Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-11-03
A PROVIDENCE.

A PROVIDENCE.
The Phelps family were seated at the tea
table. Mr.. Phelps sat at the head and Mrs.
Phelps at the foot, or rather, lot US call it
the other head. His bald forehead, the
gray streaks in his long silky beard, the
crows-feet about his kindly gray eyes the
wrinkles in her yet plump cheeks, her fea-
tures sufiused by that soft radiant haze
which ollen mellows aging faces to a grace
OF harmony surprising the sharp-cut beau
ty OF youth, respectively justified their
claim TO be called father and mother by the
four children around their table.
Next his mother, sat Bill-his mother
and sister called him WELCOMING on
eighteen, promising hobbledehoy; awk-
ward, mostly legs, but good natured and
always the first TO laugh at the unexpected
transitions of his voice from bass to treble.
Like other youths of his age, his conversa-
ton was mostly concerning what he called
his muscle, and an incipient shadow on his
upper lip, which his sister Kate saw or was
unable to see, merely according to his be-
bavior. She sat now beside him, and next
her father, whose favorite she was because
she favored her mother in face and figure.
She had the samo brown eyes and auburn
brown hair, which Will did not scruple to
call red, on days when she could not see
his mustache. She was a bright, fun-lov-
ing girl, and her father used often 10 say
afler her sallies of wit, that she reminded
him Of her Aunt Kate SO that finally, by
Que of those odd processes by which SOU
4. gI e., Ia "a
by her brothers "Aunt Kate"
On the other side, next his mother, sat
Reginald, the eldest, a young man oftwen-
ty-five, student of law aud of billiards,
who was beginning TO feel rather too big
for the family circle, with a good many
engagements" with "fellows" of an eve
ming. Little Tot, the ive-years-old, COM
pleled 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 house,
hold is busy in the kitchen, and Reginald,
sitting nearest the hall door, rises TO an
swer the bell. AS he returns, the eyes of
the group turn expectantly upon him.
"Little imps, I'd like TO lay my hands on
one of them. I'd pull his ears till he was
sick of pulling BELLS" he said.
"What was it, ReginaldH" asked his
mother.
"a little brat who rang the bell for fan
| and then run. l saw him scuddinS as tight
as he could ronnd the corner"
They've been bothering the neighbors
for several nights, and supposed it would
| be our turn soon. But I'll catch the next
boy who tries it," said Bill.
At this juneture the attention of the
young people was attracted 10 the singular
| demeanor of their parents. They we're gaz.
ing 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 il in twenty years,
Ada" exclaimed Mr.. Phelps, "but it is as
fresh in my mind as IL it were yesterday"
His wife laughed till the tears came, and
seemed fairly rejuvenated by the influence
of train of recollections. And both then
aud afterward during the evening they
stole frequent glances at each other of q
loving but m ost keen curiosity, animated
by the impulse we always feel when por-
trait of the memory comes out brightly, to
compare 1t with the original as now pre-
served, and note the changes. Ofen, indeed
does II prove severe test, and one to be
feared in its moral as well as its physical
bearing.
l H. md haIN ,llv
obllvious Of the children as If they had
been alone. But the latter, who had OBJ.
served their behavior with the utmost as
tonishment, now broke in simultaneously
"What is itr Do tell us quick r. cried
Kate.
"What on earth is the matterS" inquired
Reginald with petulant curiosity.
"What larks - said the irreverent Bill.
1t was a singular expression with which
Mr.. aud Mrs. Phelps, reused by these i'm.
Fortunate inquiries, turned their eyes from
each other to meet the eager young face.
about them. 1t was as IL they had JUS
awakened to the fact of their children's ex.
istence.
Children regard 1t quite as a matter o.
course that they should forget their parents
but resent with surprise and quite genu'
inc sense of grievance the least sign o.
even q temporary obliviousness OF them
selves on their parents part. The theory
they go on is that what is theirs is thell
own, and what is their parents is theirs
too. The feeling of these young people
was some astonishment, and slight shock
to their sense of proprlely. that there should
be any such things as secrets from them ID