Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-06-28
The Lost Opportunity.

one blot upon that very respectable neighbor-
hood. Families had moved u and ont there
until Nell had chrstened it The pauo-
rama aud now after weeks silence and
solitude, 10 was again thrown open. aud
new set were taking possession.
Aud such O. set ' commented NcIl. re-
porting proceeding tu her eldest sister, who
was busily employed farther back in the
room. "1hat old man with the Old blue
coat on has brought a load Of goods on
handcart There are two pumpkins,
rocking chair-minus the rockers "a bench,
pail aud a chum with little mite OF
girl standing in it. What an idea Put her
there 10 keep her from falling off, | suppose.
oh, there's another small specimen OF hu-
nanity done up ia straw bed. Well, he
understands packing children for tiansporta-
ton at any rate Come and sec what funny
little mortals they are, LYDIA
There is an Older one than those two"
said Lydia, laughngly watching them as
they emerged from their strange quarters,
ga boy some ten or twelve years old
Aud guess that's all the family
answered Nell Don't believe there's
woman about the establishment"
There is, though "-l.ydias mirthful
glance softened as it rested on the old tcnc-
ment-" but She is sick. ! saw her when she
came this morning. aud She looked so pale
and miserable as they carried her in that
could not but pity her IL must seem forom
TO one in rs She is to have to move. and into
such place as that. | mean TO 60 and see
her hy-and-hy, when ! have a good chance
You needn't wait long on their account ;
there doesn't seem to be anything 10 settle, ~
responded Nell, completing her survey Of the
goods and chattcls.
A sharp quick rap at the back door
| startled them and before they could answer
| the summons the door was partially opened
aud tumbled curly head thrust in. \
| pair Of bright black eyes scanned the apart
ment for an instant and then rested upon
/ the occupants
I'm Dick"
Are you really" began thc a.touishcd
Lydia.
'"rrue as We live an breathe" affirmed
! the newcomer earnestly thinking the state
ment had been doubted Uncle Pete
wants to know can he borrer the loan of two
sticks o. wood"
"Who is Uncle Pete 2" demanded Nell.
"Iivcs over yer the boy pointed in the
/ direction of the house Want to know can
he bouer the loan O two sticks OF wood. an
a AK to chop EN-"
"Yes, suppose he can" said Lydia,
slowly; "hut you can't carry them"
"Oh, he'd rather come and pick EN- out
his own self; he don't want every sort, was
his quick reply and the door was shut again
as suddenly as it had been opened.
Nell laughed.
You needn't be afraid Of offering any
ncighborly benevolence you have TO spare,
Lydia. ! think they'll be all ready to accept
it withoutoyerwhelm with gratitude" "
81 wish | had asked about the sick one,
though" persisted Lydia. 81 was so sur
prised that didn't think of it,
Don't mourn they'll be sure TO give
you opportunity enough prophesied Nell,
mischievously
Home to am early dinner came Brante
Garnet greeting the pretty nook and group
within it with the satisfied air Of man who
faucies himself hest with the dearest wife
the incest sister and the smartest baby in
the universe. This last possession he caught
in his arms mceremoniously, aud began
tossing il in the air. Then he walked to
Tyda's flower stand, and showered down
some bright leaves for the young gentle
mans diversions The scattering reminded
him Of gathering, perhaps, for he turned
toward his wife.
"Oh, Lydia the convention meets here
next Thursday, you know"
" Does it2 ia forgotten
And there are the delegate. TO be accom-
modated, you see
Mr. Garnet paused, but Mistress Lydia
only looked up with a smiling unconceu
that conveyed no hope Of her making sug
gestion, or taking hint, so he went on;
"1hc committee wanted TO know If we
could take some aud thought perhaps We
eoHiuI TWO o1 .llfe.' -.
Nel drew uo"h 'he corners oi i,i ner mouth
anu an IMPRESSION "l u'sll'Y "'t'cu o'e'
Lydia ; lage; ,,, c
N.Y. tnoushl' so'u Ni'' "a'u'9 no,'c
,lB 'lese Slgus oi uouiSe' you "tuun
naNe tn'in u you u"" "an' pul
,houSnV you SN'u ,aSV year nav we voul'
nave accommodated some % V''e'' ~ wen "
not
esi nlahle' puI tnal WAS iit'I lh III
SEASON. we were thIouR,l our huuSe'o'o'ui
ing, ana everything lookeu nicely
On, II mat ~ an you heedn oe tfoun
led exclaimed the gentleman ieheVed
~ IS g9od onouBl, ior anyuoHy nov :,
uoh see nut everything Is an lSh" ~
glanced first at the ceiling and then at th'
papy, ana neither ol tnem hah ialen'
otlhg TO nave Il convention IA one
own Town Is voting TO 40 an tne N9iA Wu,i
somebody else has all the iun' rP.ed Nel!
stlrring her coffee lneditaliVeiy' loueai,
see and hear what - done you can ON.
stay at home and take care oi tnose VINO arc
dong IT, IL sort oil alluted Slo,y, lA'
Mrs Smiths she said she didh Know
Washington irving herself put she MAJ
walked out oil church hehlnd woman
VINO hah
! was almost as fortunate "a that my
ser, laughed bra''ie' "Iof ! siept ~ r"ol'
that he had once occupied Az least IN
landlord SAID that Mr. irving had that room
! whenever he stopped there, but after ha'
tried it for one night, had strong sn'
riclon that he dldn stop there often
The conversation wandered from celt
+ brated persons to noted places, and thel
g dnited away to the tuo'S pet plans ior Nlsl'
ing these last aud the comparing OF varlon
| charming routes lof thelr imaginary ull
z prolonged ulc dinner harfelou.ly
had no idea 1t was so late, said IAdla
! when branle lett them al last
J lon will hardly make any calls to-day
] even ON your delectahle nelglbor across TIA
, street
@ No. Nell, II there are to be stranger
$ here We must re-arrange some ul the room
, a NUE. l.ydla began, very thonghllulll
: lifante doesn't understand abont H. q
g course but things do seem smoked an
b dusty aud not as nice as usual, so late d
at Ia ~. N.HNa