Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-05-27

terrier.
Woman" said the scientist, "who are
you p
'I'll let you know, said Miss Briggs, wax
ing moye and more excited in her indigna-
tion. ''How dare you trespass on my prem
ises Z"
"How dare you trespass on mine 2" retort-
ed the old gentleman curtly.
Hes a mRdman," thought Miss Briggs !;
and she remembered with a thrill of terror
that there was no key to the big front door,
and the bolt was rusted into two pieces.
At the same moment the sound of whoop-
ing voices was heard through the wide, echo
ing halls, and three chubby lads rushed hilar-
iously in, tumbling over one another as they
came.
"Hurrsh I" they shouted "hurrah Amt
this a jolly old cavern of q house My
here's q fire and here's an old woman !"
Boys" said she, severely, 'what are you
doing here p
"Why," said Master Bruce Bellairs, cstat
eleven, 'its our house. And pa and ma are
helping unpack the cart at the south door.
And I've got a redbird, and Johnny's got a
brood of Brahma chickens in basket, and
Pierre has a monkey"
"But, boys" said Miss Briggs, with a lit
tie hysterical gasp, 'this is my house."
NO it amt" said the three Masters Bel
lairs in chorus 'it's ours. We've rented it
for a year, and pa and ma are unpacking
down stairs"
"Is that your pa ?" said Miss Briggs, with
a sudden inspiration, as she pointed to the
old gentleman in the garden, who stood stock
still, like the Egyptian obelsk.
mo, indeed" said Pierre CONTEMPORARY.
Nothing Of the sort, said Johnny.
"our pa amt such guy as that, chuck
led Bruce.
81 think / must be asleep and dreaming"
said Miss Briggs, as tho door opened and
stout, blooming matron entered upon the
scene, with kerosene lamp in one hand and
a basket Of carefully packed china in the 9TH
er, while from her finger depended bird
cage.
"My good woman" said the Rev. Mrs.
Bellairs, II suppose you have come here 10
see about a situation. II you can bring good
references as TO character-"
"You arc entirely mistaken, madam, said
Miss Briggs, with energy. II am here be-
cause"
But at that moment, Mrs. Ripple herself,
with Dorcas her maid, entered the room.
She was a tall, handsome woman, dressed in
elegant mourning, and she used an eye glass
as she talked, aud somehow she seemed to
take up good deal more room than anybody
else. Mrs. Bellairs set down the kerosene
lamp and the bird-cage, Miss Briggs's terrier
stopped barking, and the three boys instinc-
lively retired behind the starch.box.
"Who are you all 2" said Mrs. Ripple, sur
veying them through her eyeglass. "And
how came you TO be here?"
81 have taken this house, said Miss Briggs,
with dignity.
$50 have We" said Mrs. Bellairs.
80 have 1, declared the bsld-headed old
gentleman, who had by this time made his
way up into the ruby light Of Miss Briggs's
fire, and stood there, closely hugging his fat
travelling case.
Dear mel" said Mrs Ripple ''this is
very singular. And ! have come here because
the house wasn't rented at all.
And then ensued general chorus of expla-
nations, laughter, and depreciation, whose
general effect was heightened by a single COM
bat between Master Pierre BellAirs's monkey
and Miss Brggs's terrier.
"What are we to do ?" said Miss Briggs,
plaintively looking at the hair trunks studded
with brass nails.
?" said Mrs. Ripple, briskly- "vhy,
there is but one thing to- do that see
the house is big enough for us, and half n
dozen families to boot. Let us all live here
together"
81 am sure have no objection at all, said
Mrs Bellairs.
Neither have l, ;" said the old gentleman,
setting down his fat travelling case with a
sigh of relief.
birds in their little nests agree" quoted
the Rev. Mr.. Bellairs, who had by this time
entered upon the scene with one joint of a
bedstead balanced across his shoulder. "And
it really seems to me as if we might do the
same thing"
So Ripple Grange was let, and good. earn
est Mrs. Ripple and Dorcas established them
selves in two sunny rooms giving to the south,
where the apple boughs brushed against the
lozenge shaped panes of the easement The
Bellairs family settled down all over the rest
Of the first floor, in miscellaneous, cosmo-
politan sort of way, mixing up birds, old chi
ma, sermon-paper. patchwork, and theology
in a manner which amazed the precise soul
Of gentle Miss Briggs. The scientific man
perched himself on the top floor, where he
could have good outlook with his telescope,
and set up his cases Of specimens without let
or hindrance And Miss Briggs herself made
a home-like little home on the second story,
and devoted her whole energy and not with
out some degree Of sucoess-tO keeping the
peace between Chico, the monkey, and Nip,
the terrier.
Mrs. Ripple, however, got tired of rural
felicity, and returned 10 the city in the au-
tumn.
Mr. Bellairs received a call to a Delaware
parish, where peaches were thicker than
blackberries and the climate was soft as that
of Italy, and he accepted it promptly.
''What shall we do now ?" said Miss Briggs,
who was disposed to take timorous view of
things.
Mr. Hyde pushed his spectacles on to the
top of his head. Don't you like the house 2"
said he.
yes" Miss Briggs admitted, 81 like the
house"
And don't you consider the situation sa.
Iubrious 2"
Certainly" said Miss Briggs.
''Then," said Mr.. Hyde, looking at the
edge of his geological hammer, why don't
you stay here ?"
"what, all alone by myself ?" said Miss
Briggs.
mo" said the scientific gentleman with
mel"
''Good gracious !" cried Miss Briggs
''We both like the place" said Mr.. Hyde,
1--WE like the situation, and we like each 9th
er. Why shouldn't We settle down here for
life ?"
''But have never thought of such thing"
said Miss Briggs in trepidation.
''Think of it now, said Mr.. HYDE in ac-
cents of scientific persuasion, as he laid down
his hammeran took her black -mittened hand
tenderly in his.
And Mr.. BellAirs married them before he
went away, and Ripple Grange has never
been to let since.-HdTper's Bdsdr.
EDWIN BooTH's FIRST APPEARANcE ON THE
STAGE.-Edwin Booths first appearance on
the regular stage was made September 10,
1s49, at the Boston Museum, in the little part