Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-10-26
4 NEWSPAPER FILE.

IhdHfcJ J0r NOtFmb'r.
4 NEWSPAPER FILE.
II was two days after Aunt Priscilas fune-
raj. and Sue and l were sitting together by
the kitchen fire. with that hush over our spir-
its still which follows death and burial. All
the afternoon We had been busy in getting
the house to rights, not meddling yet with the
things which had been hers and were now
ours, but 10y dint Of open windows, sunshine.
and furniture busted and re-arnnged, 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 future which was full of ter
rOrs. Meanwhile custom as well as inclina-
ton accorded brief respite in which to think
of her who had gone, and of each other, with
the clingiug fondness of those whose lives.
never before part, d. were about TO separate.
She mt on low STOOL her head against the
chimney jAmb. II was the chimney of Aunt
Prscilla's youth she never would alter it
one of the wide old-fashioned kind. with pot
hooks, and blazing logs, and a bake-oven at
one side. The soot-blnckentd d bricks and faint
red glow made background for my sisters
head. with the great twist of fair hair, and
lily-like slender throat. Sue is very pretty,
prcttier than anybody / ever saw. | recol-
of Cinderella sitting in Just such an attitude
by the chimney-sde She was equally pic
turesquc at that moment: 20 far as looks 60
equally worthy of prince but alas no
fairy godmother was likely to emerge from
the apple-room for her benefit. Aunt Pris
who in n small way had enacted that part
toward us, was gone, and her big rocking
chair which we had no heart to sit in, swung
empty in its accustomed place. type of like
emptiness which we were conscious of in 9TH
er things. aud would feel for II long time to
come
Neither of us spoke for a while. We were
tired and spiritlcss and John Shade was com
ing presently to talk over things, 70 we saved
our words.
DIR. Slade-John--was Sues lover. Their
poor little engagement had been formed two
years ngo How many years it was likely to
last. nobody could guess but they held on to
it bravely, aud We're content to wait Pretty
soon as We sat waiting. his step sounded
without on the gravel, and with "A little tap
courteous but unnecessary, for the door was
never looktd-he entered, gave Sue gentle
kiss me another, and sat down between us in
aunty's rocking chair. 1t was comfort to
have him do that The house seemed less
forlorn at once.
well, children, how has the day gone -
he asked
Pretty well, - replied Sue. We have been
busy. and are tired tonight. think I'm glad
you are come John dear. We were getting
lonesome and dismal, Cree and L.
Lucrctia is my name; but Sue and Aunt
Priscilla always called me Gree"
John adjusted stick on the embers. and
with one daring poke sent a tongue of bright
fame upward before he answered Then he
took Sues hand in his broad palm. and pat
ting it gently. said. Now let's talk over mat
ters We ought TO decide what we are to do,
we three"
That three was very comforting to me,
but John always is comfort He was "made
So" Aunt Pris said And he certainly carries
out the purpose of his creation
did your aunt leave any will z" he went
on
Only this = and | brought from between
the leaves of the big Bible. where we had
found it, half sheet of note paper on which
dear aunty had stated in her own simple form
that she left all she had to be equally divided
between her nieces Susan and Lucretia Pen
dexter. Squire Packard's name and Sanl
Brackets our old washer-woman, were writ
ten below as witnesses.
Very well" said John. That's good il
law, l fancy; or if not. YOU are the nearest
relations, and it's yours anyway. What prop
erty did your aunt own beside this house 2"
''She had an annuity of two hundred ant
fifty a year and fifty dollars more from some
turnpike stock. That's all. except the hous,
and furniture, and there is a mortgage OF
three hundred dollars on that Squire Pack
ard holds it. The annuity stops now, doesn'
it?"
John looked as though he wanted to whistle
but refrained.
"Your aunt was clever manager, he sait
"a capital manager. She made very littl,
90 n great way, didn't she? | don't know
any one else who could live so nicely on thre,
hundred wear. with mortgage interest taker
out Yon have ALWAYS seemed cozy and com
Portable"
I'VE always have been. But We had th,
garden. Won know. and the cow that CAV,
us two-thirds of our living. Aunty ,ras won
derful housekeeper though. Isn't it grea
deal cheaper TO feed women than mem Sb,
always said So"
Il suppose it is. Men are carnivorous
diet of tea and vegetables don't suit them yer,
wen they are ant to gi1mble for something
more solid. Well, NV dear girls, our sum
ming up isn't very satisfactory. Even with
out the mortgage, you couldn't live on fift,