Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-10-31

. Gherken one day in the privacy of his own
apartment 1t was just after Philomela had
| called Miss Somerset "a forward young
hussy" because she had climbed over the
fence after her youngest brothers ball Payn
never said truer thing than when be said that
relations, however near, who could not rub
on well together, had better separate and love
each other dearly through the penuy-post."
But Ire could not summon up strength of
mind enough, and the second week Of Sep
tember, 1879, found Miss Gherken still ruler
of her brothers house, as she had been since
the second week of September, 1876. But
! the first day of the third week came note
from one Of the old cronies, who lived hun
| dred odd miles away, entreating Philomela to
| come to what the writer believed to be her
| dying bedside, and receive the silver forks
/ and spoons and other articles of like nature
| long promised to the faithful friend if she
survived her. This was an appeal Miss Ger
| khen could not withtand. In fact she made
no attempt to Withstand it, for she knew if
SHE failed Miss Gundrum, there were other
! faithful friends desirous of accommodating
portable property who would hasten like
"vultures' Miss Philomola's word, not mine)
to the stricken one. So reluctantly, it must
be admitted she resolved to go, and met her
brother with that resolution when he return
ed from business that evening II don't
know what you will do without me-" she said,
drawing down the corners Of her mouth, (Or-
lando could not prevent the corners of his
from turning up), though l suppose Mary
how selfish it is of her to be paying her
board to her husbands relations, when she
might be paying it here to her own flesh and
blood will be willing to come for a week
q shan't stay longer) and look after things.
Not that she'll be much good; she has too
many of your peculiar tastes to be anything
of a housekeeper, and I've no doubt I shall
find the place in nice mess when do get
back
And Mary was summoned, and arrived early
the next morning, just as her fathers eldest
daughter was departing with wrinkled brow
and many omiuous shakes of the head. And
after waiting two hours, to be sure that she
had reached the Jersey shore, Mr.. Gherken,
who had resolved to take a holiday on this
auspicous occasion, threw open all the win
dow-blinds aud let in the sunshine bade the
giggling maid (she had begun to giggle as
soon as her mistress was gone) take the brown
covers of the parlor furniture, opened the
long e-closed piano, aud announced his inten-
tion of giving party.
1T will be in your honor, Mary" he said
sly fellow-to the little widow, who was
gazing at him with wide-opened, astonished
eyes. "The day after tomorrow will be
your birthday"
What will Philomela say ?" gasped sister
Mary.
I'm wager she'll never know anything
about it, said her brother. mo one would
dare to tel! her. And if she should find it
out. it may serve to bring matters to a crisis.
However, I'm going to give party. I've al
ways had an idea that if left entirely to my
self should make a capital host, but until
now | have never had chance to try. So
put on your prettiost walking dress, Molly
dear and well call on the neighbors at once. !
| don't know one of them. though we've
lived here since last May (Phiomela wouldn't |
let me- but I've 10 doubt we can soon break
the ice
Still "A little doubtful as to the wisdom of |
the proceeding, obedient Mary arrfyed herself |
in her most becoming costume-and very
pretty she looked too when so arrayed, be- |
ing a miniature copy Of her brother-and |
away they went to the house in the other |
street first, of course. Mrs. Somerset, a tall, |
fine looking womAn--mother of the stone |
hurler and tag gplaycr received them with |
iHst perceptiblc surprise, which became more |
perceptble when Mr.. Gherken announced |
their erTand.
"A birthday party for your sister p said
she.
"Ihh sister" explained the gentleman.
'Oh. this sister"-with evident relief.
And / hope you and all your family will
honor US, " said Mr.. Gherken.
"Oh, do" coaN,d the little widow, begin
ming to enter into the spirit of the thing.
"Well be there" promised Miss Thomasi-
ma, before her mother could reply, as she
emerged from the bRy-window, and held her
hand out in frank, boysh way to the Wis
itors.
Mr.. Gherken's face was almost as bright as
the sunshine a. he descended the steps Of the
Somerset house. 1T begins well. Aud now
for the others Tra-la-la trala-la, tn-la-la!"
he sang, TO the great delight of the blue-eyed
sister vino hung on his arm. Back to their
own street they went, and called at number
their number was ID. Mrs. Brewer was
out, but the servant promised to deliver the
invitation to her the moment she returned
home. Then to number 10 a large family
one grandfather, two grandmothers, father,
mother three auuts, four uncles, six children
all delighted to come. Across the way
Miss Lally's boarding house. Miss Lally
would certainly be there, and thought she
could answer for all her boarders-six gentle
men. four ladies and baby, all of whom,
she assured Mr.. Gherken and sister, were ex-
tremely select. Next door to boarding house
lame boy, with inseparable companion large
Newfoundland dog, mamma an invalid con-
fined to her room, papa, orphan cousin and
nurse. Lame boy, dog orphan cousin and
nurse only too happy to be among the invit-
ed, and sure papa would be too. Next door
other side of Miss Lally's: two old gentle
men in the coal trade-ofice in the basement
supposed to be misers. Your servant,
Sir. Oh, not coal A party2 We never go
to parties" Then at Mr.. Gherken's earnest
solicitation, thought they might break through
the rule for once. Number I; mysterious
old woman living all alone by herself Pop
ped her head out Of the second-story window
after they had rang the bell six times. and
told them TO go about their business. They
went Handsome house on the corner no
one to be seen but eldest son. Would come,
and bring the governor and the girls old
lady going to "a concert-'pon honor" And
so on, until all the people on both sides of
the block had been invited. Then to. the
florists, the confectioner's, the bakers, and
home again.
The evening of the pretty widows birthday
lovely evening" it was, too-and
the man who was to play the violin arrived,
and all the invited guests arrived, and were
ushered by the maid in jaunty new cap with
pink ribbons, and apron to match, the ladies
to the second-story front room-Miss Philo-
mela's own sacred apartment-and the gen
tlemen TO the back room, same floor, and
from thence to the fower-bedecked parlors
Aunie-that was the maids name-had an
intimate friend to assist her in her unfamiliar
duties, and that friend to whom such duties
We're very familiar, was one of the maids
from the house in the other street. To think
that Miss Gherken, with all her cleverness
and keenness of vision had never discovered
this friendship!
The very first arrivals, by-the-bye, after
the man who played the violin, were Mrs
Somerset, Miss Somerset Master Aubrey
Somerset, and the banjo, The presence of
the latter had been specially requested in a
note written to "Tom" by the little widow
at the suggestion of Mr.. Gherken.
Such a merry time as they had! They
danced, they sang, they played games, they
ate supper A delightful supper cold chick
en-, cold tongue, fried oysters, salads, cake,
ice-cream, lemonade, and many other things
And in the midst of the supper a carriage
drove up to the door-there was so much
rnien M nne henrd it-nnd mn elderly woman