Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-07-29


Amanda Wheaton and Nell Eustis were
leighbors 10 the town Of Briefly Centre,
both daughters Of wel.to.do farmers. They
had both been to South IIadley together for
a finishing touch after the district school
had done lis best for them, and Nell had
learned, among other things, to play few
tunes on the piano by means Of a natural
aptitude for the fine arts; and since return
inr home she had found time to look after
her fathers house and dairy, and by teach
inq the district school summers-they never
allowed the privilege to woman during
the winter term-she had laid up enough
money 20 buy o secondhand piano in the
city. When Nci showed Amanda the
money, and conided her intentions to her,
Amanda had a new sensation. Hitherto
She had always been ahead Of Nell so to
speak. Her black alpacas had been finer
than Noll's, and had borne off the palm in
the matter Of trimmings, her shawls had
always been more numerous and more gor-
geous, her bonnots more snowy her ribbons
moro frequent; for a country girl, in short,
She had invariably led the styles in Briefly
Centre, and she had done them credit with
her sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks. But
now IF Nell was to have a piano, If she was
to learn to play on it, Amanda's existence
would be embittcred beyond peradventure.
There was but one piano in all Briefly
Centre, and that was up to old Squire
Briorlys, with nobody to open it from
wears end TO wears end
Oh, dear sakes Nell :" said Amanda !;
"what makes you think Of wasting your
money on such foolishness as piano, when
you don't know how to use it, either, and it
will take up such a sight Of room2"
g" Oh, itll just fit into the niche by the
chimney" said Nell, happy as a cricket on
the hearth "and | mean to learn to use
it-see if don't"
81 don't see who'll teach you; and it
costs a power Of money"
I've thought maybe Deacon Small
might give me some hints; he plays the
bass.yio in the choir, you know. And
then folks learn by themselves. I've read
about it-there's Mozart and"
"Lor sakes !" laughed Amanda. i
spose you're a Mozart, or some of those
fellows who knew by nature. You amt
vain nor anything, are you, Nell ?"
"Maybe | am, answered Nell, pleas
autly. One can't get on without a triHe
of vanity; it's sort Of wholesome stuff, after
all that has been said about it, though it's
| like homeopathic medicine--a little goes a
good ways But anyway, could play
Fishers Horupipe, Chorus Jig and
'Old Hundred at South Hadley. And
thought it would sort of liven father up,
after the days chores was done, to hear a
little music, if it wasn't so fine, before the
candles are lit, between daylight and dark
It'ssociable-like, little music is and then
it would be all handy for dance any
winters evening
What's that about winter evenings 2
asked Tom Briefly, the Squires son, ant
the hero Of the place, louuging in at th'
open door with that familiar air which
made him welcome everywhere. "a dance
4 III engage you for the first cotillon, Nellie
shall II"
oOh dear, no, giggled Amanda. "Sb
is going to be the band herself"
" Amanda is laughing at me-" explaine'
Nell, " because I'm going to buy plan
with my earnings"
"I4et those laugh who win," cried Tom
lightly " Wen play duets together, Nell.
"Well, TN no company for such famou
musicians" said Amanda. 81 guess II
be going home.'
f "Pm going your way" said Tom, rising
) "Oh, so soon 2" pleaded Nellie.
! al didn't think Of stopping-I heard th
r music Of your voices as came by"
. at don't compare with the music Me-
D will make on her piano.
b "Wel, goodbye, Nell. Let me kno'
}, when you are ready to begin that due
=. By.the.way, what shall it be- The ros
that all are praising7" and then he wer
$ of, laughing with Amanda, and left Ne
!. looking after them with hungry eyes and
heart heavy with unspoken wishes Whi
O happiness would there be in the possessio
IS of a piano, or the world, if Tom preferrc
It Amanda And yet, who was she to drea
:. of taking the fancy of q young fellow lii
n Tom Brierly--she with her pale face NJ
d serious eyes and plain ways2 The womC
$ of his family had been used to rustic in ST
It silks, and shine in sheen Of lace, with su
81 shine and powder tangled in their cur
1t and rouge and smiles on their dimpl'
,e cheeks; at least that was the story tn
v portraits told, hanging and growing dus
d. in t6d great hall year after year. 1t W
ID hardly likely that the heir of such traC
At tious would think of her; and yet it W
is her day-dream, her aspiration, that son
n day be might--a presumptuous dream b
{. he was always so kind, and might not kin
h ness crystalize into love any day Amand
,e with vivid colors and pretty confidence al
or dashing ways, might beguile the heart of
is seraph, she fancied; and, after all, To
r. was only a young man, with mans reli
for warmth and vitality and beauty. A
what if it should come to pass, and
s. would have to live her life next door
nj Tom and his wife, and watch their shade
III upon the curtains, and see their children
at in and out2 After all, perhaps she need
Il. the piano, in order that she might conf
il the secret that sometimes seemed too
SO for her heart to hold.
nd Nell is too odd !" said Amanda, as 5
ks and Tom loitered home. "What do y
ke suppose she wants Of piano-a girl "
is spends half Of her time in the dairy a
tn Kitchen 2"
al, "a piano isn't bad investment"
ke swered Tom "and Deacon Small 50
Oh Nell's got talent that oughtn't to be
m. in napkin "-laughingy.
"Oh, that's it he's been turning
head with his batteries wonder why
an doesn't marry her, and be dono with it "
of Marry Nell Deacon SMALL" or
of Tom, with start and laugh. "Did
le- ever dare propose such thing3"
he "They say he has had it under consid
ty. alton. Folks think she couldn't do bette
is, Couldn't she ?" said Tom, uneasily.
Or "He's got means" said Amanda, 81
IRE ously, "and Nell's got ambition"
ba. "And he's old enough to be her gra
or. father"
,ed "Some folks, you know, would sooner
us, an old man's darling than q young mt
slave"