Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-01-08


"Not the slightest danger" observed The
cynical individual thus addressed.
He gave me a reproacLful look. and start
ed after her himself lie was gone five
minutes, and came back without her. Bill
ly and were sitting by tho fire in solemn
silence, and he sat down between us.
"I could not find her." he said. "YOu
so aud hunt her, Billy. She will come
when you call her. / am afraid she will
do herself some harm"
NO." said Billy, "she is a woman 10
harm others, but not herself"
So an hour passed, and the night grew
very cold. Even hard-hearted Mrs. Brown
became uneasy. Not that | feared any
thing more serious than that Alice might
make herself sick 10y being out 50 late,
50 that | should have the work 10 do
| But what interest moves the heart Of poor
humanity like selfish interest? Thus
prompted to generosity, started after her.
l went to the barn, and called her-callsd
her until / was hoarse. There was no an
swer. At first was vexed, then irighen-
ed. What could have happened7 / came
back into the house, and sent Mr.. Brown.
Billy still refused to go. "Let her have IL
out" he said. "Iie would not demean
himself by running after her; he could
wait by the fire as well as any place for the
next move in the game" BIT being an
Irshman, the one thing he could not do
was to wait. He had not the grand genius
Of patience. I think that in n quarrel lie
would have been equal TO the greatest flow
of words that ever issued from womans
mouth but to hear absolutely nothing
from the opposing counsel was too much
for Milesian endurance. / doubt whether
even the most phlegmatic of Dutchmen
could sit quietly under the grand silent
system of domestic warfare. If wives all
understood this their influence over their
husbands would he without limit. But
they arc like the beasts of the telds--they
don't know their own power. And what
blessed thing il is for men that they
don't! So Billy became restless, starting at
every noise, and casting frequent glancts
toward the door. At last he started up, and
went out.
| In about ten minutes heard both search
ers calling me. ran out, and down the
Ehlhtu W Aub spuuu VI tuClI Nbltts
and soon met them coming back. My
| poor old man was carrying the baggage in
his arms, Billy being too much excited TO
render any assistance. "Brng water e
screamed Mr. Brown "Alice has fit {;
! she is dying" l knew she was not dy-
! ing. believed she was making the fit, so
did not go for the water. The wafer was
brought, however; for Mr., Brown, COM
| pletely exhausted, was compelled TO lay
her down then be ran and brought a
! pitcherful. sprinkle it upon her race,'
| he cried.
l had an idea. In a moment it magne-
tized me into a sort of spasmodic activity.
I took hold of the pitcher, and dashed its
contents violently into her face. For Il
moment she had terrible struggle for her
breath (no affectation in that, then relaps-
ed again into her-what shall l call h?-
tIntrums. She was stiff as steelyards, aud
looked like big doll cut out whole from
one piece Of wood. Mr.. Brown took her
up again with infinite difficulty, and ear
ried her into The house. where he dropped
her upon bed. | wanted him to stand
her OF her head in one corner, and
prop her up with furniture, but did not
dare suggest it. Immediately there was a
clamorouS demand for hot water and other
restoratives.
"Here, Lizzie, take of her shoes and
stockings, and bathe her feet
Well, declare land it seemed that !
did not hear, for went ont and sat down
by the fire. Pretty soon il was, Lizzie
make mustard pouItices for Alice's an
kles." l would have refused, but that /
had another idea, and complied. MAKE
them weak, said my beloved, from The
sick room "miX them half -four"
Half -four, indeed / had some vinegar
slightly pyrodigeneous acid, very slightly
diluted. mixed it with that, and insteat
OF weakening the effects Of he mustard
with flour, l weakened ii with red pepper
Then my charmer asked me to put III,
poultices on her. or course could no
take so delicious job from him, and TOLD
him so. l am bound TO admit that the hus
sy's feet anG ankles were the prettiest
ever saw. have no doubt but Mr.. BrowI
thought so too.
This wonderful, unparalleled combination
poultice had not been on more than tw,
minutes before she opened her eyes-he
charming blue eyes-and began to squirm
My dear delightful husband rushed TO th,
rescue and pulled The mustard off her, ant
in an instant she stifiened herself in an
other convulSon. All this time she hat
not lost color, and her pulse was unchang
ed. She knew perfectly well that ! had II
| aOnH1anpa in har aaiinu aud
pressed herself when l was In the room
When went out, and peepsd through tb
key-hole, l could see her tearing at he
bosom and hair and trying to bite her tw
attendants. hope they enjoyed the pei
, formance
Poor Billy sat on the bed trying 10 hol
her hands, TO keep her from hurting hel
SELF He was all anxiety now and all cor
t triton. He beg ged her forgiveness in tn
D most humble and pathetic way. He tol
, her that no matter what she should do |
I The future, he would never ask her que,
' tion nor utter reproach. Then she woul
4 roll her eyes up quite out of sight, and he
one hundred and ninety pounds avoirdr
/ pois would settle an inch deeper into Ii
n mattress. o, dear how trembed for II
: springs.
: "Will she die, Mrs. Brown?" aske
: Billy, during one Of these Qitera) sinkin
spells.
n "No Danger, Billy, shifted.
u 80, look at herr he said, in an agilato
e so painful to witness, that found 1t diff
I cult to restrain myself from choking Il
II suffering angel as she lay on the bed
conveniently before me.
II IT would rather have died then ha,