Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-04-16
BRATTLEBORO, VT, FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1875.

his repulsive ugliness, was hcr last chance
of having home and family Of her own
She was to join the army of old girls
Tears came TO her eyes as she pictured her
self the unwilling recruit TO swell the
ranks.
"God help us r. she calculated. "Why
could there not be war for women, to re-
store tho balance I suppose there's the
| heart of a robbed mate bleeding somewhere
for every soldier sleeping on our battle
fields" If there was work for her TO do in
the world, she was willing to do il; the
| puzzle was TO discover in which direction
it lay. Her spirit rebelled against believ-
ing that the path of duty led only TO the
brick school-house. She longed for a wild
er sphere; there was all the dormant ener-
gy in her nature which had carried her
brothers TO sea to perish in its storms.
"They died like brave men," said Abby,
proudly.
Jane White could teach the academy.
But she-what she could not do if she tried
with enthusiasm enough to learn2 Here
she made n mistake. No school-marm
taught the young idea of Rockybeach as
This was the key of her ambition. She
wished TO see the world, and so described
countries graphically to the children, in a
way that could not fail to interest them.
To be principal of the academy had once
been her highest aim.
AT the age of four her small feet had car
ried her up the hill to the fountain held sa-
cred in all New England homes-the school
heuse-to receive her initiation into the
mysteries of the alphabet. In those days
a master reigned over the boys and girls
master of the dry, reticent, learned type,
wearing wig, and addicted TO snuff.
Later girl of twelve, tall, thin and
freckled, with a limp suu-bonnet under
her arm, stood before his table to hear the
master dissect her first Greek translation.
This girl was Abby Fowler. How he
pierced it with little sarcasms and ques-
tions How he revealed the faulty con-
struction of sentences! With a smile curv-
ing his thin lips, tie master having dem
onstrated that larger crop Of errors could
not have tlourished on the struggling page,
gave it back. The girl received the paper
in silence, but there was a warning glitter
in her eye. If there was true metal in her,
1t would endure encouragement, the mas
ter reflected. There was metal, although
he did not dream of the form into which
fusion, from the fire of his severe rebuff,
would shape it. Her pride was stung by
this public exhibition of ignorance.
81 will learn enough to fill your place
yet-see if 1 do notr Thus spake the
flashing eyes as they shattered rays of in
dignation on the back of the masters wig.
Night and day the busy young brain toiled,
stimulated by this aim. The pages swan
before her eyes, her dreams became night
mares of unconquerable verbs and Sphinx
like problems. She worried herself into a
fever, and out of it again, thanks to a
strong constitution. The town came to
speak of her as a "likely gall" Albert
Marshall, young and enthusiastic, said,
Good for you'll" Hopeful Marshall laugh
ed indolently, whilo twining violets in her
dark tresses, using the brook for mirror.
"Whars the use of a woman's knowing so
much?"
The solid structure of Abby's education,
founded on a broad mathematical basis,
had also domes and pinnacles OF Greek,
Latin and Hebrew, although sho had no ia
miliarity with modern languages, or mu-
sic beyond the boundaries of psalm tunes.
The old master was superannuated, and
Abby duly installed, for Rockybeach held
unanimous opinion that a girl who could
read the Scriptures in Hebrew, instead of
plain English, was capable Of reigning over
the araHnmU Shn inf oil mil 10
indefinable restlessness which stirs all the
nerve currents OF a nation still young, with
vast inheritance of territory to cultivate,
and destiny to fulfill. Had she been a
man, she would have gone to sea, or found
ed home in the Rocky Mountains, with
er she would have taken her household
gods, her Longfellow and Whittier, her
patent moving machine, her faith in brown
bread and Goldfish.
A tap on the door disturbed her medita-
tions, and pale, thin woman entered.
II am glad to see you, Desire" said Alb
by.
81 thought I'd just look in" returned
Desire.
Then there was silence, Abby compre-
hending that the others reticence was del
icate of expression of sympathy. A quiet,
gentle woman, who did the village dress
making, gliding like shadow from house
to house-by sheer force of contrast Ab5y's
meek satellite.
Hopeful has gone to live in Washing
ton."
'Well, she slighted us long ago."
'She is keeping house for her cousin.
Alberts wife died last year, and he is a
| Senator, now, You know"
Abby made no reply. Albert's wife dead!
Albert Senatori Cruel, deceitful, base,
he had been, yet she liked to hear Of his
prosperity. Her head grew confused, and
her face flushed.
81 believe that Hopeful loved Albert
herself, and made mischief" pursued De-
sire, musingly. ''She married, to be sure,
and is a widow"
"Then the mischief makers prosper" re-
torted Abby.
Albert Marshall was the love of heI
youth. Over the sterner duties of the acad
emy had floated a rosy cloud; flower,
found their way slyly between the pages o
solemn dictionaries brown eyes and blue
eyes sought each other with a growing
sweet intelligence. Handsome cousin
Hopeful pOuted, tut Abby was Albert.
sweetheart. Never TO be forgotten the day
when the young man went TO seek his for
tune in the West! She stood again at tht
gate beneath the perfumed shade of the IL
lac bushes, with the hot, dusty road be
yond, and Albert looking back wistfully
| Then followed visit afler the lansp of ,
year, from a sedate young man, consciou
of beard, to demure maiden, Mindful
that her muslin gown was "done up" TO