Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-10-24
A Newspaper File.


burial. All the afternoon we had been busy
in getting the house TO rights, not meddlinp
yet with the things which had been hers
and were now ours, but by dint of open
windows, sunshine, and furniture busted
and re-arranged, trying to restore to the
rooms that familiar look which they had
lost during these weeks of anxiety and
trouble. A few days more, and we must
face n future which was full of terrors
Meanwhile custom as well rs inclination &C.
corded brief respite in which to think Of
her who was gone and of each other. with
the clinging fondncss of those whose lives.
never before parted, were about to separate.
Sue sat on a low stool, her head against
the chimney lamb. It was the chimney OF
Aunt Prscilla's youth she never would
alter it-one of the wide old-fashioned kind.
with pothooks, and blazing logs, and bake
oven at one side. The soot-backened bricks
and faint red glow made background for
my sisters head, with its great twist of
fair hair, and lily-lke slender throat Sue
is very pretty. prettier than any body | ever
saw. recollected picture as | looked at
her-a picture of Cinderella sitting in lust
such an attitude by the chimney-side She
was equally picturesque at that moment ;
so lar as looks go equaiiy WortlE oI PTihce'
hut, alas no iairy godinother was llkely TO
emerge from the appie-roon tor her peheht.
Aunt rms VINO IN small way had enacted
that part toward us was gone ana her olg
rocklng-chalr' which we had no heart 10 SIT
IN swung empty III its accustomed place.
type OF llke emptiness whlch we were
conscious of in other things, and would feel
ior long time 10 come o.,
neither o1 us spoke lor wnlle' we were
tlred ana spritless' ana John nlade was
coming presently TO TAX over things, so we
saved our words.
DIR; Sla ie-John-was Sne's lover Their
poor little engagement mad been formed two
years ago HOW many years II was llkely 70
last, nobody could guess; but they held on
to 1t bravely, and were content to wait
Pretty soon, as we sat waiting. his STEP
sounded without on the gravel, and with a
little tap-courteous but unnecessary, Tor the
door was never iocked-he entered, gave sue
gentle KISS, me another, and sat down be
tween us IN auntys rocking-chair, 1t was
comfort to have HIM do that. Ihe house
seemed less iorlorn at once.
swell, children, how has the day gone Z
he asked.
Pretty well, replied sue. we nave
been busy and are tired tonight think
I'm glad you are come, John dear we
were getting lonely aud dismal, Cree and L.
Lucretia Is my name; but Sue and Aun
Priscilla always called me Cree.
John adjusted SUCK on the embers, ant
with one daring poke sent tongue OF brlgh
lame upward before he answered. Then h'
TOOK sue mana IN ms proau pam, ana pat
ting it gently, said, Now let's talk owe
matters. we ought 10 decide what we arr
TO DO, we three.
mat three was very comforting 10 me
but John always Is comfort lie wa
made so, Aunt IRIS SAID ana ne Ger
talnly carries out the purpose oil ms creation
Dld your aunt leave any Will IN
went on.
"Only this" and brought from betweel
the leaves OF the big Bible, where we nae
found it, a half sheet OF note'paper' on whicl
dear aunty had stated, IN her own slppl
torn, that she lett all she had TO be equal.
divided between her nieces, Susan and l-u
cretla PendeXter Squire Packards nam
and Sarah Bracketts, our old washer
woman, were written below as witnesses
Every we'll, SAID John. That's good Il
law, fancy or II not, you are the neareS
relations, and lts yours anyway VIVA
property dld your aunt own besides I'M
house 2"
She had an annuity OF two hundred an
| fifty year, and nifty dollars more from som
turnpike stock. That's all, except the nous
and furniture, and there Is mortgage G
three hundred dollars on that' spur
| Packard holds It, lhe annuity stops nov
doesn't 1t
John looked as though ne wanted 10 Wnl
| tie, but reiralned.
Your aunt was clever manager, II
said" a capital manager She made yer
| little 60 great way, didn't she l don
know any one else who could live so NIGEL
on three hundred year, with mortgage II
terest taken out. You have always SCENE
cosy and comfortable"
We always have been. But we had I'll
garden, you know, and the COW; that gay
us two-thirds OF our living. Aunty wds
wonderful housekeeper, though. Isn't it
great deal cheaper to feed women tina
men p She always said So
&" suppose it is, Men are carniyorou
A diet OF tea and vegetables don't suit the
very well; they are apt to grumble Tor som
thing more solid. Well, my dear girls, o'
summing up isn't very satisfactory Eve
without the mortgage, you couldn't live {
nifty dollars year
"No. And I've been thinking what v
could do. So has Cree, though we haven
spoken to each other about 1t. mig
teach a school, perhaps. And Cree
81 could take place as plain cook. The
isn't anything else can do so well. Pla
cooking, with dripping and soap-tat by wi
of perquisites ! and gave laugh whi'
was meant TO be merry.
1t is hard. said John, with a mooc
look on his face which was foreign to
usual frank brightness" How much a hit
money would sometimes do Tor people WI
cant get 1t, aud how little 1t is worth TO 9th
people VINO fling 1t away without thoug
of its value A thousand dollars, now Al
rich man would consider 1t mere oagate
in his expenses but II could commal
the sum, 1t would make us three comiortat
for NE u.
: "llow do you mean Nhat "ouid "
do with thousand dollars IL you mad
John
= "ill tell you, Langworthy Is gong
sell his practice
= "Oh
IL "a