Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1882-08-18
BETTYS STORY.

before l was to leave the old house forever,
and looked up and down the road. The fret
who camea long was the child Of a neighbor, a
little girl of eight years, on an errand for
milk, with white mug in one hand, and her
two pennies in the other. Coming along in
the same direction was singular. looking man
in velveteen and corduroy-the clothes well
fitted but much worn His long handled not
in one hand, and his tin box siung at his side,
were not necessary to show me that he was
"a bug hunter" for tho cruel wretch gave
visible sign OF his calling in a butterfly pinned
to his hat, with its wings fastened down by
slips of card .boari. l saw that he was young
and good. looking, and he had taste for more
of the animal creation than insects, for he
honored me with a prolonged stare. l show
ed my dislike at this scrutiny in some way,
for he turned his gaze to the other side of
the road, and contemplated it with great earn
estness
Just then heard cry Sally Perry, the
little girl in question, had stumbled and fall
en-, breaking the mug aud scattering her mon
ey in the dirt. The bug hunter quickened
his steps. raised the little girl, aud helped her
to find her money. Then he took her by the
hand, and led her to the country store, which
stood short distance above. They both
emerged presently, Sally with new mug, the
two chatting together, and they were soon
lost in the turn of the road.
| sighed. This was to be my last day in
the village. l was an orphan, and henceforth
was TO make my own way in the world.
Nv father had been one of those unfortu.
nate men who seem to be industrious without
success, and who manage to be always push
ing on without advancing step. He was a
bad manager. So long as my mother lived,
he contrived TO exist without being more than
a trife behindhand each year but those tri-
fles accumulated until, in many years, they
made considerable sum. By my mothers
energy, which conquered my fathers indeci-
sion. INV brother Victor had been educated as
a civil engineer, and, few months after her
death, had been offered r situation in Brazil
which be at once accepted. / was thus left
alone with my father, TO keep house. As we
could not afford to maintain a servant, did
all the labor Of our petty house keeping. The
work agreed with me, and, in spite OF all the
shifts and contrivances to which was driven,
kept lively, healthy, and strong. The re-
suit was, that ] had no society of my own
years. My father had been born and bred q
gentleman, and being without means, shrunk
from contact with those OF his order. He
grew more reserved every day, and even mo-
rose, and, after the death of my mother, lost
his grip on life entirely, and so died
I was left alone. My father had maiden
sister who had wealth, and who knew how to
keep it, and even add to it. That much had
learned incidentally but there was no inter
course between her and my father, aud did
not even know where she lived The funeral
expenses managed to defray, and then found
myself with little money Knowing nothing
Of the law, and caring less, as II woman gen
orally does, went through no formality OF
administration, but sold the household effects
| for what they would bring, paid of the few
debts my father had left deposited one hall
| of the money with the rector Of the parish
| for nv brother Victor, If he ever came tc
| claim it, and with a hundred and nine dollars
| in my pocket, and any fare paid, went TO New
| York to seek some kind of employment
l had n notion Of becoming teacher.
woman in need always tries to teach profes
sionally, aud her desire in that dire ction is in
exact ratio to her inability. could draw tol
erably well, and, though l had little knowl
edge of thorough bass or counter-point, coult
sing or play music at sight, and was dexter
GUS performer on the piano forte. II could
get scholars in music or drawing, or a stua
ton in some school, l could do very we'll 81
l found a cheap boarding house, with the rec
lor's recommendation, pot modest advertise
ment in the Herald, and waited.
But no note came requesting my services
and no pupils inquired for Miss Norman. NJ
| full name was Florence Elizabeth Norman
Grey; but had dropped the first and las
part Of it, Norman was the name of an oil
college, mate OF my father and Florence ma
been given me after his sister, whose ehIis'th Il
ing gltt-a silver mug sun Ietalneu'
waited, however, patiently until was 70
dueed 10 my last len'uolias ou', anu lnen
Sne SueDta HOmu w thn 8ersi3 fbinLing IL the monn
80, ,1a,,Id no, oorna 10 me- n vas ahont finn
al Taho',iS "GS'r rIo 20 80 tIa n,orntain
TsL;npsd he sbon, ,girl Iist Not that hat
the SLIGHTEST objection to remain all day an
she sas ~ insoiant,v a. cnstomers nm
shrdyo baoS aia ,ov head and Ian tbe connie
With NV nencii and ery out dKe-vaiM p a
,ha roydy 10y p0Tt inte,yais Int knew hat shout
have % 10 stand all day on NV feet. nv taskmal