Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-26

Georgia home, looking out on the blossom
ing garden and the pine avenue beyond ;
and Miss Glare said:
"The oddities of human nature we're new
er Jumped together before my eyes as the y
are here on this plantation. l wonder whal
will be the next burlesque on genteel So
ciety."
As If in response to her wonder, at thai
moment yellow, dapper, little individual
ducked his woolly head respectfully before
her and inquired:
"Can l see de Cunnel, please, missisH"
"Whatis your manner" asked Miss Clare
"Dey mostly calls me IIsrk. missis, but
my suitable name Is Hark'lis Habersham."
"HarklisT
"Hercules," explained the Colonel, lift
ing himself out OF his Sleepy Hollow chair
and advancing. "Well, boy, what is itf"
"Ef yer please, mass Cunnel, I'd like
de ole cabin by Bob's.".
"How is that: Is the old mother going
to leave Phillis and be supported by your
81 lows ter git married, onless de lady
change her mind !" said the dapper Her
cules with basbful grin. "Now dc work
isn't right smart kin patch up dc ole cab
in, ef yer please, mass Cunnel. She is
usen ter powerful livin' so I'd hate Ter
fotch her ter some pore place"
VERY natural" said the Colonel. "Yes,
you may have it; ask Mr.. Mckay about
the timber for the REPAIRS"
"And Hark, l congratulate you," said
Miss Clare, smiling.
"Tanky, missile; denis kind words. She
isn't no trash, she's real quality folks, Miss
Tallahassy is. Laws" added Hark, with u
conceiled simper, "de boys was all a striv-
in fur her, but she didn't pear to have no
affections Till passed along"
81 hope the woman knows she is getting
a husband that talks more and works less
than any hand on the plantation - said the
Colonel, as Hark bowed himself away.
"Some silly chit of a mulatto belle in the
neighborhood, suppose"
However that might be il was soon evil
dent that N piece of news had lately Gre
ated such a ferment among the people at
the Pines as this Of Hark's marriage.
Repairs on the cabin began, and luxuries
followed hard afler the needful changes
One side Of the room was papered with pic
lures from bundle of Harper's Weeklies
donated by Miss Glare; Hark planted an
onion bed by the front door, and when he
brought from Q. village a ten-by-twelve
mirror in painted frame the admiration
or envy OF his friends reached climax.
Vague reports of the wedding grandeur,
its sugar cake and egg-nog, reached Miss
Clare from the house servants, aud a rip
pie OF the general interest was felt by the
family at the mansion so one morning
when the honeymoon had well begun the
ladies turned their daily stroll toward the
ornate cabin.
Through the open door came glimpse
OF brilliant calico aud towering crimson
turbani as they approached, Mrs. Talla-
hassee Ha6ersham stepped out and dipped
a respectful courtesy.
But how unlike the chit of girl prophe-
sled by the Colonel, or the dusky belle,
pictured by Hark's praises Tall, large
boned, grim of aspect, wrinkled face and
gray woolly crinkles escaping from the
gorgeous turbaD, Hark's wife may have
been sighed for by many swains, but not
by reason OF her personal charms, and she
was Enthusiastically old enough 10 have been
his mother and reckoned him the Beniam-
In of her flock.
The madame first recovered from the
droll shock that made her companions turn
hastily aside, and spoke a few gracious
words TO which the old woman responded
with many smiles.
She "reckoned Hark was a peart hus-
band" was very comfortable, and "made
her duty to de Cunnel and his family"
"a clear case OF fortune hunting" said
the madame, as she walked on. "Did YOU
notice the fine feather-bed, the cherry clock
and the white hen with brood of chicksH
Evidently Hark and the others set their
eyes upon the worldly goods OF the siren
with the grizzled locks"
"But she is double his age - said Miss
Glare.
"And owns double his value" added the
madame drily. "Thats ALL"
But 1t was not all, as Hark presently
found. All went merrily until the "more
talk than work" phase of character began
to show ITSELF then discord began. The
new wife drove him up early, to work In
their small garden patch before field time
she objected to his taking extra mornings,
or coming home before hours with "mls-
cry in his head" or convenient "cripple'
In his foot. She gave him none of the
white hens eggs with his bacon, but sold
them all. boarding the proceeds in her tur-
ban, and refusing him any occasional
dimes for tobacco; he must eat his ash
cake cold when it suited her, aud she con-
fscated his weekly measure Of syrup to
exchange for pair of gay earrings, which
added no relish 10 his appetite, whatever
they may have done for her own.