Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1878-12-04

Deuf fNcte amos Aunt Orlna IL going TO be
married next week to n wdower with several
grown up sons; so our coy little home will be
broken up The gentleman is well off and is very
kind to his intended niece-even having extended
an invitation TO me to make my home with them
but don't think I'd feel quite at ease among so
many tall young men. So IL you'll let me come
and spend few months with you, I'd great deal
rather do so than with Aunte, much as love her
Love to Aunt Phebe and the girls.
Your affectionate niece,
BESSIE TRUMAN.
"Well, mother, what do you say about it
Can we make room for this little Bess p As
Amos Fairchild spoke he pushed his spec
tacles upon his high bald forehead and turned
his kindly blue eyes inquiringly on his wife's
face.
Z" She's welcome to come if she can con-
tent herself. Our place is very different
from her Aunt Orpha's."
"True, true" said Amos, musingly,
things do look kind of rusty like. But Bess
is CHEEKY little body; and she'll manage
to get her bit of sunshine out of--of-in fact,
out of anything"
"No wonder you hesitate, Amos 'Twould
be hard to mention what she could enjoy
here" and the tired little woman sighed
"Now, mother, you shouldn't catch me
up So" was the gentle reioinder, "Im sure
she couldn't find a heartier welcome in a
kings palace, and that's one thing. Next,
where'll we find two likelier girls to look at
than our Linda and Theo-such hands for
their books as they are, too"
Mrs. Fairchild glanced toward the window
as her husband spoke and her face bright
ened. There were the girls, as usual, each
with book, and utterly oblivious to what
was going on outside the world of fancy,
within whose fairy realms their minds were
roaming.
Linda was girl of sixteen, her sister was
year younger
Theo was very fair, with intensely
black eyes and hair, aud wildly red lips
through whose pouting curves came an occa-
sional flash of pearly-white teeth as some
witticism in the volume, which was evil
dently humorous one, made her smile.
Her face seemed made up of contrasts
Some of the time she was as pale as snow
drop. Then CLINT of crimson would steal
into her checks, to be recalled as sud
denly, 1t was peculiarly interesting, the
more so for not being the same either in
coloring or expression, for two consecutive
minutes.
Linda was of different type. With a
perfect V'el f0oo, tinted family upon the
lips and cheeks with a tender bloom like
Iut ldlt pun Ou Iit Dtldlo VI
flower. Hair so light and glistening, as it
fell in natural waves about her shoulders,
that it would answer to what German
writer calls silver color Eyes with far
away look in them, as though she might
be a dream.maiden. When spoken TO-,
she would look up moment uncompre-
hendugly then, as though awakening to
consciousness the large, blue eyes would be-
come instinct with light and intelligence,
and her peculiar beauty would dawn upon
you-for, until touched by the spark OF
Promethian fire, you would have thought
her uninteresting as pink-and-white
French doll
The two girls were idolized by their father
and mother, and had been spoiled by them.
They were good and kind-hearted, not mean
ing TO be selfish to their dearly loved pa.
rents; but Mrs. Fairchild, proud of their ex-
traordinary beauty and quick intelligence,
encouraged them to give up their whole time
to books, and "dreamed dreams " of their
future, while she worked herself to shadow
that they might be idle, their income being
sufficient for support, but not large enough
to allow of paid service within the family.
Into this home came Bessie Truman-a
being as different as though born i'll another
sphere. She was fully as gifted as her cou.
sins but she had been taken in her orphaned
childhood by her Aunt Orpha, an energetic,
sensible woman, who did not undervalue
the many little comforts and luxuries with
which willing hand can make home beau
tifu and pleasant, while giving also due
honor to intellect and culture only each
must have its own time, according to her
way of thinking, and by this, as it were, bal
ancing one against the other, create more
genuine happiness than when an exclusive
attention to either caused a " blue stocking"
or mere household drudge"
Bessie was slight with little springy
step, beaming dark eyes, and voice with a
clear, responsive tone which made it linger
pleasantly in the mind, like the first note of
robin in spring. 1t was like suggestion
that winter was over, and the time of flow
ers at hand.
For a day or two after her arrival she was
company" and was evidently expected to
behave as such. Then the cousins drifted
back to their books, and Aunt Phebe to her
wearsome round of household duties.
Bessie looked on in wild-eyed surprise as
the well grown girls suffered their delicate
looking mother TO plod on until cooking,
washing ironing and cleaning were done
without Offering to assist her. AT first she
~ MdN DCNduSc lutl ndu a GUEST
but she soon found it was the daily fashion
of the household.
Her resolve was soon taken. One morn
ing--the third after her arrival-she put on
a neat white apron and after breakfast, COM
menced clearing the dishes from the table.
"Now, auntie," she said playfully, /" I'm
going to help. There's no use in saying
: No. for Pm a wilful little body, and you'll
find it out if you keep me long enough.
Come, Linda, help me with the dishes, and
I'll tell you something you won't find in
your book"
Linda looked at Bessie in surprise as she
ratified on.
"Come, I've been studying pottery of all
kinds this winter, from Palissey down, and
we had the incest old professor in our vii
lage, who liked nothing better than to open
up his stores of knowledge in the noble GER
annie art as he enthusiastically called it,
for auntie's and my benefit. Come and dry
these plates and things as | wash them, and
I'll tell you lots about it, as the school
boy says"
Linda looked pleased, and took the towel
Bessie had drawn from the drawer of a
kitchen table, and went TO work with will
Bessie had an object in view, and she
made herself so entertaining that Theo was
soon as much interested as Linda
From the dishes it was an easy transition
to other household duties.
"Aunte, may | make a cake ?"
"Auything you like, my dear; but don't
tire yourself out"
"0h, never fear. always helped Aunt
Orpha, and we set prime table, / tel
you and Linda and Theo'l help me, SC we
can get through before dinner. Won't you
girls ?"
"Yes, if you will show us how :" said
Linda.
"And tell us ome more stories," added
Theo.
So Bessie set one to beating the whites of
, epps 10 a stiff froth and the other To cutting