Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-10-01


quarters payment for the house on the hill
You don't mean so :"
For the house on the hill was the only
one Of all the houses on the hill that wa.
for sale, or likely to be for sale in their day
and generation, and Roger had given up bis
idea Of building a new house in view Of
the attractions Of this-the property Of old
Squire Benham, who bad placed himself
beyond the scope Of Rogers envy by dying
and by leaving 80 many heirs that nobody
could afford to keep the mansion. And
though he knew it would be years before
he could maintain il after Squire Benham's
generous fashion, Rogers soul had gone
out in longing for that house, and now he
had chance to have it,
Yes" he said, ave haze lived care.
fully; no fine clothes, no company, no sta.
bic bill and with what have made and
what you have saved, VIC have Just enough
to pay the first quarter that is, | can
mortgage this house to the bank for just
half its worth-for twenty-five hundred,
say-and have FIVE hundred in hand, three
thousand in all, Just the sum for a first
payment on the terms they propose, with
interest and three other like payments to
come. What do you say to it2
."The house on the bill :" answered Laura,
refectively. 81 have thought it would be
beautiful ever since we talked about it.
The site is so perfect--,he lawn, and the
elms, and the intervale, and the blue and
snowy mountain tops beyond"
"And such rooms as there are in that
house, and such a hall {"
But it would take us a long while to
furnish it properly, have been thinking,
said Laura, doubtfuly.
Well" said Roger, balancing his tea
spoon on the edge Of his cup with nicely,
" as soon as the first payment is made the
place is ours, you know"
And we need not move in at once 2''
said Laura, rather eagerly.
No. l was going to say we can lease
it, and all of the rent money that there is
over the interest we have to meet can 90
toward the future payments and in the
meantime we can be gradually collecting
the furniture for it, piece by piece, aud
then another years rent, after it is all paid
for, will buy the carpets"
With those we have already, and straw
mattngs for the bedrooms, yes But dc
you really feel, Roger darling, as if you
wanted to leave this dear little place Z
Don't you feel any attachment to it2'
"Oh yes; always shall don't in,
tend it shall 60 out ofmy hands, either
shall pay of this mortgage some day. But
care much more for that one on the hill
set my heart on it, or something like it
when was a boy. And when heard o.
Squire Benhams first attack of apoplexy
said to myself, Now III have that house -
"Oh, Roger, don't believe it Itisn'
bit like you!'
Indeed it is. Exactly like me.
didn't kill him. Pshaw! | didn't ever
wish him out of the way But as long a
he was getting out ofthe way, didn't Sc,
why | shouldn't get into it, said II
have the house, and will. I've got tht
best wife in town; | don't know why
shouldn't have the best house in town to pu
her in !"
"0b, Roger !"
But some things are more easily don,
than others.
The next day the cottage was mortgaged
aud the money was paid to Squire Benham'
executors, and there were three notes givei
for the remainder of the price, secured oil
the house on the hill, falling due in consec
utive years, with interest Laura was ap
palled when Roger told her of the notes
which she had not understood about before
but he laughed at her, and said Stric
economy is the order of the day, and al
will come right" and went gayly away t.
his business, leaving Laura to decide wher,
she could economize any further than sh'
had done. But there were many ways, 81,
found She could dismiss the second girl
for instance. Two young people by them
selves, she said, never needed two othe
people to wait on them. But to dismis
the second girl meant that she must wasl
the breakfast-cups herself take care of tn
parlor herself, make her own bed, set tn
dinner-table, and assist at the fine ironing
Il did a great deal more than that a
Cousin Walters" said Laura, "and wa
not doing it for myself at all ; and now
shall be doing it for myself and for Roger
Oh, Of course | can !"
And she told Roger, that night, that sh
had dismissed Nora
"What ~ he exclaimed " Are you abb
to do without herr ! said economy, but
didn't dream of anything like that"
"I'll try" she said 4" 1t isn't hard
and can do it in half the time that Nor
took, at alleyents."
"Well, | don't know. Are you sure
isn't hard ? You might try it for while
But | don't want your pretty hands to &C
coarse and"
Laura flushed with pleasure. He ha
not stopped to see whether there was any
thing pretty about her or not for so long
She felt paid in an instant for the work O
years to come, if it had been twice as hard
"0h, nothing hurts my hands, sho said
"If there did, they would have been spoile
at Cousin Walters
$50 they would. Well, well; Cousi
Walter aud Cousin Walters wife shall Sc
you 90 in and out Of home such as the
never hoped to have. And after that ther
will be plenty Of time, by and by, for hand
to get white again"
And do you think Of anything els
where can turn an honest penny ?" aske
Laura, with delight. For this was such n
immense testimony on Rogers part tina
her silly, rejoicing heart would fain hav
continued the conversation, already a Ion
one for Roger, all the evening.
Yes" said Roger, presently, "in tn
/, abolition Of one thing-though hardl
like TO mention it, because it will be d,
priving you of such pleasure" And the
, he laughed.
"Oh, do tell me, Roger !"
81 think women like to be martyred,
be said. "Well, it is those dainties 20
are always making for me. notice 20
, seldom taste them yourself--which is susp
cious, by the way. You brought fou
, cookery books into the house for you
! dowry and as you were determined
make them useful, have been as steadl
eating my way through them as any book
, worm, and shall come out at last with
ruined digestion, all ready for my chrysai(
and you'll be blooming Grahamite widow,
"Don't talk so, Roger dear-don't"
! "You are afraid the evil lates may haI
} pen to hear, you little heather. Wei
: seriously, think we can do without all til
/ t..X l. LII