Connecticut western news., 1883-02-28
VOL. XII.

cOuraSl1lS ptOpuScy' Ao ID Jueo kOoSAOAe grandma knew who she was talking to.
 "Then, as to the promise. I'm going to send you over motto-one of those painted gimcracks everybody hangs ur everywhere. don't know why they are called illustrated, I'm sure, except by the rule of contraries, for they need extrs spectacles and calcium light to reao them by; but you can read mine; ] warned of the curlicues; only promise to read it every morning before break fast, or can tell you you won't get the tea-set."
 ooh, yes, of course I'll read it, grand ma-the ideap
 "Well, well, if you read it you'll think about it, I'll warrant. Now I must gc home and send John over with the thing. , And with frosty little caress on Mabel's fair cheek and a nod to her mother, the old lady went.
 Grandma kisses me just like clam shell," said Mabel in half soliloquy as she sat down again by the window. He1 mother could not help laughing, for the cool nip of thin lips that was grandma's substitute for kiss, certainly did sug. gest clans and clamminess. John came directly back with the package and Ma bel eagerly united and unfolded it. The motto was printed in large German text easy to read, though gay with gold and colors and if ran thrs.
 "Take up the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.
 Mabel stared.
 ''Mother, what on earth does it mean?"
 Mrs. Lee smiled and sighed, both, as she read the legend over the girls shoul- der. 'Look here, Mab," said she, slip ping flat cold hoop of her third finger, and the girl read inside: ''Beware of it- tie foxes !' and looked up, freshly as- tonished into her mothers face
 "I suppose grandma means to tell you story, Mabel, which she told me when I was first engaged. It hurt her bitterly to tell it, but it did me much good. l think she could not bring herself to tell you. You are not her daughter and cannot love her as I do, and you never have had reason to pity her as have. You never saw Grandfather Jarvis, Ma bel ?''
 "Why, I thought he died before I was born"
 "No; he died ten years ago in Brazil. I never saw him myself, Nab. He never knew he had daughter. - ? ''Mother !''
 Mrs. Lees lovely dark eyes filled with tears as she drew Mabel down beside her on the sofa..
 'I have been told that grandma was a very beautiful, high-spirited girl at your age, dear, animated, brilliant, thor. oughly satisfied with herself and her surroundings, especially when Jonathan Jarvis fell in love with her. Her father died when she was three years old, and her invalid mother adored the child and spoiled her even more than do you"
 Mabel kissed the soft hand laid on her shoulder, and gave it willful little bite.
 "Don't be horrid, mamma, or I shai1 eat you right up. As if was one bit spoiled!"
 eff you were not, my child, you would not need grandma's lesson. She was spoiled, as I said, and Jonathan Jarvis knew it, but he was bewitched by her spirit and beauty, and thought, as men are apt to think, that he could control and cure all that. She loved him, too, very deeply, after her fashion, and there was nothing to delay their marriage, but the day was scarcely fixed when her mother suddenly sank and died. Grand mother did not mourn so hopelessly that it was thought best to put off their mar- riage, though out of respect to her mothers memory, there was no wedding party, and the happy pair began their life at onco in the old homestead where grandma lives to-day.
 "The outlook before these two was very fair; youth, health, competency, what seemed to be devoted love, made them an apparently enviable couple; but no sooner were these unbroken wills brought into daily contact than trouble began.
 "You may laugh, Mabel, but thei, first dispute was about 8 coffee pot Mother preferred the old-fashioned urn her husband the newest style of pitcher Neither would yield in mere matter o taste, and this was the beginning 0. evil.
 "Silly2 Yes, it looks wonderfully silly to us; but I think I heard very warn discussion only yesterday on the proper style of riding hats for lady"
 Mabel colored to the waves of he, dark hair and tried to smile.
 "They came to compromise on this matter, agreeing to drink chocolate il place of coffee; but other small disputes followed; they all burned in o1 grandma's mind, but I forget most 0 them, so slight and trivial were tn matters of discussions, though they grey to active means of torment.
 "A child was born, and Jonathan, il his sad and sore heart, thought tha would bring peace, and his indignan and grieved wife hoped it also, for eacl blamed the other, as combatants will but the bsby's eyes never saw thei strife; it died, and the hope died wit it. Little frets are what wear away lov and life, Mabel. My poor father-an | ,Noor oot1a,l TTho1.a rvoe m 1xInH1