Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-01-05
~ CAAfE TO 4dSK-"

Two pretty, old-fashioned cottages stand
ing near each other on secluded tree.
shaded country road, separated by little
meadow, which from the birth Of spring TO
the death Of autumn rejoiced in waving
green grasses and white daisies and yellow
dandelions, and afler that wore robe
woven Of snow-hakes rs fair and pure as
when they fell from the skies, until old
Winter, 10 whom the robe belonged, hear
ing the returning birds ask for the violets,
gathered 1t about him and vanished again.
In one of them, the larger. in front OF
which was neatly kent lawn, and at the
back small hot-house aud miniature veg
etable garden, lived Miles Guernsey aud
his man Mike, tho one AN old bachelor, the
other, as he described himself, "a wildly
man, thanks be 10 the Lord that stint her
rest"
In the other Rose Cottage they called il,
for in rose-time il was completely sur
rounded by roses; they filed the space in
front and clambered over the porch and up
the sides of the house-had lived quiet
elderly couple for many years, until about
month before my story (if IL may he dig
nified by That tite) begins, when they went
10 heaven on the very same day, as they
had often prayed to, loving old souls, and
left Rose Cottage waiting for now tenants.
"Just as I'd got comfortably settled"
grumbled Miles Guernsey, "to be all upset
againl Other old men and women live Till
they're hundred. Why couldn't they
have done so instead OF dying at the early
age Of eighty? And there's no knowing
who'll take tue cottage. Somebody with
cats, dogs, and babies, I've no doubt-three
kinds of animals delest."
"Thrue fur ye, boss said Mike, with an
ominous shake of the head.
There was something else NJ. Guernsey
insisted be detested, aud that was an old
maid. "a man." he used to say, "don't
need smiles and kisses and pet names aud
children hanging around him 10 keep him
sweet, but woman does. or course some
OF the poor little things can't help their for
lorn state tho men do not propose or they
do ana run away, or their parents cut up
rough, or they have Invalid relations to take
care Of Tm very sorry for them; they
have my heartiest sympathy; but, all The
same, don't like 'em."
And so when Mike came one lovely
June morning 10 tell bis master tho cot
tage was rented. adding with a sly grin,
"An' shure it's ovid maid an her moth
Or" Mr.. Guernsey said something OF which
he ought to have been ashamed, and for
that reason, 1 shan't set down, and then
went on, sarcastically, "And now we'll
have all sorts of 'sVeei, GINNING pets,' 1
suppose; but If any of them come near
my ypremlses''-furiously-"Pll poison 'em,
drown 'em, wripg their necks. Do you
hear, Mixer"
"Faitb, do" Said Mike, grmly.
ave lived here ten years." resumed the
master, sit peace and quiet, driven here
by an old maid in the first place, and it
will be hard indeed II am driven away
by another. With piano or guitar, no
doubtP"
"Aither that last or fiddle, Sur" said
Mike. ~ saw the gurril. a. carryin' II in
Yesterday in its own nate little coffin"
''She'll play and sing from morning ill
night, out of time and tune, aud shall be
obliged to close all the doors and suffo-
cate"
0hJANNl SHBSNSNSh hlhGI lueTO Cdu't
be no babies"
"Thank Heaven for that r. said Mr..
Guernsey, fervenlly; ''though 1 don't
know but what the guitars worse. You
can scare young children by making faces
at 'em. When do they move in, Mixer"
"To-morrow, Sur" said Mike. "och,
butlps dreadfulp
"We'll go a-6sbing Mike. Be ready to-
morrow morning at daybreak, and we'll
stay away u rGeek. 1 never could bear the
noise women make when they're putting
house TO rights, as they call il T; and If
can't stand 1t after we come back, why, III
pull up stakes and go for good. that's ALL"
"Yls, Sur" said Mike.
When Miles Guernsey and his man re-
turned from the fishing excursion, Miss
Osborne and Miss osborne's mother aud
Miss Osborne's maid of all work were n-
stalled in Rose Cottage, and, sure enough,
the first sounds that greeted the ears Of the
fishermen were the pleasant tinkling Of the
guitar and an equally pleasant voice sing