Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-06-20

dtlOlJ JNl lut Gulltlt anu SDOlltu UGI
even more than do YOU
Mabel kissed the soft hand laid on her
shoulder and gave it a wilful little bite.
Don't be horrid, mamma, or | shall
eat you right up. As if was one bit
spoiledm
IF you were not my child you would
not need grandma's lesson. She was spoil
ed, us | said, and Jonathan Jarvis knew it,
bur he was bewitched by her spirit and
beauty, and thought as men are apt to
think, that he could control and cure all
hat. She love d hm,too, very deeply, af.
ter her fashion, and there was nothing to
lelay their marriage, but the day was
scarcely fixed when her mother suddenly
'ank and died Grandmother did not
mourn so hopelessly that it was thought
best to put off her marriage, though out
# respect to her molher's memory, there
was no wedding party, and the happy
pair began their life ut once in the old
homestead where grandma lives to-day
THE outlook before these two was verv
fair; youth, health, competency, what
seemed to be devoted love, made them an
apparently enviable couple; but no sooner
were these unbroken wills brought into
daily contact than trouble began.
" You may laugh, Mabel. but their first
tr 'uble was about p coffee pot. Mother
preferred the old-fashioned urn, her hus-
band the new style pitcher. Neither would
yield in II mere matter of taste, and this
was the beginning of evil
"SlIlyP Yes, it looks wonderfully silly
to us; but | think | heard IL very warm
discussion only yesterday on the proper
style of riding hats for lady,"
Mabel colored to the waves of her dark
hair and tried to smile.
"Ihey came to a compromise en- this
matter, agreeing 10 drink chocolate in
place of coffee; but other small disputes
fOllowed they all bulnt in on grandma's
mind but | forgot most of them. so slight
and trivial were the matters of discussion
though they grew to active means of tor
ment.
8" A child was born, and Jonathan in his
sad and sore heart, thought that would
bring peace, and his indignant and grieved
wife hoped it also, for each blamed the
other rs combatans will; but the baby's
eyes never saw their strife; it died, and
the hope died with it. Little frets are
what wear away love and life, Mabel
My poor father! and my poor mother!
There was no kindly friend to say Judi
cious word to either. They showed smi-
ing front to the world outside, but grew
more alienated daily.
:. lhere was no real quarrel, no vital
uisagreemeht' but the hourly fret Of un-
loo ui,1lt
oiSclpllhe:u tenperS, impatient natures,
strong Wills and self consideration that
forbade yielding that cherished pride and
pe'ulahce' mat recognized no duty except
us owed 10 itself,
lie emu OF these things hastened. Be
lorelhe hamelrSs baby ad slept lnlts green
grave Il year. father had set out for Brazil
ma merchant vessel, leaving this short
adleu to his wife.
ou can say | have gone South on
business, Mehetable but you must know |
snail never come back. am tired of liv-
ing IN torment and you will gladly part
WIN one who could never please you.
Yours TO command,
JONATHAN JARVIS"
Mother was trantlcally angry at first.
she raVed IN her own chamber over what
she termed mortal insult, but, us day af-
ter day came on, and her loneliness and
weakness grew over her, she began to see
things more honestly; and when news
came that the ship had foundered ut sea.
and all hands persisted, then she was en-
tlrely prosilated As she told me. hei
past lie rose up, looked her in the face
ana struck her down.
was born altermy fathers departure
anu very long Illness carried her to the
gates OF the grave She recovered at last
stern ana saddensd woman, with only
one interest IN her lltei but she brought
me up win slrlctness and care tenderly
as she loved me- and, when was about tc
Jake up my HE Tor myself, told me THIS
blIter story, ana gave me this ring.
II l had Killed the little loXes,' sald
She sadly nught to-day have goodly
vineyard 10 OF my own. Beware OF them
lelty' 1ney nave spoiled my me-
ANA alter all, Mabel, my father was
not lost on the wreck. lie was picked NJ
oy ahother vessel, and under an assumed
name IlVed ON IN Brazil. In the grasp o
mortal Illness, he wrote to his vile asking
n = 49, '
al her wealth came out she has never
forgiven herself"
Foor grandma sob6ed Mabel, "anc
l nave beer so hateful to her
1t VIII console her for all your freaks
my darling If you will only profit by hel
pltliul story"
The next time Grandma Jarvis came
over Mabe greeted her with s!ringen
mug and a beautiful kiss, not ut all OF th'
clam, shell order.
Gracious! exclaimed the ola lady
Withdrawing herself little to look a
Mabel but she saw the brown eyes I'LL
and her own grew dim.
10 along, child, go along! sh
growled under her breath. " And nov
you We got your lesson, don't forget IT." ,
1t would nave been hard ior MaOei 10 q
| red life bore on every cover the sly ant
eager head of Il tinv fox, and the yer
| cream pitcher had for its handle the slende