Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-09-12
why TIE sW1LLOWs sTAID.

WHY THE SWILLOHS STlID.
October was nearing its close and it wa
high time for the swallows to fly. Other birt
families, their neighbors, were already flown
There seemed nothing to wait for. The
brood was fully hedged and strong, til,
nights were grown chill little needles o
frost had more than once found their way tc
the guarded nest. Why should they lnger
But Mrs Swallow, needless of her mates re
monstrnce, deferred the move for yet anoth
er day and another, and still the swallows
staid.
1t was droll place which they had choser
for their nesting; under the broad stone
ledge beneath the judges chamber window
aud just above the vine clad lalcony, where
the family were wont to spend half their
life. 1t was Mrs Swallows doing; she wa,
self wiiled housekeeper, and usually had
her own way In this case she had certainl
reasoned WELL for from the very beginning
the big ncighbors had been most tender anC
considerate of the rights of the little ones
No house maid was permitted TO open tha
blind with a crash and bang, no child tC
climb the treliis even soap and water were
frowned upon. "Better leave the window
unwashed all summer long" the old judg,
said, than to disturb the swallows nest.
Mrs. Swallow heard him say this she plumed
herself, and looked at her mate with an IL
told -you-s air, and he found nothing to re-
ply. Prom that day she identified herself
with the judges family and its affairs. L
was something connected with them which
made her so reluctant to hy, Mr.. Swallow
was sure but no explanation could he ge
till near the end, when at last, in answer tC
his peevish appeals, she said:
Don't you guess why | wish to stay, yor
stupid bird. Haven't you noticed any thinl
new and singular on ihe hslcony below =
Mr.. Swallow put his head on one side. as
sumed an air of wisdom, and tried to think
Something new :" he venturcd. "Iou don
mean the cat day before yesterday
Cat, no. Why should a cat make N,
wish to stay How intelligent you are Hay,
you not seen that sweet Luta, who has beef
so good to us all summer, who has fed yot
with crumbs aud seed 80 often, with cherries
even, aud ripe straw berries have you moi
seen how she is changed? Did she ever us,
to stand in the balcony in the moonligh
| aloney Did she ever use to cry there, hush
ing her sobs and hiding them in the thicl
vine leaves? Did you ever see her do thi
| till within the last Two weeks I? Never, you
| stupid"
Hum" remarked Mr. Swallow. Yes
there did use to be souirh Ijy-a gentleman
| think"
lou luluh iluN tNll lOu hIt "
course il was gentleman 1t is always
gentleman when girls cry in the moonligh
among the vine leaves. My poor sweet Luta
love her best of all. How can fly away Il
the South. as if there were no heart beneatl
my feathers, and leave her in tearsI II il
impossible. Here | stay till sho is happy, il
We all freeze for it,"
'Oh dear oh dear" moaued Mr. Swal
low. But he dared say no more
Luta had no idea that her trouble was
known to the tiny family above her head, OF
that it affected their movements in any way
She had been good to them in the early sum
mer days now past, when her heart was light
aud so full of sunshiny tenderness that there
was enough to spare even for the birds, Nov
| she had forgotten them. Frost had fallen oil
her happy June. Winter, cold and dreary
| seemed already here, since that senseles
quarrel with Frank-sensel' ~ she called i
| now that it was past meuding He loved her
she believed she loved him, she knew, but
| u woman could make no sign. Would he ev
or come back
Every day he passed the house She knew
his hours aud, hidden behind the yelowinl
vines watched him furtively as he came anC
went, never looking up to the bclcony as h'
used to look, but with eyes averted or ben
on the ground. Onca with trembling hnger'
she dared to drop rose which was in hel
hand. If she could only once meet his eyes
she thought. then she should know. Mrs
Swallow saw the rose fall and cranrd hel
neck from her perch eXeitedly To soc what
should come of it. Aims it was Just too
| late. Frank did not see the rose, passed on
uuheeding, and Luta felt as if he had flung i
| back into her face. Her little signal was
failure she could never venture 10 let fal
another. If he had cared. he must have seeI
the rose, she thought bitterly must hay,
known by some instinct that she stood ther,
wishing for him. Only Mrs. Swallow an,
herself ever knew of this little incident.
The balcony stretched across the whole sid'
of the house, projecting over the quiet stree
below. The grape-vines which shaded i
were SO thick that year by year they had tC
| be pruned away to open the lovely view OF
bay and sails and distant Shores which elst
would have been quite shut out. Broad
airy, sheltered from sun and wind, it made
with its hammock and rugs, rustic seats anc
little tables, the most charming of outdoor
parlOrs, and all day long the busy family life
ebbed and flowed over it from the open win
dows within, like a bright, noisy, everest
less sea.
First of all in the morning would come
housemaid with broom and duster. Then
after short interval, with dash and rush
out would bounce three children, two girl
and small boy just promoted to Kniekor
bockers. Much pulling up of chairs and ar
ranging of somewhat ''tippy' table woulC
follow and presently, in baggy trousers
loose sleeves and unmistakable pigtail, thei
nurse would appear in the shape of verita
BILE "heathen Chinee," bearing tray full o
cool cups and smoking saucers, and proceed
to tie the three in their bibs, and serve then
with porridge and "tartines," seasoning thu
mouthfuls with many a coaxing word of brok
! en- English. The little Shanghais, as grand