Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-04
VOL. 74.-3764. NO. 8.

up citron, while she herself measured out
the other ingredients, and soon hand
some cake was browning in the oven.
Next IN order was a pudding for Uncle
Amos. lie had told Bessie about a boiled
pudding, dear to his childish recollection
because his mother had made IL on extra
| occasions. Bessie knew the receipt, as it
had been handed down from her grand
mother to Aunt Orpha, and proposed TO the
girls to surprise their father with it-white
sauce all complete, just as his mother had
served it up in old days.
The family diet was usually very simple.
Fried pork and eggs, or perhaps ham, being
the staple meat for dinner, as they lived in
the country, far away from market town,
and depended for fresh mutton or beef on
the occasional chance of buying from some
neighboring farmer when he slaughtered
fat sheep or bullock.
But with plentiful supply of milk, poul-
try and eggs, it seemed a shame, in Bessie's
eyes, not to manufacture dainty appetizing
dishes out of them, instead of using them
altogether in the crude forms.
10 was easy TO work a revolution; for her
bright, coaxing ways had completely won
her cousins hearts, and in anything she
proposed TO do she found them enthusiastic
co-adjutors.
So it went on from one innovation to an
other, until you would hardly have recog-
uized the farmhouse or its inmates.
Uncle Amos would come in and find his
wife reading at her ease while the girls were
doing the work. After time she lost her
oar~~orn expression, ond Linda aaid to Thso
one day;
" How young and nice-looking mother is
growing She must have been quite pretty
IL
Yes" said Theo, and papa's growing
stout. tell you Linny, its all because he
likes the good things Cousin Bess has taught
us to make Isn't she darling I never
thought before that any one could be a good
cook and know so much too
But not alone in the culinary department
did the young reformer try her skill. She
did marvels everywhere. In her deft hands,
ordinary white muslin, costing perhaps six
cents yard, was transformed with the aid
of rose-colored cambria for borders, into
tastefully draped window curtains, between
whose looped folds hung pretty baskets i'm
provsed from wire and filled with MOSES,
which formed screen for the brown mould,
in which grew graceful, clinging vines and
delicate ferns.
But the greatest change was in the young
daughters of the house themselves. Their
habits of reading were not abandoned, but
they were banished to certain hours and
times. Their performance of household
duties, instead of being looked upon as an
irksome task became source Of pleasure,
increased by the thought that they were ac-
quiriug knowledge in which no young girl
should be deficient.
Bessie had been with them about six
months, when Uncle Amos came home from
his daily walk to the post-Offce, accompanied
by fine looking young man.
During all this time Bessie had not men
toned that she had lover; but one glance
at her face as she saw the stranger, was con-
vincing to her observant cousins that the
powerful magician, love- had touched the
heart of their favorite with his golden-hued
scepter and that from thenceforth, alas
their empire would be divided.
Still, though visions of wedding-bells and
of Bessie's departure from the home of
which she had become the sunshine, iloated
through the girls romantic brains, bringing
with them mingled pleasure and pain, they
made no sign waiting Bessie's own time to
tell them.
Alton Kean was the only son of gentle
man who owned a fine summer residence
near Bessie's home. He had been fascinated
by the girls bright face and sprightly ways,
when lie first met her at husking frolic,
and each subsequent meeting had deepened
the impression.
He was handsome and talented, but was
inclined to take life more as field of ell
joyment than one of that exertion which
BELTS the descendants of Adam, and being
wealthy and INDUCED by his father in every
whim, he had thus far drifted easily with
the tida
But Bessie had always said she had no re-
spect for an idler in world teeming with
so many opportunities for noble deeds; and
though her heart soon learned to beat tumult-
ously at the sound of his coming footstep,
she was true to herself and her ideas OF
right and wrong.
When he came to her with the story of
his love, she told him frankly why she
could not accept his offer.
To please her he had taken up the study
of medicine. Having graduated at Yale, he
had not the difficulties to contend with
which would have beset one less finely
educated and to-day he came to claim his
reward, armed with his diploma and bring
ing with him warm recommendation from
a physician in whose office he had been a
student.
Z" So my little Bessie is to leave us" said
Uncle Amos. "Well, she's been sunbeam
in my house; Wen all miss her sadly. l
'spose you know what a jewel you're getting,
sir ?"
The young mau turned to Bessie, and TAX
ing her hand. drew her to his side
All that am or shall be, with the grace
of God, | owe to your nieces influence; and
may my Heavenly Father so deal with me as
make her life happy or miserable. .'-Er-