Litchfield enquirer., 1876-06-29
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 A PROVIDENCE

1 It the other head. HIS OalQ 1Ofon0a0, Gne gray streaks in his long silky beard, the crows-feet about his kindly gray eyes; the rinkes in her yet plump cheeks. her features suffuse.l by that soft radiant haze which often mellows aging faces sharp-cut beauty of youth, respectively i and mother by the four children around their table.
 1 Next his mother sat Bill-his Mother and sister called him Will-coming on elghteena promising hobbledehoy: awk- ward and mostly legs, but good. and always the first, to langh at the unexpected tram 1 sitions of his voice from bass to treble Like other youths of his age. his conversa- tion was mostly concerning what he call- | ed his muscle, and an incipient shad- ow on his upper lip, which his sister Kate saw or WIS unable to zee, according to his Behavior. She satnow beside him, and next her father whose favorite she was because she favored her mother ill face l aud figure She had the same browd eyes and auburn brown hair, which Will | did not sCruple to call red, on the days when she could not see his mustache. She was bright, un-loving girl, ,and her fath- CT used often to say after her sallies of wit, that she reminded him of her Aunt Kate; so that finally, by one ot those odd processes by which sobriquets, are affixed she came to be called by her brothers "Aunt Kate
 On the other side, next his mother, sat Reginald, the eldest, young man of twenty-five, a student of law and of bill liards, who was beginning to feel rather too big for the family circle, with a good many ''engagements' with ''fellows" of an evening. Little Tot, the five-year-old, completed the circle
 The lively chatter and scattering fire of jest and repartee going on around the tea-table is interrupted by the sound of the door-bell. The one domestic of the household is busy in the kitchen, and Reginald sitting nearest the hall door, rises to answer the bell. As he returns, the eyes of the group turn expectantly upon him.
 Little imps, I'd like to lay my hands one of them. I'd pull his ears till he was sick of pulling door-bells," he said.
 "What was it, Reginald ?" asked his mother.
 "A little scamp who rang the bell for as tight he could around the corner"
 
 for several nights, and Isupposed it would be our turn soon. But I'll catch the next boy who tries it, said Bill. -s.l
 At this juncture the attention of the young people, was attracted to the singu- lar demeanor of their parents. They were gazing at each other, and through each other, into the vacancy of introspection with an expression of great amusement, mingled with that tender, pensive look that fills the face when the laughter of lips long silent is echoing in the ears.
 "I haven't thought of it in twenty years, Ada," exclaimed MT. Phelps, s'but it is as fresh in my mind as if it were yesterday.
 His wife laughed till the tears came, and seemed fairly rejuvenated by the in- finence of a train of recollections. And both then and afterward during the even- ing they stole frequent glances at each other of a loving, but most keen curiosity, animated by the impluse we always feel when portrait of the memory comes out brightly, to compare it with the original as now preserved, and note the changes. Often, indeed, does it prove a severe test, and one to be feared in its moral as we'll as it's physical bearing.
 Mir. and Mrs. Phelps were apparently as oblivious of the children as if they had been alone. But the latter, who had ob- served their behavior with the utmost as- tonishment, now broke in simultaneously:
 What is it do tell us, quick p cried Kate.
 "What on earth is the matter?" inquir- ed Reginald, with petulant curiosity.
 "What larks p said the irreverent Bill.
 It was singular expression with which MT. and Mrs. Phelps, reused by these i'm portunate inquiries, turned their eyes from each other to meet the eager young faces about them. It was as if they had just awakened to the fact of their child ren's existence.
 Children regard it quite as matter of course that they should forget their par ents, but resent with surprise and a quite genuine sense of grievance the least sign of even Q temporary obliviousness of themselves on their parents part. The theory they go on is that what is theirs is their own, and VI hat is their parents is theirs too. The feeling of these young people was some astonishment. and slight shock to their sense of propriety, that there should be any such things as secrets from them in lives which they had supposed to be so completely sequestrat- ed to their use and held in common.
 4AL. AClpos 1OOhAuS tAC children, with eyes focused for half life time before, actually failed for moment to recognize them. They impressed him, just an instant, as lnterlopers
 'W ont you tell us ?" asked Kate of her father, in more snbdued tone. sSS
 "Some day, perhaps. It is rather too long a story for the tea-table."
 ''Bill." he continued, "do you think you could catch me boy tomorrow night if they try that trick again? Don't hurt him, but just bring him in to me, and I'll teach him a lesson he will remember"
 ''Why, George, you are not going to hurt the poor little fellow" said Mrs. Phelps, quite as much in surprise as in protest, for her husband was not general lly given to harsh methods. of discipline.
 The following evening was moonless and rather cool. There is something in such evenings that rouses the imp of mis- chief in the juvenile bosom. Boys, not having any sentimental nature, feel the thrill and stimulus of spring exclusively in an accession of activity, and q zest for. out-Of door life, which boils over in every sort of mischief against indoor folks.
 On such evenings at this, bands of ur- chins race about tLe streets,s playing 1T spy" and ''Bankallila," while others tie strings across the sidewalk in shady spots, and from behind trees watch with ecstasy and irrepressible laughter, which too of ten betrays them, the trips and falls ofun- wary pedestrians. Still others are ringing door bells and gleating from secure cov- erts over the exasperation of the house. holder. whose company smile can be seen by the light of his lamp suddenly chang ing to an expression of disgust, as he finds himself the victim of a familiar trick. Some more cautions lads tie string to the knob and thus ring and bell from across the street. The chances are that the one who answers the bell will not de tect the string, and the contriyance can be worked till the family is half distract- ed. This is a rare night for mischief, and there will be bells pulled before bed- time. Sfaa This little chap in roundabouts, for in- stance, is evidently brimfuI of impish- | ness.
 See him stealing along tie dusky street. ' Iv,<l L Il