Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1874-06-19

IL only when an old lady mods triumphant
ly at you from the looking glass, saying,
"IIere am, my dearr' or when children
that you have nursed in your arms come
around with the rights and duties Of full
grown inen aud women, that you remem-
Der one is no longer young at fifty. But
the sight of Sam Averll's gray hair and
wrinkles we're as good as looking-glass TO
remind aunt Augusta.
"Sit down, Sani," said she, "and let me
look at you. 1t seems like the real old
times to see you once more. You look
wonderful natural, but dear me, how you
have changed You've grown old as well
as myself"
But Mr.. Averil was not 10 he diverted
by any side issues.
Augusta" said he earnestly, "I made
serious mistake once. II was not a mis-
take about my own mind, however; that
remains the same as ii always was. Every
woman I've ever seen seemed like a talow
candle beside the sun when think of you.
have made my fortune, and all l want
now is you to come and share it with me.
1t is you or nobody, just as it always was"
May be aunt Augustus heart throbbed a
little with the old yearning toward the love
Of her youth, but she shook her head with
unhesitating decision, as she put out her
hand to stir the cradle where her youngest
grandchild lay asleep.
at can never be. SAM" said she. "I
wont deny that ii was all mistake my
marrying Stanton. He didn't turn out to
ha ha 10
contrary and onery, and besides he wrote
letters in disguise. But that is all over
and past, and can't be undone. And now
| am in the midst of my children with my
grandchildren growing up about me, and
am in my right place. l shouldn't be con-
tented to leave everything and go of to a
new country TO begin the world over again
as ii were. | am too old an oak to be trans
planted"
We'll, alter all that Mr.. Averil might
have talked ill he was at the age OF Me-
thuselah. Aunt Augusta had made up her
mind, and an earthquake couldn't shake
ii.
So Mr.. Averill again went away alone
"Well, Amelia, Augusta wouldn't have
word TO say TO me-" said he, walking in
upon mother and me as we sat at supper, a
few evenings afler, mot a word"
"I want to know if that is sov' cried
mother, flultering up after another plate
and knife. Lay your overcost right off
and sit by and have a cup of tea with us.
Augusta always was decided, and you
couldn't turn her after she got her mind
fixed. She wouldn't keep you waiting long
for her answer, either. Well, it is likely it
is for the best; we will hope So" pursued
mother, reaching over to put an extra
lump of sugar in Mr.. Averilrs cup, as
though to sweeton life, if possible for him.
at serves me right in taking it for grant
ed that Augusta understood my intentions
| must have been a self-conceied, incon-
siderate fool. But it seems hard that q
body can't work his way out of a blunder
in whole life time
Mother looked full of sympathy and
dropped another lump of sugar in Mr.. Av
erilis cup. To my astOnishment he seem
ed to relish 1t better, as if life were grow
ing sweeter and sweeter.
Mother and Mr.. Averlll sat up late tha
night, so late that as l had had hard day,
went OF and left them talking over hare
times and purring like "a couple of cats by
the kitchen fire.
After break fast the next morning, moth
er followed me into the hall when / started
for the office.
81 want to speak with you, Elwell, JUS
a minute said she, stroking my Goa
sleeve, tremulously. "What should yot
| fo mi, a., -,
with Mr.. Averill?"
you, mother! 81 cried, feeling as
though the world had tumbled off it,
axis. "Why, it is Aunt Augusta he wants
at is Augusta or nobody"
"Yes, so 1t was, returned mother hum
bly,, "but Sam says l seem more like Au-
gusla, as she used to be, than she does her
self. To tell you the truth, Elwell," con
tinued mother, still, 81 suppose it wouldn'
have taken much to turn me toward San
in my young days; l always thought tb
world and all of him but he seemed Il
take rather more to Augusta. She was al
ways nineteen to the dozen, and l neve
could hold my own against her. Aut
then your father he came along, and
never was sorry ii happened as il did, bu
now YOU don't need me, and Sam aud
have about concluded to make arrange
ments, only told him l must have tall
with you first and get your advice"
"Get my advicer' Dear little mother (!
1 was not idiotic enough to offer it if ha,
any advice to give. So she and Mr. Averil
went on and "made arrangements"
When arrangements were made that da
two weeks, after quiet wedding at tn
minister's, they started off for Californi
together, to begin life anew on each other
account, as blilhe and joyous as two bird
on the wing.