Connecticut western news., 1874-05-01
THE MAGIC WAND.

THE MAGIC WAND.
 Nestled close among the green hill
 of Vermont there stood an old farr
 house, Drowned and disco1ored by tn
 winds and tempests which had beate against it for more than half century
 The low roof and small windows adde,
 to its homely appearance, but the ey
 need not tarry there, for in the genera
 surroundings there was many redeem
 ing feature.
 Here l had found 8 home and eyentu
 ally my mission. For in three month
 after my arrival Aunt Lucy Chad
 stroke, and I gave up my wandering
 among the hills and woods. and turned
 my attention to the making of butte
 and cheese, in fact became housekeep
 CT, nurse, and maid of all work to m,
 uncle and Aunt Howard.
 Uncle was plain, shrewd man. thi1 and ronnd-shouldered, and terribl,
 methodical. Tn that first summer
 used to wish that he would only foreet just once, so that he would either be obliged to step a little quicker or else vary the dull. routine for that one dav But nothing of the kind ever occurred. When first used to go to church with uncle, spruce young farmers used tc "help me out," and sometimes the storekeepers son or the schoolmastel would ind something to talk with uncle about of a Sunday evening; but they were all married of long ago, and to the next generation l was, of course, " the old maid"
 What wonder that I grew prim and precise. If it had not been for aunt's sickness and suffering I should have run away, but that held me fast.
 The spring had come and gone with It's April rains and May flowers, and the rare days of June had again appeared, when one morning Aunt Lucy told us, that sure as we were alive, something was gong to happen, for she had had a warming In the night, strange noises, which foreboded ill to some of us." . Uncle found upon going to the barn that the speckled COW had contrived to step into an opening in the floor, and in her vain efforts to extricate herself had become strang1ed.
 That night, when my days work was over, the milk strained and the pails I walked out by the babbling brook. Time had been when should have heard unwritten music in the con stant ripple, ripple over the moss-grown rocks, but l was too antiquated for any thing like sentiment then. I was startled from my reverie by carriage driving rapidly up to our gate, from which alighted two young ladies. who. to my unsophisticated eyes, looked stylish and citifed.
 Before had recovered in the least r was embraced by the girls, and in the midst of a shower of kisses, heard my self called "dear cousin Jennie. "oid darling," and other endearing epithets. which sent my heart into my throat in g strange way. -
 They enjoyed my surprise immensely and hurried me into the house: theyfiew at uncle, upsetting the three-legeed stand, candlestick and Bible, and snch 9 hugging as the poor old man receiyedi i He began to quote Scripture, but ended with 'sDid you ever?"
 Aunt came in for her share, and by that time we had light, and found out that our visitors were some down-coun- try cousins. It did not seem very clear to which branch of the family they belonged, and I suspect our welcome must have been rather constrained but it made no difference, the girls had come for good time, and were not to be deterred from having it. Aunt asked triamphantly, "Didn't I tell you that something was going to happen? The noise wasn't t for nothing, sure"
 The girls were as unlike as possible. Bella, tall and qneenly; with hair which would rival the ravens wings for black ness, ,and eyes that should have belonged to some Egyptian princess.
 Kate was a regular hoyden, petite. pretty and light-hearted as 8 child. She upset everything which she came in contact with; in three days she had broken through all our time honored rules, had gone whistling after the cows an hour earlier than usual, and upon being told by uncle that she 'smust not run them, because they wouldn't give SO much milk, ]" declared she "kneW what she was about, it would not take so long to milk them" .. .-..- ..... ..-0 Whatever blandishments she used upon uncle, to the surprise of us all, he harnessed upsthe old mare and took her to the village and post-office, returning after dusk, thing unheard of with us. She persuaded aunt to get off the bed that she might see how tall she was, and y5dint of fattery and persuasion, had her dressed and out to the dinner-table. We should not have been half as much if ghost had walked in up. on. us.
 She asserted that she had wonderful ' healing powers, and that she believed 'he ''was sent to restore aunt to health, md that she had wrought miracles ali Ter friends knew" and she called upon Bella to corroborate her testimony.
 Uncle and aunt believed every word 'he uttered, and in two weeks time she aad aunt outdoors feeding the chickens md ducks, and uncle had hired one of he neighboring boys to assistin the farm work.
 The next step was to declare that she ' must have some butter and cheese made by aunt's own hands. Ever since !, child she had listened to the most marvellous stories of what aunt could 10, but seeing was belie7ing,'"
 Of course was quickly deposed, and between aunt and the girls I found con- siderable time upon my hands.
 Kate told me, in great confidence, hat she "had brought Bella off to give Ter time to think 1; she had been under he influence of girl who was not true Q her, and through her influence was likely to throw away the best part of Ter life.
 Couldn't I say something to lead Bella to decide on what was right and ust ?" s.....-.. -.--.. I set me to thinking, and I watched Or an opportunity to draw Bella out. 5he-was more communicative than I though all her condolences were given in the way of asking ques- lions. 6 Would you do sop" or Would you advise such step ?"
 re4,. T.