Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-09
,SUSAN',S MISTAKE.

Among all ln0 lTlll nouSe-HluluS III
Bloomsbury not one could compare with
Susan Binin, vino had the privilege of be.
ing servitor in the mansion of Mr.. job
bins, al dermau and tallow chandler of the
city of London.
Not only did Susan excel in the neat
ness Of her dress and the cheerfulness with
which she performed her duties, but she
also carried Off the palm with respect TO
perso nal appearance, as would have been
admitted by auy one who absctved her
pouting mouth, ruddy cheeks, bright full
black eyes, aud the pleasant smile which
constantly shed light over her features,
and helped to enhance the chains with
which nature had endowed her.
Susan Bitlin was an extremely well con-
Quoted girl, and knew more than most
people in her station of life, inasmuch as
her parents (now dead) had been respecta-
bic ira des- folk, who in the latter portion of
their life had fallen into difficulties, but
had taken care that, despite the wrecklng
of their worldly prospects, the education OF
their only child should not he neglected.
Thus much for Susan's advantages. Now
let us look at the reverse of The medal. The
pretty bouse-mad's chief fault was that
she was in love--and desperately, too-a
circumstance which, of course, called forth
the severest censure from her mistress,
who, TO her credit be ii said, took an inter
est in her servants not ofleu manifested by
people OF such rank as the wife OF this city
magnate.
Mrs. Jobbins had four daughters, mar
ria geable years upon years ago, and who as
yet had never had the ghost of an offer.
Now, of course, II would have been a com
mendsblo thing had these vesials fallen in
love, and set their foot firmly on the road
which leads to Hymeu's temple; but with
young servant nlat. twenty it was very
different matter. Mrs. Jobbins took the
affair up warmly, as did also the vestals al
luded TO, and persistently Informed Susan
that If she knew when she was well oil,
she would remain single, elc. in fact, if
possible, tie young ladies expressed
greater horror of matrimony than even
their mamma, aud went about the house
declaiming against the pertidy of mankind
in terms that would have fully qualified
them to become shining lights in any soci-
ETY. OF female celibales, although, as cook
sententiously remarked in the sacred pre-
cincts of the kitchen, "If their ma hadn't
married Mr.. JObbims, where on earth
would they have been? n good job, per-
haps, if their ma had remained single"
From this remark OF cooks, who also had
a sweetheart it may be inferred that the
Misses Jubbins were not quite so well lik
Perhaps, however, the great reason for
Mrs. Jubbins' dislike TO Sussn's courtship
was that the pretty house-maid had fixed
her affections upon what Mrs. j. termed a
"theatrcal," but what Susan always spoke Q
of as a Harlequin.
The intimacy between Susan and her be-
trothed was still young, but on one side at
least ii seemed as though it had existed for
years, nasmuch as Susan was a tender,
SYM athletic creature; and when Herr
Kiddinl fell upon his knees at the house of
mutual friend, and with upliiled arms
begged her to be "his," she at once yielded
him all the affection her fresh young heart
was capable of bestowing.
The Harlequin, however, was not Su-
| sans first sweetb cart. Such neat, pretty
| girl could not fail TO have plenty of admir-
ers among tho sons of the small tradesmen
| resident in the neghborhood. The time
had been when Susan had almost deter
mined upon becoming the wife of an enter
prising young grocer named Perks, who
had recently opened a business of his own,
and was said TO be thriving.
Susan really liked Perks, but the roseate
hues of courtship were darkened by some
trumpery lovers quarreli and rs Susan
said Perks was in the wrong, and Perks
declared that Susan was entirely at fault,
the affair resulted in parting. NeItheT
would give way, and neither would agree
to the mediation of third party so Susan
at once returned all the little love gins
which Perks had lavished upon her.
The jealous young grocer's parting
words were that he hoped she would moi
make a mistake, and that he felt she would
repent of her conduct 10 him at which
Susan disdainfully tossed her head and
turned away. Thus ended one love epi.
sode in the pretty house-mad's life.
Herr Kiddini was, as Susan had stated
a Harlequin at Christmas tide, and teach
er OF dancing and calisthenics throughout
the remainder of the year. Our heroine
met him first at the abode of a married
friend, who had once been a fellOw-servanl
in tho JObbiHs mansion, and that spirit o
curiosity which seems TO he excited by al
who are in any way occupied before The
footlighls invested Herr KiddiDi with an
importance he would otherwise not have
possessed. He was decidedly not good
looking-man-his eyes were sunken and
fringed with thick lashes, and slight mus
tache failed TO hide the sinister expression
of his mouth. But the fact OF his being 'or
the stage" blinded Susan and Susan:
friends to everything else. Here they were
at tea with the gentleman who tomorrow
night would appear before crowded audi
ence in a tight-filting dress covered will
spangIes, the grace of whose dancing elicit
ed such applause, who bore the want
which turned everything into something
totally different, aud who jumped through
shop windows with an agility that wa