Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-06

il look more than il really was). aud, yes !
really gigantic cucumber. Polly, who was |
kneeliug before the FIRE, vigorously applying |
the bellows and melting the coal TO perfect |
fury of fame had not lighted candle, and
certainly none was wanted. The bright !
blaze brought into full view the nettle-gera.
mum occupying the table in front Of the win.
dow it lit up the photograph Of the mild.
looking woman (Polly's mother) on the other
side Of the room; II showed the brass. kuobb.
ed piece Of furniture, TO outward view a
bureau, but to the initiated frequentor of
Abel's apartments nothing more nor less than
turn.up bedstead, in which the father him
self slept and II reflected its brightness up.
on the sideboard, with its ornaments Of
ware, few books and the old fashioned work.
box, containing so many relics dear to Abel
and his daughter, among others tiny baby's
shoe, once worn by that boy (now dead) on
whom Abel had lavished such wealth of
paternal love.
why, you're rather late, father, amt
you ? inquired the girl, springing to her feet,
and giving old Abel such a sounding kiss
that It might almost have been heard on the
pavement outside, if anybody had been
curious enough to listen. Ave been home
long time"
"Well, Polly, I've been to the savings
bank, aud aiterward to Aldermanbury- you
know where. l took FIVE pound ten; and
Mr. Baker, junior, spoke so kindly that tho
time slipped by, and twas Z O'Clock afore |
knew where l was, Almost"
Heaven bless Mr. Baker for those kind
words !" responded Polly, giving her father
another hearty kiss as she unwound the
wooden comforter enorchng his neck Then,
after pause, she asked "Does not that
make ninety pounds you have paid y
Eyes, ninety pounds. It's a good deal,
ant it ? All saved, too, by you and me,
Polly"
10 father, don't do much toward it. If you
weren't to deprive yourself of comforts, why,
we shouldn't have paid off twenty of it."
Don't say that, Polly. Fit was not for
your earnings, how could put my wages
into the savings bank, as do nearly every
month ~
well, daddy dear, you know it's only
you I've got to live for, said the girl archly.
whats that you say 2" replied old Abel,
highly pleased with his daughters remark,
but determined not to be hoodwinked. How
about Tom Smith Dye mean to say you
don't care for him 2''
FLUSH Don't speak so loud"
Polly blushed, and looked half.frightened
toward that corner Of the room where the big
bureau cast its shadow.
why there's nobody can hear"
eyes, father, the children might; and
children sometimes make lot Of mischief, 4"
observed that little wiseacre, Polly. Then,
with a desperate intention Of changing the
subject, she said: "You must have great.
coat, this winter, or you are sure to have the
rheumatics, as you had 'em, last year. Oh,
saw beauty in the Horselerry road, tonight
so thick, with nice, warm lining inside,
and the price only eighteen shillings. Sec.
ond hand, Of course, but almost as-good as
new"
"Oh, think can do without it, this
year. Let's save the eighteen shllings, aud
send it to Mr. Baker, junior.
mo l sha'nt allow anything of the sort.
I'm Just as anxious as you are to pay our
debts, but I'd rather work my fingers to the
bones than that you should suffer another
year as you did last"
"And L. added strong, manly voice,
which seemed to issue from Mr. Webbs sleep
ing place
Polly gave Shrek then burst into a
ringing laugh that seemed to fill the room
with joyous harmony, like the sound Of bells
upon frosty night and Abel, turning sud,
denly in his chair, saw the burly form Of
Tom Smith emerge from the dusky corner.
, "Ilalo Tom !" shouted Abel. $50 you've
been listening. Well luckily, you aiut
! heard no secrets. l suppose you are one Of
those children that makes mischief, as Polly
says"
This retaliation upon his daughter struck
Webb as such an extraordinary masterpiece
of witticism that he fairly roared with laugh
ter. BY and by, Tom Smith reared, too
and when he had had his laugh out, 6ndin
> that Abel's attention was still engrossed by
the wondrous joke, seized the opportunity to
throw his arms around Polly's waist, al
which the damsel, who did like being laughed
at, told the devoted lover to "a.doue, and
not be so silly"
well, what brings you here p inquired
Abel, whose laughed had now subsidized into
giggle, and winking at his young friend.
: "Why, father, he saw me home, anC
brought the cucumber for present"
. "My stars, that's beauty! I'm much
, obliged to you, Tom, for there's nothing
like better Some people says cowcumberi
! amt good, that you ought to peel 'em nicely
l and then fling 'em out of the window but TAKE
t with little of the rind on, bit Of ingun
D and lots Of pepper don't think there's much
. harm in 'em-leastways they don't harm
me-" And apparently cucumbers wer'
= thoroughly innocuous to Mr.. Webb, whC
D speedily drew his chair up to the table, anC
began to ply his knife and fork with a will
! Mr.. Tom Smith considerably waited unit
, his old friend had completed his repast, anC
, then explained the object of his visit
5 "You know, Mr.. Webb, Polly and hav,
o been counting long time, nigh upon eight
3 cen months, and we're beginning to think
: that is, I'm beginning to think" (this altera
n ton in response to protest from Polly
| otis time we got married. don't like Il
: see her wearing her young life out in oul
y hot work-rooms My salary, as you know
: is at present ESQ year, and | live on thu
Y premises. Now think if was to tel
5 Loostring the facts Of the case, and that
5 wanted to live away, he'd give me 9l3O
= Now amt that enough to get married on
r and have you any objection to Polly and
y being married at once ?"
Q Here Tom Smith paused, not because h
s had exhausted his subject, but for the reaso
n that he was out of breath. Then Polly tool
= up the parable. Sliding her stool to he
IS fathers side and resting her head upon hi
+ knee, she said, trombingly;
Don't think, daddy, dear, that my beinI
j. married will make any difference to you AM
l. me, for you are to come aud live with us
IS eh, Tom ?"
g Mr.. Smith, thus appealed to, vowed tina
T. his father-in-law's residence with them wa
% considered quite settled matter, as in trut
Q, it was. A tear stood in old Abel's eye, an