Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-04-27
GOLDEN LOCKS.
The story OF a Switch.


"What do Iknow about such mattersH"
said Squire Posilethwaite, rumpling up his
Saxon brown hair into a crest on the very
top Of his head.
The Squire was standing in the middle
of the sunny sitting-room-a room aglcw
with wreatbs Of autumn leaves and bios
soming geraniums, with a wood fire on the
hearth, which exhaled a faint piny per-
fume from the resinous logs which were
cracking there, and the biggest tortoise
shell cat in New Jersey asleep in front of
the blaze. The Squlre's wife was balanc-
ing herself on tiptse to sew button on his
shirt bosom-a malicious button which had
flown off without the slightest previous
nOtice, a very Mephi,topheles in mother of
pearl. The Squire was tall and big and ca
silly whesdled; the Squire's better half was
round and petite and possessed of good
deal of feminine diplomacy; and, as mat
ter OF course, Mrs. Postlethwaite conquer
ed.
"Oh, my dear, its the simplest thing in
the world" said sue.
"But it's so perfectly absurd y persisted
the Squire. "The idea Of my going into
one of those Broadway places and asking
fora switch T.
"Irs done every day, my dear" said
Mrs. Postlehwaite, denly breaking the
thread. "And really my hair 10 getting SO
thin, what with crmping and frizzing; and
everybody else wears false braid, or a
bunch of curls, or something, and 1 am
positively singular without one. And 1
wouldn't mind waiting until go up 10
town in January, if it wasn't for Fanny
L-eslie's charade party. Every body will
be there, and Of course you want me TO
look as well as aBy one else, don't you,
| dear3'
The Squire could not gainssy this lead
ing proposition. He had married pretty
young country girl for love, and during
all the five years of their welded life the
torch had burned clear upon the altar OF
his heart.
''Of course do" said he heartily.
"Then you'll bring me the switch, won't
| you7" coaxed Mrs. Postl0thwaito.
"If 1t must be, I suppose 1t must be, y
assented the Squire with grimace.
And when he drove off TO the depot, hO
| III Sa9Sy hSAh w us hOoiAt
lock OF his wife's fiaxen hair-not as g
keepsake, but as a sample.
"Thirty-six inches long, at least" Mrs
Postlethwaite called after him. "And crimp
ed a little at the top, II It's not charged eX'
ira for"
Squire Posllethwaite didn't go TO the
city every day. As a general thing, hi'
peach farm in New Jersey occupied thu
most of his time aud attention but wher
he did mingle with the gay and metropol
itan world, he resolved TO enjoy himself Il
the utmost. So be engaged a room at th,
most expensive and aristocratic hotel b.
could find, visited the Academy of Design
where he didn't understand the pictures a
all, and went in the evenings to the theatre
where he cried over the tragedy, ant
laughed his vest buttons OFF at the brisl
little comedy that served as an aflerpiece
and was little abashed at the ballet. AM
It is most probable that he would have for
gotten his wife's commission entirely If, il
the process of searching his pocket case 70
q note which he was TO present for payInen
at a city bank the next day, he hadn'
chanced to come across the tress of shining
gold.
"Hallo p said the Squire, shifting hi
knee with one hand, "here's Polly's hair
And must so and buy the switch to-mor
row, or there'll be the deuce aud all
pay"
He went that afternoon to dine with oil
Mr.. Ponsonby at Delmonlco's-for th
SQUIRE had all child's delight in gildin
and fresce and lights. Old Mr.. Ponsonb.
rather discouraged the switch busines
when, over their modest bottle of claret, th
Squire broached his sprOPosed errand Of th
following morning.