Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-24
BETTI1S .STORY.

stood by the garden fence tho morning
before was to leave the old house forever,
and looked up and down the road. The
first who came along was the child Of
neighbor, little girl of eight years, on an
errand for milk, with a white mug in one
hand, and her two pennies tightly clutched
in the other. Coming along in the same
direction was singular looking man in
velvoteen and corduroy-tbe clothes much
worn. His long handled net in one hand,
and his tin box slung at his side, were not
necessary TO show me that he was "a bug
hunter" for the cruel wretch gave vls-
BILE sign of his calling in butterfly pinned
TO his hat, with its wings fastened down by
slips Of card board. l saw that he was
young and good looking, and he had taste
for more of the animal creation than for in
sects, for he honored me with prolonged
stare. showed my dislike at this scru-
tiny in some way, for he turned his gaze 10
the other side OF the road, and contemplate
ed it with great earnestness.
Just then heard a cry. Sally Perry, the
little girl in question, had stumbled and
fallen, breaking the mug and scattering
her money in the dirt. The bug hunter
quickened his steps, raised the little girl
and helped her TO find her money. Then
he took her by the hand and led her 10 the
country store, which stood a short distance
above. They both emerged presently, Sal
ly with new mug, the two chatting to-
gether, and they were soon lost in the turn
OF the road.
sighed. This was TO be my last day in
the village. was an orphan, and hence
forth was TO make my own way in the
world.
My father had been one Of those unfortu-
nate men who seem TO be industrious with
out success, and who manage 10 be always
pushing on without advancing a step. He
was bad manager. So long as my moth
or lived, he contrived to exist without be-
ing more than a trine behindhand each
year; but those trifies accumulated, until,
in many years, they made a considerable
sum. By my mothers energy, which con-
quered my fathers indecision, my brother
Victor had been educated as a civil engin-
eer, and, few months after her death, had
been offered a situation in Brazil, which he
at once accepted. / was thus left alone with
my father, to keep house. AS we could not
afford 10 maintain a servant, 1 did all the
labor of our petty housekeeping. The
work agreed with me, and, in spite OF all
the shifts and contrivances to which was
driven, l kept lively, healthy, and strong.
The result was that had no society of my
own years. My father had been born and
bred gentleman, and being without means
shrank from contact with those of his order.
He grew more reserved day by day, and
even morose, and after the death of my
mother, lost his grip on life entirely, and so
died.
1 was left alone. My father had maid
en- sister who had wealth, and who knew
how 10 keep it, and even add to it. That
much / had learned incidentally but there
was no intercourse between her and my IA
ther, and did not even know where she
lived. The funeral expenses l managed TO
defray, and then found myself with little
money. Knowing nothing Of the law and
caring less, as a woman generally does,
went through no Formally of administra-
ton, but sold the household effects for
what they would bring, paid of lew debts
my father lel, deposited one-half of the
money with the rector OF the parish for my
brother Victor, II he ever came TO claim 1t,
and with a hundred and nine dollars In
my pocket, aud my fare paid, went to New
York TO seek some kind Of employment.