Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-11-13


sleeping, and hugging in her arms a large
black doll, with merry black eyes, laugh
ing mouth, and grinning teeth, but with
out arms-not a doll that most girls would
fancy, but Dot loved it and foLdled, as ifit
had been paragon Of beauty. In Mr..
Potten's section of society no special smok
ing-room is provided, and infants sleep
peacefully amidst the fumes of tobacco.
Perhaps that may be reason why fever,
though rampant enough, is not more ram
pant in certain districts.
Well, Mr.. Potten sat smoking, MIS-. Pot
ten sat sewing, and Dot lay sleeping. Mr..
aud Mrs. Potten had a deal table between
them; aud on the table stood a common
sort of lamp, which gave very good light
hy means, if smell can be depended upon,
of parafTlne oil. Dot lay sleeping; but any
body who supposes she occupied her own
little cot with its snow-white cOveret, and
other accessories which make some pretty
pictures of slumbering childhood, would
be much mistaken. MIR. Potten's humble
establishment did not admit of so much
luxury and independence. Mr.. and Mrs.
Potten and Dot all shared the same bed,
which, though 10y no means large, took
considerable portion Of the apartment The
bed had coverlet of patchwork, old and
faded. Aud yet ii was anything but an
ugly spectacle that presented itself to the
husband and wife whenever they look cd
iu Dots direction. The bed linen was
clean though coarse; and there with her
head between two pillows, lay Dot. Her
fair hair, very long for her age, streamed
out in all directions the long lashes Of her
close eyes dropped on her cheeks; her
smiling mouth half-opened, showed few
white teeth her chubby little arms are
folded round the neck and body, and her
little chin rested, as as been said, upon
the woody head Of the black doll. And the
black doll with a ring through its nose,
necklace Of beads round its throat, aui
tlaring yellow frock upon its body, was
gorgeous TO behold.
Mr.. Potlen arose from his seat, aud went
softly up to the bed aud there was moist
ure in his eyes when he returned. He re-
sumed his seat, aud said, chuckliug
"Lord love her! How happy she do look T.
"She never had doll alore, you know,
Potten,' rejuined the wife, L ,re-worn but
cheerful, nice-looking woman, "Lar them
little half penny ones.'
"But she's hin a-cryiu'," remarked Pot
ten, with look of inquiry. 81 see two
little stains on her little nose.
"Yes," as-entcd Mrs. Putten with light
laugh. ave had few words about that
doll she had it playiu' with all the blessed
day, aud / thought she'd do better without
it abed. But she would have dear Blarkic,
as she calls it: and wouldu't even have il
undressed. So let her have her own way,
and she stopped cryin aud made her hap.
py again"
"What's the harm!' sr,wlcd Poitcu,
BLESS her little heart"
at must have cost a lot % money, that
doll" said Ms. Pol!en, "whlt with the
size of il, and The dress, and the ornlmcnls.
aud what not"
"Ah! dare,ly," observed P,uen, with
ind ference.
You'd never have been an.c to bay ON
like it," continued Mrs. Pottcn, with much
emphasis.
mot l." assenied Poucn with a >hort
laugh. "Ah! It's an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good
"But You never t,li mo where you got
it from," remarked Mrs. Poltcn. "Nou
only said ii was given to you"
whats the Odds" said Pottcn, yawn-
ing. "Here I'm tired; I'm going to bed.
Come, make ha'te.'
And Mr.. and Mrs. "otten were soon
| asleep, with Dot and the back doll hctwrcn
| them.
Let us change the time and scene. 1t
shall he that same day but earlier in the
evening; and tho place shall be comfort
able house on the MiddleseX side of the
river Thames, and on the borders of Ty-
| BURMA. 1t il early spring, about an hour
AFTER sunset, and little girl, some seven
years of age, is being put 10 bed. She is
evidently an invalid. Her pretty face i.
| thin and pale her hands are almost trans
| parent she totters if she attempts to wall
| alone. A lady and a maid-servant are
| present in tie room, aud render the neces
sary assistance. The little girl has just had
bath, to judge from plain indications
and now she has been arraved in the most
| NdlnlN Illlt lt-hltsSs duu ENlAlN ldlu III
the most dainty little cot, with the mos
dainty appliance. Otherwise, the room
and indeed the whole house presents al
unfurnished appearance; all of the iurni
ture seems to be huddied together in-out-o
the-way places, and there is a notable alb
sence of carpets from the floor Wherevo
you turn you see basins or other utensils
| laA xs,ith "a rod 1inpin AZ txsag
general nose bleeding throughout the house
Moreover, there is a pervading smell as q
SCOT, from which the experienced woult
infer dsinfectants. In the little girls room
stands table, on which are arranged, +
please the eye, aud smell, wall flowers
violets, primroses, dallodils, jonquils
grapes, and blood oranges. Cheap photo
graphs and cheap picture books, whicl
may serve to amuse for a moment, an,
may be afterwards destroyed without com
punction, on the score of extravaganza, ar
scattered about in all directions. Whe
the little girl has been made quite comfort
able, the lady sits down by the side Of th
cot aud prepares TO coax the invalid I
sleep.
"Am we'll now, dear mum?" asks tn
invalid.
NEARLY well, dear" replied mamma
eve are all going to the seaside to-mor
row, and then you will get quite stIon
and well again.
"But if I'm not well, why can't go o
+ having Candace 10 sleep with me?" ask
the invalid.
''Candace has gone away, darling"
"Where to, mum?"
81 don know, darling. She was take
away by the man when he took the othe
, things"
.GUVhat ,yul I,o Ia ,,,;tb Lar ,,nn,O Tn,