Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-05-30
a second Trial.

/ rlgnt ana 10 tne lett Tor "A vacancy. On tnt
/ very front row of seats found one.
Here a little girl moved along to make room
/ for me, looking into my face with large gray
/ eyes, whose brightness was softened by very
| long lashes. Her face was open and fresh a,
| a newly blown rose before sunrise. Again
and again l found my eyes turning to the
rose-like face, and each time the gray eyes
moved, half smiling to meet mine. Evident
| ly the child was ready to "make up" with me
And when, with bright smile. she returned
my dropped handkerchief, aud said 'Thanl
you ~ we seemed fairly introduced. Other
persons, now coming into the seat, crowded
me quite close up against the little girl, sc
! that we soon felt very well acquainted.
There's going to be a great crowd" she
said to me.
yes" l replied; people always like to
see how school-boys are made into men,"
Her face beamed with pleasure and pride
as she said
MY brothers going to graduate he's go.
ing to speak I've brought these flowers to
! throw to him."
They were not greenhouse favorites just
old fashioned domestic flowers, such as we
associate with the dear grandmothers; "but, "
| l thought, "they will seem sweet and beauti-
full to him for little sisters sake.
That is my brother she went on, point
ing with her nosegay.
''The one with light hair p I asked.
"Oh no" she said, smiling and shaking her
! head in innocent reproof mot that hOmely
one, with red hair that handsome one with
brown wayy hair. His eyes look brown, too
but they are moi, they are dark-blue. There
he's got his hand up to his head now. You
see him, don't you?"
In an eager way she looked from me to him,
as if some important fate depended upon my
identifying her brother.
II see him, l said. "He is very good
looking brother"
Yes, he is beautiful" she said, with art
less delight; "and he's so good, and he stud
les so hard. He has taken care of me ever
since mamma died. Here is his name on the
programme. He is not the valedictorian, but
he has an honor, for all that"
saw in the little creatures familiarity with
these technical college terms that she had
closely identified herself with her brothers
studies, hopes and successes.
He thought, at first, she continued that
he would write on the Romance Of Monastic
Life"
What strange sound these long words had,
whispered from her childish lips! Her in
terest in her brothers work had stamped them
on the child's memory, and to her they were
ordinary things.
but then" she went on, "He decided that
he would rather write on Historical Parallels
and he's got a real good Grafton, and he says
it beautifully. He has said it to me a great
many times. | most know it by heart. Oh :,
it begins so pretty and so grand. This is the
way it begins" she added, encouraged by the
interest she must have seen in my face :
" Amid the permutatons and combinations
of the actors and the forces which make up
the great kaleidoscope of history, We often
find that turn of Destiny's hand"
''Why, bless the baby - l thought, look
ing down into her bright, proud face. l can't
describe how very odd and elfish it did seem
to have those sonorous words rolling out of
the smiling infantile mouth.
The band striking up, put an end to the
quotation and to the condolences
As the exercises progressed and approach
ed nearer and nearer the effort on which all
her interest was concentrated, my little friend
became excited and restless. Her eyes grew
larger and brighter, two deep-red spots glow
ed on her cheeks. She touched-up the flow
ers, manifestly making the Offering ready for
the shrine.
Now, it's his turn" she said, turning to
me a face in which pride and delight and anx-
iety seemed about equally mingled. But
when the overture was played through, and
his name was called, the child seemed, in her
eagerness, to forget me and all the earth be-
hlut NM. out TOSt ~ utI lttl anu lthLtu
forward for better view of her beloved, as
he mounted TO the speakers stand. l knew
by her deep breathing that her heart was
throbbing in her throat. | knew, too, by the
way her brother came up the steps and to the
front, that he was trembling. The hands
hung limp his face was pallid, and the lips
blue as with cold. felt anxious The child,
too, seemed to discern that things were not
well with him. Something like fear showed
in her face.
He made an automatic bow. Then be-
wildered, struggling look came into his face,
then a helpless look, and then he stood staring
vacantly like somnambulist, at the waiting
audience. The moments of painful suspense
went by, and still he stood as if struck dumb,
saw how it was he had been seized with
stage-fright,
Alas little sister She turned large, dis
mayed eyes upon me. Hes forgotten it, "
she said Then a swift change came into her
face a strong, determined look and on the
funeral-like silence of the room broke the
sweet brave, child-voice
Amid the permutations and combina-
tions of the actors and the forces which make
up the great kaleidoscope of history, we often
find that turn of Destinys band"
Everybody about us turned and looked.
The breathless silence the sweet, childish
voice the childish face the long, unchild-
like words, produced a weird effect.
But the help had come too late the un-
happy brother was already staggering in hu-
initiation from the stage. The band quickly
struck up, and waves of lively music were
rolled out to cover the defeat.
| gave the little sister glance in which
meant to show the intense sympathy l felt (;
but she did not see me. Her eyes swimming
with tears, were on her brothers face. put
around har Che W. tOn absorbed
to heed the caress, and before could appre-
ciate her purpose, she was ON her way to the
shame-stricken young man sitting with face
like a statues.
When he saw her by his side, the set face
relaxed, and a quick mist came into his eyes,
The young men got closer together, to make
room for her. She sat down beside him, laid
her flowers on his knee, and slipped her hand
in his
could not keep my eyes from her sweet,
pitying face. l saw her whisper to him, he
bending over little TO catch her words,
Later, found out that she was asking him if
he knew his ''pieee" now, and that he an
swered yes.
When the young man next on the list had
spoken, and while the band was playing, the
child, to the brothers great surprise, made
her way to the stage steps and pressed through
the throng of professors and trustees and dis
tinguished visitors up TO the college presl-
dent.
IF you please, sir" she said with little
courtesy, will you and the trustees let my
my brother try again? He knows his piece
now"
For a moment, the president stared at her
through his gold-bowed spectacles, and then,
appreciating the child's petition he smiled
on her, and went down and spoke to the
young man who had failed.
So it happened that when the band had
again ceased playing, it was briefly announc-
ed that Mr.. - would now deliver
his oration-"H Historical Parallels"
"'Amid the permutations and combinations
of the actors and the forces which make up
the great kaleidoscope of history"
This the little sister whispered to him as he
rose to answer the summons.
A ripple of heightened and exPectant in
terest passed over the audience, and then all
sat stone-still, as though fearing to breathe
lest the speaker might again take fright. No
danger The hero in the youth was aroused
He went at his "niece" with a set Durpose to