Connecticut western news., 1883-02-28
LITTLE FOXES,

LITTLE FOXES,
 'sDear me! there comes Grandms Jarvis ]" sighed pretty Mabel Lee, as she looked out of the window and saw ar old lady coming across the lawn-e very queer-looking old lady, in plain gown dark purple shawl and an old-fashioneo silk calash over her thick ruf1ed cap.
 Mabel p said her mother, indie. nantly.
 "Oh, know it, mamma dear. I'm an awful sinner, but Grandma Jarvis is go good and sensible, and so forth, al. ways feel as if were poor little nut in the jaws of steel ut-cracker when she is about.
 "She generally finds out and brings out the good in you," said Mrs. Lee, smiling, but she said no more, for Mrs. Jarvis turned the door-handle at that moment and came in.
 You saw at once, if you saw her face. that she was 8 person of keen insight and Judgment; perhaps less lovable than gentler and more gracious nature, but yet woman to be thoroughly trusted and relied on.
 Mabel was a ladylike, bright girl, spoiled, to be sure, as children are apt to be when there is but one in family. and resisting, like any spoiled child, her grandmother's sharp comments and sensible advice.
 At heart. however, she respected her, and perhaps little more that the old lady was rich and generous, and young people, even the least mercenary and grasping, feel kindly toward the hand that brings timely and costly gifts.
 Mabel even forgave the old, worn dress, since that gray gown was heavy, lustreless silk; the thick-quilted cap rufaes Indian muslin and thread lace; the purple shawl crape, covered with embroidery, and the white kerchiet fastened with one great diamond.
 GFandma Jarvis never thought about her clothes further than to have them comfortable and not too osstre. She knew very well the world was like Mabel. and would forgive the simple fashion for the costly material, and with certain grim humor she always called the diamond pin Charity"
 1t covers so many of my sins, my dear, she said. II pass for woman of sense with ninety people out of 6 hundred simply on account of this biz trinket. It blinds them so they can'i see l am out of the fashion,"
 To-day Mrs. Jarvis had definite errand. She sat down on the sofa and fook of her calash with deliberation.
 Mehitabel, said she, fixing her eyes on the young girl, whose color rose tc her face at the obnoxious name. "] hear you are going to be married" s Mabel blushed still more hotlv and looked straight out of the window. The tell-tale pane reflected knit brow ana unmistakably cross lips.
 Mrs. Jarvis laughed.
 "You are rather startling. motbar,
 Y should think the fact was more startling than am, dryly remarked the old lady. 1T got your note last night Hetty, and l made up my mind to come over this morning and see about if"
 :" Yours are the first congratulations mother. Nobody else knows it."
 "1 haven't congratulated anybod, yet" snapped Mrs. Jarvis. 1T neye don't congratulate anybody till a yea after their wedding-day, and then don have to very often. I came to say, don any of you give the child a tea-service want to do that myself. She's got m, name, and it ought to be gilt, or sil vered, or something, to console her fo such an old-fashioned appellation, thougl she does top and tail it as if it were gooseberry."
 "Oh, grandma p Mabel turned pleased and pretty face away from tn window now.
 Dont be overcome yet. Maybe yo1 VIII change your mind before the end miss. I've got bit of advice for yo, and promise to take first. The ady1c IS to leave off the piano for six month ana take to the kitchen. Men can't liv on love and waltzes, much less a man o the Selden tribe. I know 'em. If h. don't have good food, he'll be sour first then he'll have the dyspepsia, and ther will be sound of going in the tops Q the mulberry trees which things are figure. But that's the advice"
 "Oh, grandma I can make splendi cake, and ice-pudding, too, and Cha, lottes, just as good as Cross"
 "Fiddlesticks <! You can't make brea or boil potato or broil steak"
 "But anybody can do that"
 Mrs. Lee smiled, and grandma turne whitening look on Mabel.
 Don't be fool! There isn't one hundred eau do either, and I doubt you've got brains enough to: but yc might try"
 There rose up instantly a mighty Fr solve in Mabels feminine soul to sho Grandma Jarvis inst she could do mo,