Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-05-25
THE UNTER W4LD WEDDING.


Maiire Seller was well-preserved, agile
gentleman of nearly sixty. At twenty he
thought of nothing but law at thirty Of
nothing but pleading at forty he became a
judge aud only at fifty-five did he make
the discovery that Weighing laws aud split
ting hairs upon the meaning OF words
and phrases is scarcely all the pleasure 10
be found in existence.
At tfly-tive he woke to the conscious
ness that he had wasted life. He was very
clever at every point in the common law OF
the Unterwald, but he was not wise enough
to know that at that age one can scarcely
begin life ov er again.
If apart from the law he had ever a pas
sion, 1t was a quiet, half-doubting love OF
fishing; and, therefore, when he gave up
his judgeship, aud retired into private life
with the respect and even veneration OF all
who knew him, having angled all his life
for clients, and settled the differences OF
other legal anglers through nearly a score
OF years, he fell to angling for fish as the
one joy of his life.
Indeed, it was this new occupation, amidst
nature, trees, flowers and living water,
which prompted Maitre Seller to the con-
clusion that he had made mistake in life
when he brought it down TO the grinding
law from New Years day to st. Sylves-
ter's-which is the last day in December.
The old mans heart was desolate. His
quiet, resigned old housekeeper "a sad
spinster who had thrown herself into the
pathetic aud tears early in life), Maitre
Seller found, now that he saw sky and for
est daily, to be quite a wearisome woman
and the consequence was that Maitre Seller
would pack up his fishing wallet, with a
crust aud a flask of white wine for his
lunch, and go out from six in the morning
until sunset.
One day, having caught trout until he
was weary of unhook ing them, and the af-
ternoon being close Ot was warm April
that year, he fell asleep under a whisper
ing fir tree, and there he slept the sound
sleep of innocence for hours.
Then, as he awoke, be experienced thai
wonderful luxury, a gradual regaining o.
the senses, while a sweet voice was singing
in the distance.
When he sat up and rubbed his eyes he
found that the sun had set, aud that he him
self was rather sitter in the limbs than was
comfortable.
The voice came nearer, and through the
break in the glade he saw a mountaineer
girl spinning as she came slowly forward
followed by two or three browsing goats.
The girl was about sixteen her yellow
light, wavy hair was drawn TO the back o
the head, and there fell in two long, red
ribbon-tied plaits, while the black bodice
and poppy -colored skirt completed a fai
more charming picture than any the old
judge bad seen in the court through all hi
legal years.
He sighed lightly.
She stopped aud looked about but she
knew no fear.
"Dont be afraid" he said, gently.
The girl smiled as she saw the pleasan
old gentleman, and said, "Oh, no; anC
Bruttlewart and Mitchlin would butt yor
II told them"
The goats looked at the stranger in an un
decided way, but apparently resolved to g
on mulehing.
| "And who art thouS"
"I am Lotte."
"And where does Lot.e live"
al am the daughter Of Forester Yeri."
"Ha, ha ! art thou daughter of Forester
It reminds me 1 have seen him in m!
court at sessions and other times. Is hi;
house far away"
"But a turn, messire, in the path, an'
the forester will be glad to see thee, goo'
herr, IL be knows thee"
"Why, who have We heref" asked th
forester, looking out from the head of tn
stone steps, which led from the living foo
of his forest home TO the ground.
"Good even, Yeri, the daughter ha
found me. am Messire Seller, late judg
OF the canton. Hast thou so soon forgotte
meP'
"Hel IT'S Messire Seller p cried the for
ester, dofing his hat, and hurrying dow
the steps.
"I fell asleep" said the old judge, look
Ing yet upon Lotte "and though am still
as active as a roe, did not wake until th
sun had gone down. lam long way fron
town, my wallet is empty, and so also al
I, and, therefore, am asking thee 70
some supper. Yori."