The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-08-01
Az THE COUNTY FAIR.


Az THE COUNTY FAIR.
| Amanda Wheaton and Nell Eustis were
neighbors in the town OF Briefly Center,
| both daughters of well-to-do farmers They
had both been to South Hadley together
| for finishing touch after the district school
| had done its best for them, and Nell had
| learned among other things, to play few
tunes on the piano by means of natural
aptitude for the fine arts and since return
| ing home she had found time to look after
her fathers house and dairy, and by teach
ing the district school summers--they never
allowed the privilege to a woman during
the winter term-she had laid up enough
money to buy a secondhand piano in the
city. When Nell showed Amanda the
money, and confded her intentions to her,
Amanda had new sensation. Hitherto
she had always been ahead of Nell so to
speak. Her black alpacas had always been
finer than Nelrs, and had borne off the
palm III the matter of trimmings, her
shawls had always been more numerous
and more gorgeous, her bonnets more
| snowy, her ribbons more 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 piano, of she was to learn to
play on it. Amanda's existence would be
emDlttered beyond peradyenture. There
was but one piano in all Briefly Centre,
| and that was up to old Squire Brierly's,
with nobody to open it from years end to
years 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 sight of room?'
''Oh. it'll just fit into the niche by the
chimney" said Nell, happy as a cricket on
the hearth land mean to learn to use
| it-see if l don't"
Il don't see who'll teach you; and it
costs power of money"
1--WE thought maybe Deacon Small might
give me some hints; he plays the bass vol
IN the choir, you know. And then folks
learn by themselves I've read about it
there's Mozart and"
'Lor sakes!" laughed Amanda. Il
spose you're a Mozart, or some of those
fellows who knew by nature You amt
vain nor anything. are you, Nell p
"Maybe am, answered Nell, pleasantly
lone cant get on without tritle of vanity ;
it's a sort of wholesome stuff, after all
that's been said about it, though its like
| homeopathic medicinal little goes good
ways. But anyway, | could play Fishers
Hornpipe, Chorus Jig, and Old Hundred
at South Hadley. And | thought it would
livcn father up, after the days chores were
done, to hear a little music, if it wasn't SO
fine, before the candles are lit, between
daylight and dark. It's sociable-like, lit
lie music is and then, it would be all
handy for dance any winters evening"
"What's that about winter evenings p
asked Tom Briefly, the Squires son, and
the hero OF the place, lounging in at the
open door with that familiar air which
made him welcome everywhere. "A
dance? I'll engage you for the first cotilion,
Nellie; shall | 2"
ION dear, no, gigsed Amanda. "She
is going to be the band herself"
Amanda is laughing at me- explained
Nell. "because I'm going to buy piaro
wi" NV earnings"
''Let those laugh who wIn,' cried Tom,
lignuy. wen play duets together, Mel.
''Well, I'm no company for such famous
musicians" said Amanda. Il guess I'll be
going home"
I'm gong your way" said Tom, rising.
"Oh, SO soon ?" pleaded Nellie.
IL didn't think Of stopping-I heard the
music OF your voices us | came by"
at don't compare with the music Nell
will make on her piano"
"Well, good bye, Nell. Let me know
when you are ready to begin that duet.
By-the-way, what shall it be-'The rose
that all are praising and then he went
off, laughing with Amanda, and left Nell
looking after them with hungry eyes and IA
heart heavy with unspoken wishes. What
happiness would there be in the possession
of piano, or the world, if Tom preferred
| Amanda nd uhp ,ya oh IN, a IN,
of taking the fancy of a young fellow like
Tom Brierly-she with her pale face and
serious eyes and plain ways? The women
of his family had been used to rustic IN
stiff silks, and shine in sheen of lace, with
sunshine and powder tangled in their curls,
and rouge and smiles on their dimpled
cheeks at least that was the story that
portraits told, hanging and growing dusty
in the great hall year after year. 1t was
hardly likely that the heir of such tradi-
tons would think of her; and yet it was
her day-dream, her aspiration, that some
day he might-a presumptuous dream; but
he was always so kind, and might not
kindness crystalize into love any day
Amanda, with vivid colors and pretty con-
fidence and dashing ways, might beguile
the heart of a seraph, She fancied and,
after all, Tom was only young man, with
man relish LOT WWHllu, vitality anu
beauty, and what if 1t should come TO pass,
and she would have to live her life next
door to Tom and his wife, and watch their
shadows upon the curtains, and see their
children go in and out After all, perhaps
she needed the piano, in order that she
might contide the secret that sometimes
seemed to big for her heart to hold.
''Nell is too odd !" said Amanda, as she
and Tom loltered home "What do YOU
suppose she wants of plano-a girl who
spends half of her time in the dairy and
kitchen ?"
"a piano isn't bad investment" an
swered Tom; "and Deacon Small says
Nells got talent that oughtnt to be hid
in napkin -laughingly.
''Oh, that's it! he's been turning her
head with batteries. | wonder why he
doesn't marry her, and be done with it !"
"Marry Nell Deacon Small J, cried
Tom, with start and laugh. "Did he
ever dare propose such thing 2
"They say he has had 1t under considera.
ton. Folks think she couldn't do better. "
"Couldn't she?' said Tom, uneasily.
"He's got means, said Amanda, serious
", land Nells got ambition
"And he's old enough to be her grand
father"
"Some folks, you know, would sooner
be an old mans darling than young mans
slave"
"You wouldn't, would you?"
] "Tll wait till the young man asks me, y