Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-05-14
III LESSEDNEiSS; ;
single, Double, and Triple.

streaklng across his bowed head. He an
swered, Re fectively, y,-"Well, / think
you're right there are men that can man
age women, but your mother has been too
much for me-"
at seems half selfish in me to go of aud
leave you alone with her; but what can
one do, with work that wants planning,
and that continual scolding in ones ears p
"Irs the crying fits that master me,
though" said Mr.. Blake, "when she sits
snif-sniffing into her apron; looking at
me that reproachful, till I'm half brought
to believe that have committed murder,
or somthing in my sleep"
~ sometimes think, do you know, ia-
ther that n those times it is that she is sor-
ry for her temper, is,-in fact repenting."
"Irs an awfully unpleasant, unfair kind
OF pentence, then; but 1 don't know;
she's been buzzing In my ears so long,
that get fairly bothered sometimes, and
don't feel clear about anything"
"I'll tell you what you must do when
she gets past bearing; just come off to Inc :
1t won't be far you know"
$50 will, my boy so will"
Accordingly, the next morning, when
Mrs. Blake began the day with prophetic
Indications of being what she called sup
set," her husband prepared to escape,
greatly to her displeasure. She had resent
ed Wills removal and "sttting up for him
SELF" but then, as Mr.. Blake remarked,
"she couldn't be any crosser than she was
BEFORE" so he departed in conn arative
comfort.
Wits room was poor little place. lie
was not earning much as yet, and he said =,
"Anything does for oneself" with desolate
air that somewhat contradicted his philos
ophy o: loneliness; still, his work improv-
ed wonderfully. and in that he was always
happy. Will was a designer Of mould
lngs.
Mr.. Blake found him busily stitching at
an old coat.
Turned tailor, Will ?" he asked.
"Tisn't work enough for tailor, and /
am afraid my bungling would not pass for
one, either. l tried glue, but somehow it
wouldn't answer, and ono must keep ones
self decent looking. 1 am going after or
ders, by and by"
women Is of some use, arter all, ifthey
wasn't such unreasonable creatures" said
the father, with an involuntary glance at
the table, which looked rather like the
wreck of a kitchen, heaped up, as it was,
with a little of everything.
Will was accustomed to have all his tools
round him in his work, and so had gradu.
ally gathered the household implements
together in the same fashion.
1--WE will have break fast presently" he
said "it would have been ready before,
only while was gone for a loaf the kettle
boiled over"
at won't do that this Time" said Mr..
Blake, lining the tilted vessel from the
fire.
"why?"
"See r.
Then they both laughed; win had for
gotten TO put in the water.
But the blunders were sOoL remedied
there was no one TO scold over them.
Father and son were chatting pleasantly
over the end of their meal, when bright
young voice was heard on the landing out
side, calling. "Willie, Willie"
Made friends already?" asked Mr..
Blake, looking up surprised.
"No, it is somebody that lodges over
head her little bro her has run off down
stairs. He seems to give her a deal Of
trouble, but she never speaks any sharp
er than that
Don't she now? It's wonderful pleas
ant sounding voice."
NJ nI h,yf 1 tl,ot .,,I.
hunted up the stairs home again a merry
hunt, with much laughing on both sides
and, as they passed wins door, a quieter
"Willie, Willie"
Mr.. Blake looked strangely reflective
al haven't heard anybody say "Willie" In
just that cooling, careful way. not since my
sister that died she was just like a moth
er TO me It's terrible long while ago."
"These two are much the same. They
live alone she minds him and keeps him
and sends him TO school,"
/ "You seem to know all about her, Will
"All am likely to know. l have no
seen her. There are no strangers like fel
low dodgers, and she is not the kind of gir
to meet one on the stairs, accidentally 70
the purpose.
"That was how your mother and 90
acquainted.
~ did not know that, father"
Will spoke with an air of regretful apol
ogy that was understood and accepted, bu
silently.
Dreamily, in the hush OF old memories
the father walked away 10 his work.
viii sat down before the window TO I'm
ish some drawings, but the thick squar
pencil made idle marks, while the eye
that should have guided It sought the onl.
bit Of nature within sight-the strip {
changing sky between the housetOps. Ma
ny a bold design had come from thos
| sw1eDing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. None cam
now. VIII was musing. How could maj
work. with thst sweet, imperious "Willit
Willie" ringing II his ears' 1t was
worse distraction than hssam, mothers Seoid
ing, for he could not be sure ,.'ss IA. ne 'e'''
wanted to forget this.
81 am glad have never seen her,N.SS
said with long breath that did not SCUM
like content. Then he tried to say, evil
lle," in her tones, and, as a look of impa
tient disgust marked his consciousness
failure, he put on his cap and went out.
The haunting voice became presenc,
all too soon. AS Will came home, she me
him in the passage; a little, swim glidin
figure, with soft dark eyes set in pale
fair face. "Not bit like mother"
thought, with curious feeling of satlsfaC
tloni bat as she passed, he saw that he
| ewes were humid with fear and rriaf