Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-08-27

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at breakfast Tap fourth-Mrs. Gallinip-
per, TO call and express her opinion of the
scandalous way in which the house was
kept. All day did Mrs. Gallinipper sit
in a faded room, with her pretty hands
idly folded, naively unacquainted with all
worlds beside her own. Paris fashion and
English nobility had been watth-words
from her infancy, but she pIided herself on
an entire ignorance of matters up North,
The general had descended the scale from
hotel life TO Mrs. Skipwell's dilapdated
mansion, where he still staggered, and
confdcd TO attentive listeners his hopes of
the next campaign, or dwelt on the splen-
dors of his plantation home. Poor Miss
Walker found no seclusion from the pry
ing scrutiny of kindred Arabs until she
| locked her door.
Mr.. Toly asconded TO the fourth floor.
He sought Henry, and at that hour was in
no danger of the galvanic shock of meet
| ing Lottie.
The boy sal in an armchair before the
window, quietly watching the rain-drops
on the pane. The room was poor, but
there was a canary-bird in a cage, and a
goldfish swimming in its crystal globe.
Henry was sadly crippled, yet his head
was beautiful, with hair like rings of pale
gold. lie would have been oldfashioned
had not Lottie brought the daily sunshine
which kept his childhood blooming and
he did not NOPE in his loneliness. 1.-THE
nest Of the blind bird is made by God"
says the Turkish proverb.
| Mr. Tplv cou1I npi hut nj ihn rp-
sources Of invalid childhood, when mind
absorbs physical furce in undue proportion.
On the table were ranged company Of
dolls, some with cork heads, others made
wholly of rags, yet each representing a
character drawn by great master, Charles
Dickens, whose genius reached this room,
coloring with pleasure the life OF child.
Little Nell was delicate wax lady with
falling locks of yellow raveled silk and the
grandfather, leaning on her arm, had a
walnut for a face. Paul Dombey was a tiny
wooden boy perched in high paper chair,
and watched by Mrs. Pipchin on a whale
bone seat, her countenance of raisin emerg-
ing from a frilled cap. Blessed cheapness
Of paper editions of great works Henry
received Mr.. Toly gravely.
"All alone, eh?" questioned the visitor,
with assumed ease. His fingers trembled
as they held package, and his eyes were
haggard with sleeplessness.
"I don't play with the other children
they are silly" replied the boy, with some
contempt. 81 like the bird and the fish
better. Dicky sings of the warm countries
only he troubles my head when he gets
going tol fast. The goldfish is great
whale lying out in the ocean for the ships
to come and get OIL As for the he!iotrope,
it rings little bells. What if flower-bride,
dressed in velvet, should marry one of the
fairies Of the ain-drops!'
"You should go out of-doors more" said
Mr.. Toy, absently.
~ go everywhere" laughed the boy.
al like best TO sit outside Lottic's shop and
watch the people. If could sell bouquets,
l need not be ordered OIL, only Lottie says
we have almost TOO much money now TO
use Up, and she knows"
Mr. Toly iidgtted about, and at last re-
moved the paper frcm volume of blue
and gold, tied with pink ribbon.
"Henry, will you give this TO her?' he
asked tremulously.
"Yes," said Henry, promptly.
"You know who l mean?" said Mr.. To-
ly, blushing.
"Oh yes, know" returned the boy.
Very much relieved and encouraged by
this matter-of course aspect on the part o
the young brother, Mr.. Toly departed
Could his love be so ueyy ridiculous if a
boy received evidence of il without sur
Prise?
The clock struck twelve. Henry march
ed straight down TO Miss Walkers room
"Of course l know; l can see things
Didn't tell Lottie so? reflected the youth
full emissary. Repeated knocks, and ther
a voice through the hole: "Miss Wal
ker, if you are there, pve got present fol
you from Mr.. Toly."
The locked portal flew open as il by mag
ic. Fate was playing strange pranks will
Mr.. Toly. Folded between the leaves o
the volume of poems was an offer of mar
rage, stating that the writer could endure
suspense no longer. "My dear girl" be
gan Mr.. Toly, boldly. Miss Walker spurn
ed the gown she was tlouncing, and sa
down to day-dreams.
| lht NaONh ANNcN'N vs.
standing on the third floor of the grocery
establishment where he was employed
with a book in his hand, making mem
oranda. The young man stepped back
and disappeared down the hatchway
Dead? No; a senseess heap in the base
ment for the hospital stretcher TO remove
from the busy street. That was all.
The clock struck twelve. Lottie stooC
behind the counter of Drudge & Co. will
many other "sales-ladies," all young thing
cramped by the dull routine of shop, envi
Gus of the customers they served, and per
milted no rest from morning until nigh
by their cruel task-masters. Lottie wa
not overwise, and daily her careless stel
tripped along among snares set for her and
such as she. Fond of fun, light-hearted
overlooking with health, and doomed t
work under Mr.. Drudge's tyranny-sucl
was Lottes portion.
A handsome, exquisitely dressed MAJ
strolled in and lounged on the counter
selecting gloves. The fine eyes sough
Lottie's blue ones with eloquent admira
tion, which deepened the color in he
cheek.
"At six O'clock" he said, paying for hi
gloves, and strolling away again with {
smile on his face, as if the monotony o
existence had been slightly enlvened.
This was not the first time the handsome
man had entered the store, his fancy caugh
in the meshes of Lottle's golden hair. Mr.
Drudge peered, with vulpine eagerness, a
the record of pretty Lottie's sales.
After that the day passed in dream th
girl mechanically served supercilioas la