The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1882-09-28

side he ,uuelcss piano, giyihg lessons 70
lull children. aud Margaret briiiiAi
heAred sigh Of relief after The last pnp''
/ departed
4 After sitting s,iil for few minutes, ina
10 realize thai her work Was over she
stood ~, closed the piano, put away ihe
ragged music, and busted herself 'idy ing
The room. twas very little any one could
do 10 make the gloomy apartment bright
and eheery, but what little Jay IN her pow.
er Mas Briiman did against the coming
| of Dot
The round table was pulled in front Of
the iire, and the frugal tea sci out, WITH a
good deal Of show and very little substance.
Miss Briiman knew how TO make the most
Of the solitary muffin Dot enjoyed so ana
the tiny. pot Of ham and chicken stood
| like an island in an ocean Of china plate.
The msiolica teapot was hidden under .
cozy crewel, embroidered in the highest oi
art patterns; the spoons and forks were sil.
YER in the last stage OF attenuation, and
the cloth, though white and fine, was
dsrned ont Of all identity Of the original
pattern.
The few bright little water colors on the
walls bu. made the darkness OF the drab
paper more visible, and no arrangement Of
the scant furniture could disguise the fact
that the walls we're hopelessly cracked;
still, in spite Of disadvantages there was
something about the little room thal
struck one on first entering, Perhaps 1t was
the air OF refinement struggling with
the aggressive poverty; perhaps it was the
pale, patient face Of Margaret Britman,
with iiSframe ofprematurely gray hair aud
meek, sorrowful eyes.
Very slowly she moved about Tor she
was anxious about Dot. She had been oul
as daily goyerness for whole year. bn'
her salary was small and her wants seemed
TO increase cut Of all proportion 10 hei
earnings. Boots and gloves wore out, hats
and gowns got shabby in short time; and
Miss Britman felt that she could moi
relax single effort or spare herself
A single monotopous lesson, for Dots
wants had to be supplied somehow.
uJust at five o'clock she came mp stairs
singing lightly:
aba.. a rose in her bonnet, aud oil! she looked
[swee
Az the lite pink flower that grows n he wheat
She wouldn't look sweet il she had to bt
out in such ghastly weather as this, woule
she. auntie, darling? and Dot kissed Mis-
Britman energetically on both cheeks
Therel what a heartless thing am u
come near you all damp and foggy' NJ
HAIR is perfectly limp, and she pushed
back mass Of golden waves from her fore
head.
Take of your things, dear, and hay'
some hot tea. Here are your slippers, al
nice and warm.
Thanks, dearie. Oh, it is nice to get IN
doors, if you could only imagine what IT.
, like outside, auntie. Streets three incle
deep in liquid glue. fog thick enough tt
hide nail in and hang yonr ulste
on
: Dot! Miss Britman interposed mildly
Fact, auntie. was really bewildered a
Regent Circus, and had to throw myself o.
the mercy Of a policeman, then an obse
quious young man followed me all dow
: oxford street, and kept bobbing his um
2 brella against mine.
}. oh, my darling that you should have
endure such thingsl Miss Britman cried
and her slender white fingers were intel
locked ncryously; Oh that ] could spar
you, Dorothy.
Never mind, auntie dear; it doesn
worry me in the least Besides,
think-but wait minute till put ava
the tea-things and turn down the ga
And having done so, Dot sat down on tn
rug and laid her head on her aunt's lap.
have got something to tell you auntie
n Yes. darling. Miss Britman said, aftt
= waiting few minutes, for Dot was in Il
hurry to begin.
= Aunt Margaret did it ever strike 20
that some day or other | might have
re- lover? she said, slowly.
ny Dorothy Dorothyl ! never thought
thatl Miss Briiman cried. Darling, | cf
not give you to any one; you are all ha'
in the world.
Let me tell you all about il first, aunt
Dot said, gravely. 1t came about IN u
30 simplest way-so simple that ! scarce
know how or when it began. 1t seer
now as il Mr.. Ferris always came into 4
Y school.room, but / never thought mn'
about IL till 10 DAY, when he looked at
so strangely, and held my hand ever su'
n time. and then he said: Miss Derwei
g | want 10 have a little serious conyersati
with YOU. OF course | said should
very pleased, only was never there IL
duy time. Then may ! call in yo
absence, he said, and speak to yo
ta,herg told him ! had no one but y
auntie. and lie seemed surprised Tor II
rs meut; then he said he'd call on you
'n' morrow. | suppose he wants to ask yo
= permission to marry me. What else
he want, aun,ieS
n,s What indccdl Miss Britman said
rae Tie absenily. Tell me little more alb
I Mr.. Ferris, darling.
y There's no, much TO tell. annsie. u
.ev Mrs. Cranforth's brother, and has been
nrr India ever so long twenty years | belle
- He's very rich and very kind, and-th
all auntie. Just think OF my marryir
rich man, Do, continued, rchectivcly
having servants, carriages, lovely dres
-eyeryihingl 1t seems Just like u