Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-12-21

ly not liking its juncture with two sisters
which could not hold their heads so high in
the world a house which would be described
by auctioneers or agents as "genteel"
And there was an organ grinder opposite
tine genteel house, looking up at the narrow
windows wistfuly, as he ground out melnn-
choy version of the Perfect Cure" A boy
or two chung round the lamp-post, and pulled
his coat-tails facetiously, or exhorted him
with GO it, my pippin Stick to it, mon
key-face!" and other cheering bits of en-
couragement. But the organ grinder was
used to that and didn't mind; besides, he re-
membered that house opposite, and how one
of the narrow windows had opened one day,
and little curly pate had been put out, then
n hand after the curly pate, and halfpenny,
which was thrown to the organ boy. So he
looked up at the windows with all his might.
But it was no use No halfpenny was forth
coming for him, and he moved on, more sor-
rowful than ever about MARY Anne" and
paying no attention to the small boys who
dogged his heels ready for mischief. As he
moved on, man in whity-brown jacket
turned the corner and rung the door-bell of
the genteel house. No one answered, and
Witty y-brown moved back a step or two, look
ing up at the windows as the organ-grinder
had done.
A light had sprung up in the hall of the
Btuletl nOuhc, una llt uOOG Ollelleu Suuutulg
'Oh, it's you, is it y
Yes" said Witty brown, 'it's me"
You're come for the"
stuff Yes, am. I'll wait for It,"
Walk into the hall, my man."
"Thankce, Buttons no; I'll wait here, I'd
rather"
Just then au old gentleman, much muffied
and carrying n cane which he switched about
nervously stopped at the opposite lainp-post,
and stared up curiously at the narrow win
dows. Then he crossed over, still looking at
the house.
"Who lives there :" said the old gentleman,
turning to Whity-brown.
'Dr. Barrett"
"Humph About as much doctor
AS my. Rich man, eh p: Keeps his carriage,
and all that?'
Did, but doesn't. Likes walking"
Here the door opened and the page put his
head out.
Here's your physic my good man. Mas
| ter would have seen you. but he's just come
from the Dukes, and he's tired"
And Witty brown shook his head with a
| half smile as he turned away.
'Humph." calculated the old gentleman.
Keeps n servant in livery -
He keeps poor beggar i'll buttons said
Witty brown. That's the way with the gen
tlefolks; if a man don't look rich, and all
that, they won't have nothing to say to him -
Then this-humph doctor is poor, is he I:
asked the old gentleman.
Sir said Whity-brown, Il don't know
who you are nor what right you have to
! question me. It's no sin to be poor is it p
If you want to do the doctor here good turn,
do it-he does many Well. yes he is poor ::
and he has a wife as is weakly, and little ones,
too. For all that, he has cured my wife free
gratis, for nothing; and if you was to ask me
where his dinner is to come from tomorrow,
| ! should say. the same place rs it came from
yesterday, and that's nowheres-thcre" +" And
Whity-brown turned away with his physc.
There was n round table in the parlor and n
tallow candle on it; at present, too, DIR. Bar
retts elbows were ON it, supporting his head.
| And there was II work-baske ct also on the table,
and a slender little figure sat near it, stitching
with nimble fingers. while one foot was on the
rocker of cradle. DIR Barretts meditations
were bitter, as well they might be and the
handful of fire in the wide crate sent forth nc
glow TO brighten him, or thaw the finger
that had grown red and stiff over that piece OF
sewing. DR. Barrett took shawl from the
chair-back and put it over his wife's shoulders
and she lifted up her face TO press it to his
gratefully. But then he sank back in hi
place with n groan. What was he to do
Hitherto he had fought hard-a long. dreary
battle for life but now his health threatened
to give way, and he felt how powerless Ii,
was, after all. And his thoughts went bach
to that slender figure as he had first seen it
and miserable self-accusations toImented him
He had taken her from wealth and luxury
and could not even give her the bare necessa
ries of life. He knew now, since he had beer
so much at home, what all that stitching wa,
for; and it stung him like a wasp to think sh'
was working for him. As he pondered thus
with his head in his hands, the subject of hi
thoughts looked up at him quietly.
"The old story, Frank
THE old story" responded the doctor
gloomily, How can it be otherwise, when
see You working those little fingers to tn
bone in hardship and cold and hunger
Nary"
1T does me good, said Mary cheerily. .
never knew before how fast could sew, no
how we'll"
You never had occasion for it till | step
ped in with my selfish love and brought yor
to poverty. And yet do love you. Mary
more, l think than ever you don't doubt that
do You :"
why should doubt it, Frank if you wi
talk of these things, must talk, too, and the
my fingers will be slower. What is the us
of ponderng so gloomily over the past!
know we were wrong, both of us, but we hav
! done what we could to retrieve it, and l wi
not have you take more than your share G
the blame knew before what luxury an
l self-indulgence were; now l know more.
have seen trouble, and know what the lives c
others are, and how thoughtless and selfish
was once. | hope | could never be so ba
, again; so you see it has been good for me
: have trials And have we not blessings O
well? Oh, Frank, if We had lived in ease an
a riches, we might have gone on as some ma
ried people do; you know that, not caring fc
I each other and only anxious for some perpe
9 ual excitement to relieve their ennui. But no
that we have had battle to fight together
"Ah but, my darling, the battle grow
: harder than ever"
b You are i'll and desponding. Make has
e and get we'll Frank, and you will see thing
: through brighter spectacles."
The doctor was silent, and only the sour
: of the needle broke the stiffness. There W;
: only one comfort for him in his poverty
d was not in debt and the reflection still gay
h him thrill of satisfaction.
The handful of fire dwindled and Goa
u dropped down lower in the CRATE still II
e click of the needle went on. Suddenly the
II was a knock at the door, hard, strong doub
: knock, and the doctor started nervously. "
patient, perhaps, said his swife. when thin
are at the worst they always mend you kno'
e Frank"
l. Yes, because men always take means
e effect a radical cure, instead of patching up
. but hush how long that boy is"
q You see the doctor did not dare to go hiI
d self, because no patient could ever have b
: lieved in the skill of a medical practition
y who opened his own door. Presently the
1t were sounds of hasty steps and hard breat
ing in the little hall as of boy struggling i
ie to buttons which were Obstinate. Then 4
iS door opened,
IL "Dr Barrett at homer"