Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-11-17

sunken look OF her sisters lace and
was glad to think she had lifted any
Of the burden from her shoulders.
Il say, mother, can you read TO w !
It's too hot TO be out doors before tea
time,
IN read, Tom, said Hattie quick
ly and though Johnny with chlld's
oulspokenneS said, 'oh, no, mamma
reads best, she would not take oiiense,
but laugbingly said she would i'm
prove by practice.
The boys leaned against her, aud
Dick, hot rs 1t was, insisted on sitting
on her lap but she said nothing, on
y trying her best to amuse, and find
Ing, to her great astopishment, that
the afternoon was wonderfully short
and Tom was really quite entertaining,
telling them anecdotes about his
schoolmates and reciling ms last
piece
After tea there was 10 be an exhibit
ton Of fireworks, and, 10 her wonder,
the boys Insisted that Aunt Hattie
should 90 too. She forgot to regret
her lonlincss and need of gill friends
as she laughed aud joked with tho
boys. aud little Dicks pudgy hand
squeezed hers lovingly as they walked
home under the starlight, tho boys
declared she was boss aunty'--their
highest need Of praise,
Days, weeks and months passed by,
Apparently little was changed IN the
Dallas cottage. The boys romped ard
shouted as before Aunt Hattie was
called here and there even more than
OF old, but there was always pleas.
ant word spoken IN answer to the call,
alwavs smile and caress'i if request
had to be refused; and IIattie's life
was not so lonesome, either.
Mr.. Boyd's coming tonight, Aunt
Hat said Tom. Il told him you were
just a daisy hand to make sails aud l
know he's making a splendid little
boat for his brother--I guess he wants
you to hem the sails
Mr.. and Mrs. Dallas exchan ged
glances. I suspect Mr.. Boyd wants
something besides his sails, WILL said
Mrs. Dallas to her husband when
they were alone.
Shouldn't wonder! Well, you'll
miss Hattie she certainly has done
wonders with the boys.
'Yes, indeed Tom adores her, and
even Johnny, whose quick temper
gets him in trouble with everyone, is
as much influenced by Hattie as he is
by me. How the gill has improved
since last summer l remember the
very first time l noticed change in
her-it was on the Fourth. | had
worried about her moping as she
used to do, bat she went out with the
boys aud came home as bright and
happy as she had made them
Iu the parlor the same day was re-
ferred tv. DO you remember when l
first saw you, darling?'
Certainly at Mrs. Van Amburgh's;
remember it very well, with vivid
blush.
NO, indeed; l might never have
noticed you there, for all girls seem
alike 60 me at such receptions; but
last Fourth of July I saw three boys
oil gathered about q young girl who
was talking and laughing with them
as brightly as if she were entertaining
young gentlemen Of her own age.
thought a cir. who could be so sweet
and loving to her own little brothors
,as took them to be) was the kind
of girl to win, and I watched for
chance to be introduced to the light.
haired lassie, and-I have won her,
hank God!
And SO, the lesson learned, the work
lone, battles lite was 70 change; but
,he left her brothers. home with a
feeling of regret tempering her joy in
ler new love, and when trouble and
ars come in her married life she re-
members the old lesson OF ner glrlhood
aud says to herself, Here Is a lesson to
earn and Il work to do, then [ will be
moved; let me hasten to learn and
To-
A man passing country grave
yard, seeing the sexton digging
grave, inquiries, "Who's dead y
cov,o, Ola Snuirp Rumhlpbee.