Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-03-31
wRIrrEN ron THE vRRMoEr PHGsIx.
FEAR GLAZIER,S PENSION.

noighbors, the llaVens, were ulScusSlnS tue
Bunker Hill celebration last spring, and
the treatment of the southern soldiers, and
finally winding up on the coming great
"Centennial" ~ presume l should feel
quite differently If my husband had not
been killed in the war of the rebellion"
"Your husbandP" exclaimed Mr.. and
Mrs. Haven in concert, with inquiring
glances. Then the lady added, ~ begyour
pardon, but you looked so young had no
idea you were a widow"
"Oh, am not" laughed Fear, amused
that the little sally should have been taken
literally. ave were not married nor even
engaged in fact ] don't know that we ev-
er met, but do you suppose that young
lady OF my good points, handsome, stylish,
intellectual, capable Of figuring advantage
ously in parlor or Kitchen, as cook, laun-
dress or seamstress, TO say nothing OF my
abilities as an amateur in the musical line
and my talent for dress-making and mill
inery dust look at that break fast cap, Mrs.
Haven, made out Of nothing, which, moth
or acknowledges, amounts almost TO work
of genius) would have arrived at the ma
ture age of twenty unwed, and even un-
wooed, il the man who was created for me,
my other half according to Plato, bad not
in some foul way been made way wth7 In
what was 1t 30 likely TO have happened as
in the army during our late little unpleas-
antness when our brave men were slain by
tens of thousands? Don't shake your head
at me mother must express my opinion.
Let tue disinterested and unfororn bridge
the bloody cbasm If they can, Centennial
year or not, l shall never be able 10 be in
such sweetly willing frame Of mind"
Her listeners were laughing inmoder-
ately. "You ought TO have pension" re-
marked MIR. Haven. F0ar clapped her
| hands in delight, exclaiming, $50 had;
l never thought Of that before; you have
no idea how grateful l feel toward you,
Mr.. Haven. / have been telling people
| for years that my husband was killed in the
lale war, and that 1t was in very bad taste,
as well as unfeeling, to call me an old maid.
And you, dear Mr.. Haven, are the first
person who has expressed the slightest in
leresl in my forlorn condition. In graft
tude to you l have great mind to apply
-"sh-sh Fear" SAID her molher-you could
always hear this peculiar sound whom Fear
| WIS TunuluE Oh III MIS- pidHlci pioScHSe
but she gave no heed.
| "Do you think they would answer my
| application at the department at Washing
ton? How funny it would be-"
"Certainly; all the letters that mean busi-
ness are answered quite promptly; how
long delay there might he before your
claim would be adjudicated is another
| question but in the matter of this, your
first letter, be careful how you word it,"
"Sometbing like this for instance" said
Fear, seizing bit Of paT er, writing rapid
ly with pencil and reading aload:-
"The undersigned supposing her husband
to hGUe been killed during the late tOdr,
hereby applies for a pension. Please dd
dress Fear Giasier, No. s7-iS., Montpelier,
""
"There, that is non committal. 90 not
say pension is due me, or that have a
valid claim or that think can get one
They will perhaps notice my odd Puritan
name and think cannot be in fun, and,
Mr.. Haven, you know you are a lawyer,
you don't suppose any harm will come
from it?"
"MOst certainly not l do not see how
the government could set up fraud from
this initiatory act on your part in such a
case, although l should not advise such a
course 10 all the young ladies Of my ac-
quaintance. In the present instance 1 do
not think il Objectionable, only be sure you
show the reply 10 the present company and
afterwards keep your own council. Copy
what you have written and direct simply,
commissioner of Pensions, Washington,
ID. c."
"Can I, may I, falhert" asked Fear, ca
pering across tho room and standing in
front of the person addressed, land may L
bave the letters sent to Rutland, and will
you get them for me p
~ don't care; yes, air. Haven is my
lawyer and would not counsel my daugh-
Ter TO get into tronble with Uncle sam"
So the next morning the letter was mail
ed and in just a weeks time an answer
came. a huge, document-like epistle, di-
recled TO Mrs. Fear Glazier. 1t was short
and to the point, a printed form with the
blanks filled in beautifully fiue, clear
hand.
"OGce of Commissioner Of Pensions,
Washington, d. O., May 10 1875. J
wa the claimant please state particulars,
| 0iUing name, age and color Of deceased sol
! der; also his regiment and company, and
iVhen aud tOhere enlisted, ETC., etc. ---
Commissioner per j. j."
"'J. j. that means Jumping Jack )" said
Fear as she displayed the letter TO the Hav-
ems, and she concluded they must think
her wonderfully funny, judging by their
hearty laughter.
"And now what?" queried Mr.. Haven.
"oh, I intend to answer it 4; indeed have
the letter all written-there it is" taking II
from one of the pockets of her jaunty
basque and handing 1t to tho gentleman
81 should just like 10 SEQ Mr.. jumping
Jack who writes this splendid copper-patt
like hand when he reads 1t. / presume hC
is old and gray and pater familias withal
OF couse he is precise or ho could not write
like that. 1 wonder whether l shall get
response; what do you think ?"
Mr.. Haven unfolded the heavy sheet o
letter size paper handed him and read slow
ly what was written in an elegant run
ming hand, the wife looking over his shoul-
der and laughing SO she could hardly stand
upright:
"Rutldnd, w., May 20, 1875.
Commissioner Of Pensions, Washington, ID
c.
Sir:-The letter from The department Dd
duly received. II WiH be impossible for N,
claimant to satisfactorily reply 10 he inter
r 'Ogdtories 9iven as the department requests
she neUer hdring seen the man referred 10
Il = IL.