Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-06-15

while he planned and designed and carved
and Eleanor Grey, the village school mis-
tress, held candle, when he wanted a
higher light thrown on the more intricate
paris.
"Thank you, Nell" hO would say, when
she laid the candle down again, 81 don't
know what mother and 1 should do with
out you !" for Eleanor, being a stranger in
the village, lodged with Mrs. Leigh, and
was companion TO her amer school hours
were over.
So year by year passed quietly away, and
Mrs. Leigh began TO look middle aged, and
Philip still took pride and delight in the
larm-still worked night after night at his
models, and Eleanor Gray still held The
candle at the dinicult parts; and at last,
when Philip was ive-and.twenty, and no
change seemed ever likely 10 come to their
uueventful lives, a change came.
1t was one evening in the spring-an eve
ming that Eleanor always remembers with
a dull, aching pain-that Philip came in
from The fields earlier than usual, and sat
down beside his mother with his arm about
h0r neck.
"Are things going on well, Philip" she
asked.
"Very WELL" he answered little nerv-
ously; in fact, mother, so well, that I'm
thinking Of leaving the farm in your charge
for a while, and going away"
"Wbeie to, Philip" she asked, in a
trembling voice.
ITO London" he answered.
"But thought you were happy hore."
Pbilip looked across at the chimney cor.
ner, where Eleanor Gray sat knitting with
her head bent down, and he saw that the
steel needles were flashing with a nervous
haste in the lamplight.
$50 am, mother" he answered, "but
my models don't get on. must go to
London 10 see and study little more, and
work harder than l do here"
"And how long will you be gone for ?"
asked Mrs. Leigh. 1--WE shall be very dull
without you"
"Well, shall come back at Christmas TO
see you," he answered, evasively; ~ can
not tell just when my work will be finish
ed. And, Nell" he went on suddenly, ~
leave you to cheer my mother up"
"Oh yes" said Eleanor, lifting her eyes
with bright smile that shoue through
crystal tears.
"And yon'll not let me 20 without your
blessing, mother? p said Philip, half ten
derly, half plsyfuly.
II don think you could 60 any where
in the wide world where my blessing
wouldn't follow you" said his mother, with
a sweet, soft smile.
"And your love, molber?"
"Wby, Philip, there's no place in heaven
or earth where my love would not reach
yOu," she said; and she stopped down and
kissed his hand.
Philip raised his eyes for moment, and
looked across at the bent head in the CHM
ney-corner but Eleanor went on knitting,
and he turned back 10 his mother again.
So the day came, too soon for all ofthem,
on which lie started out from the shelter OF
his quiet home into the wide and lonely
world. Mrs. Leigh had given over frelting
aud worrying, and was learning 10 be
thankful for the years they had had tSgeth-
err already-for The years in which Philips
restless feet had been satisfied with tteir
trivial daily round. She did not cry at all
when she stood al night-Ga fail, straiuing her
eyes out into the darkness to see the last
outline al his dim figure on tue open COM
mon-straining her ears TO catch the distant
echo Of his football; but quaint fancy
ca me TO her, as she looked up at the eve.
ned out for him might have had something
star-like in it-might have been just as high
and clear ana still above the turmoil of this
tro ublesomc world-migbt have been, like
it, a focus to which all eyes could have been
turned and had their way lightened; but
she shivered as she stood in the door way,
and was glad to SO in and draw Philips
chair up into the light of the lamp, and talk
TO Eleanor of her boy.
So the time crept slowly on to the hsr-
vest; and the autumn deadened into win
ter ; aud the birds lefl of singing aud the
dead leaves lay foot deep in Eyershsm
woodland Philip came home as he had
promised
But not to stay. His work was not fin
ished," he said-"it would want another
month or :" but he look ed so well and
happy, and was so hopeful and bright, that
they made very merry party on Christ
mas-day; and when he said good-by, they
all felt that il would not be so very long be-
fore they met again.
II was longer than they thought, bowev-
er. Seven months! And in the late July
days letter came TO warn them of his
coming.
"I shall be down on Tuesday night" he
wrote, "because mean to show my model
at the Agricultural Show on Wednesday.
It's all flushed and patented, mother, and
think it will be success only don't
think too much of it, for hardly expect
prize, as other people are sure to see so ma
ny Improvements that might be made in
it,"
So he wrote; and on Tuesday evening he
his letter, and the model was put
away in the barn, under sacking, until the
eventful morning. His mother had no
turn for instruments, so she said she wonld
be quite satisfied to see 1t at the show but
Eleanor Gray went out at night and held
the candle while Philip pointed out the use
and work of the beautiful, finished imple-
ment over which he had toiled for years.
81 shall go to the show early" he said,
"but you had better come later, for the
prizes are not given until twelve O'Clock.
Don't say any thing 10 mother" he went
on; "but, Nell, Nell, 1 do hope such great
things from tomorrow. Have your good
wishes, NellH l have a fancy that you
should wish me WE'LL"
"Indeed you have" said Eleanor and
she stretched out her two soft hands and
laid them in his, and they were both quiet
for a minute, until Eleanor said, with a shy
laugh, "And have fancy loo, Philip,
that tomorrow will be very triumphant
daV 10 youn