. Gallard, "ony 1 think the termina-
ton of the case will be somewhat different,
for such ardent devoted love AS exists be-
tween your Phil and my Hattie have
rarely seen. But. Philip. do you approve
OF your son paying such constant atten-
ton TO Hattie, when he is but little over
twenty years of aee?"
"We had the privilege of choosing for
ourselves, Hattie, and If our two young
folk really prefer ach other TO any and all
others, why, young as they are, 1 say let
them proceed. We were disinclined to
marrying each other for the mere sake of
uniting the two illustriuus families of
Ravenel and Gourdine, (as our good faith
ers were pleased to put the case,) but if nv
Phil and your bright little Hattie choose
10 accomplish hat which we left undone
so lar as ii can he accomplished by a sue
ceeding generation, /, for one, cordially as
sent, aud l am pleased 10 say that Adelaide
fully coincides with ME in the view 1 take.
l am almost afraid, however, that the two
old Srandpops, now almost demented in
the prospect of such an event, will die in a
paroxysm ot joy"
us ii not strange, Philip, that matter
which is really of 50 very little consequence
should be the ruling passion Of our father $
lives; but as husband remarks, do be-
lieve the dear good old souls will at length
be gratified."
"l am glad to find, Hattie, that Mr.. Gail
lard and yourself look at the subject in the
same light tha: we do. Let everything
work along naturally put no barriers in
the way of the young folk, and refrain
ON urging them onward, and the result
we eau easily guess"
When the two old gentlemen rot together
to compare notes, and talk of the brilliant
prospects ahead, their exuberant spirits
were irrepressible.
"Well, Jack" inquired Mr.. Tom one
day, "wbat is your opinion now, old fell
low?
mo slipping up this time, Tom" re-
piled MIR. Jack, 'that You may depend on !;
the stars are propitious, and the event is
az inevitable as if ii had already taken
place"
Yes, there is true love in this case"
said Mr.. Tom Ravenel, somewhat reflect
lively; "the other time we two old fellows
trio d our hand at manufacturing il but
Cupid mockel al our efforts, and this time
be has sent an arrow from his own culver,
and, tell you, Jack, it has done the bust
ness"
The old gentleman was correct that par
ticular arrow of Cupid had indeed done the
business. When Phil, Jr., was twenty-one
years Of age, and Hattie, Jr., about twenty
formal declaration and offer were made
and accepted, and the parents of each mBde
arrangements to have the wedding come
OF on the succee ding Christmas evening.
This was done in compliment to Messrs.
Tom and Jack, and it was hoped by their
children that the doleful and miserable
Christmas evening of twenty-fonr years
ago, 10 which allusion was occasionally v
made by the old gentlemen, would be so
completely overshadowed by the one in
prospect, as to almost or altogether be for
gotten.
Although Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Gaillard
had beautiful home and plantations o
their own, yet Mr.. Gourdine insisted that
his grand daughter should be married IL
Phil Ravenel, Jr., on the very spot where
he had hoped 10 see her mother married Ia
the Phil Ravenel of the previous genera
tion.
The young people readily accepted any
arrangement which should eventuate in
their marriage, and often loosely boasted
that in the matter of keeping good faith
they had excelled their honored parents.
The younger Hattie asked Phil, Jr., few
days before their marriage, whether he
might not be inclined to break his engage
meat. should some more attractive and
beautiful girl than herself make her ap-
pearance. "No, indeed, Hattie" he re-
piled mot if she had descended from the
skies and were possessed of angelic beau
ty."
The anticipated Christmas, the Christ
mas of all others, at length came round,
just twenty -four years from the ono which
had brought the sudden and unexpected
change over the prospects Of the two houses
of Ravenel and GJnrdine. The young
couple were united in the bonds of matri-
mony by the venerable Dr. Porcher, OF the
Episcopal Church, and no one but veril-
able modern jenkins could do anything
like justice in describing the great beauty
of the bride, the usefulness OF her we'd
ding dress, and the general briliancy OF