Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-12-27

"My I,or', honey couldn't eat nary mud
der moufful not ef n angel from hebben wa,
ter AK me ter dinner an say he wor gwine lei
have fresh poke for de fus' co'se. Yah yah
umph umph umph My Lor' Don't you
member de co'scs we use ter have in Mars
Tips time Fish co'se, an soup cose, an
den veg'tubles was a cose-"
"a matter of course Lottie interrupted
with laugh so merry that it startled Uncle
Pompey, and his jaw dropped in solemn won.
der.
Then finding that nothing alarming was
likely to take place, though not appreciatinl
her wit, he enjoyed her mirth and began
laughing himself: "Den dar was 'nuddeI
co'se-yah yah yah De p'ars an de grapes
had ter come, and de ice-cream and de wine.
Lord Lord umph umph umph!" Uncle
Pompey leaned on his cane and shook his
woolly head with mounlful emphasis while he
watched Mrs. Radcliffe uupack the basket
'Lor,' chile whyn't don't yer eat nothin' ?"
Mrs. Radcliffe gathered up her lapful and
replied; First l will just run in with these
to Mrs Peters. don't think she can have
much for her children tonight. Stay here
till come back, Uncle Pompey, and then we
will wake the children. | cannot wait till
morning"
She presently returned, radiant with delight
II am so glad 1 went Uncle Pompey Mrs.
Peters was perfectly charmed and she had
an empty barrel, and gave me part of it, and
we can have roaring fire in the morning.
Won't it be splendid? ? But was thinking, "
she continued with the eager interest of a
child, q was thinking the best way would
be to hide the basket, and then wake the chill
dren and tell them Santa Claus is coming, but
not let them see anything till morning"
So they aroused the children and quieted
n. =. 1 4. /
ter the excitement had subsidized Mrs Rad
cliffe again took up her sewing and Uncle
Pompey resumed his seat on the broken chair
in the chimney corner, and they waited quiet
ly till slumber once more visited the childish
lids, till Lottie's golden head again lay mo-
tonless on the pillow, and Willie's hand fell
drowsily in the act of pinchng her nose.
Then they uncovered the basket aud took
down the stockings, and began to fill them,
when Uncle Pompey thought lie heard a
noise in the back yard, and went TO the win
dow to see what it meant, and there he found
a man throwing out the most elegant load of
wood that ever was seen. Uncle Pompey
thought how well stick of it would burn in
their little fireplace, but he had had enough
of stealing for one night, so he went on filling
the stockings and said nothing.
But presently he heard a noise at the front
entrance and the old man, being full of curl
osity, must needs go to see what that meant
too so he nut his head out at the door. and
felt more dishonest than ever. for there had
already been rolled in barrel of flour, and
beside it portly bag Of meal, and the two
stood together like man and wife The old
man had on for his hat keg of sugar, and the
old ladv had little son standing by her side
that looked ever so much like a pot of butter.
Uncle Pompev's yellow eyebalis rolled and
glistened and inst then "A man came in with
a bundle tLot mnst have been the haby of the
family Though il looked ever SO much like n
dressed turkev) and laid il ON its mamma &
head and then asked to see Mrs. Radcliffe
and told her that all those things were for her.
and the load of wood too
"Wbo on earth sent them ?" she a,k,d. her
ewes plisteninp and her Inns trembline-ns if
il were ANYTHING 10 crv about.
~ don't know. ma'am." said that Auanias
among cartmen and away he went with n
nbilantbronio grin.
Then the widow knelt down in the little
old entry. and pretended she was only unty-
inc the not of butter but God knows better
than that
or course Uncle Pomnev could not think of
going home then 40 together they rolled and
pushed and dragged the things into the wild
ow's little room and off she ran up stairs as
fast as her feet could carry her to invite Mrs
Peters and all the children to breakfast. and
the children must not eat too many sweets
because the breakfast was going TO be of real
flour and something else-she Would not tell
what till they saw L.
When she returned to her room she went to
an old trunk in the corner and took from il A
gray overcoat with large brass buttons. A
few tears fell on it, but she brushed them off
and turned to the old man: ''Unclc Pompey,
Won are NOT courtinp are Won ?"
The old man laughed till he bepan to
wheeze. then he wheezed till he began to
cough. then he laughed and wheezed and
cou9hed all together till Mrs. Radcliffe began
TO think he would never stop; so she said
with smile and a tear "Then YOU won't
mind being little behind the times. Uncle
Pompey. Here is nv husbands army over
coat. had intended keeping it for the chill
dren TO look at, but he would not have it lie
here and one of his old servants freezing. so
nut il on"
So the old man nut il on. and to be sure the
tails dragged at his heels. and the collar rose