Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-12-31
THE BINDER FORTUNE.
A New Years Story.

n NeN neSrh btOEys
On the last day of the old year Mrs.
Bamber entered her shop, and served her
customers abstractedly, for her mind was
full of trouble. She was the mcst cheerful
and sprightly of little women, with bright,
keen blue eyes, a ruddy bloom in her soft
wrinkled cheeks, and flaxen hair arranged
in stiff curls about her forehead; but to-
day the demand of small boy, in ahrill
tones, for bottle of Bamber's Drops failed
to produce the delight usually manifested
by her under such circumstances. Bam-
ber's Drops was the remedy of her late
husband for all the ills flesh is heir to, and
Mrs. Bamber believed in ii firmly with
the ardor of a sanguine nature and loving
heart. Tho late DIR. Bamber's star had set
in sadness and gloom before an unsympa-
thizing world had consented to take his
panacea by the tea-spoonful. As far as the
will Of one fragile and very determined
woman could make the world rescind its
objections, Mrs. Bamber had prepared her
self for the battle. When the small boy
had taken himself off with his purchase,
she leaned her elbow on the counter and
sighed deeply.
ITO think of the Platts coming TO this !!
If Archibald was alive, instead of only his
wife lie knew a deal about law, poor
dear, and needed to, what with imitators
and spurious articles TO injure the trade.
would sell out, and give them every PEN
ny, if 1 could find a purchaser, and 1t
wasn't all so sudden. Archibald was CRATE
| ful to his dying breath, and I'm not likely
to forget that we owe every thing to DR..
Plat. Dear, dearl Five thousand dollars,
or a foreclosed mortgage. 1 tell you it's
pure spite in that Hiram briggs; he don't
know how TO behave himself yet as rich
man."
Mrs. Bamber's gaze strayed anxiously
about the place, as if searching for way
| out of her difficulties. Did the clew aclu-
ally lie in her grasp without her being
aware of itH The shop was very tiny, but
exquisitely neat, aud the variety of articles
for sale, which made it almost a museum
were arranged with certain artistic per
ception of harmonious coloring. The late
DR.. Bamber had been chemist, and ont
side of the place was still devoted to thos'
medicines which a woman may dispensl
without being a licensed apothecary; but
the rest of his stock had been removed
across the way 10 the new drug store, which
was grief to Mrs. Bamber's soul, and re-
placed on her shelves with few books, sta
tionery. and gay worsteds.
"Why should not be the apothecary af
ter Archibald?" she had said to DR.. Plat
with an energetic nod OF the head. DON
know as much as Peyton ?"
Peyton was the rival over the way. DR.
Plat, rosy, good-natured gentleman haC
made some soothing response calculated Il
mollify feminine vanity, and suggested tn
stationery department as fresh field o
usefulness.
Mrs. Bamber's eyes rested on the vol
umes opposite, a package Of valentines II
which the town INDUCED at the proper sea
son, jumpingjack dangling helplessl!
from nail. Never by any chance did he
gaze wander to the shop window. She wen
over TO the other side and opened show
case, which contained fat pincushions an
impossible pen-wipers, articles made b.
old ladies of the reduced gentlewoman type
and presented here for sale.
81 believe that would sell my own sou
to raise the money and help them out O
trouble" said Mrs. Bamber, vehemently
and then she took up a plncushlon as II Il
hopes 1t might turn to gold in her hand
Pooh these things have lain here for years
] What good are they1"