Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-03

! end if she had only heard it. But for.
tunately for her peace Of mind, she was
engaged with hospitable duties, and I'm.
| conscious of Colestina's remarks.
"Do you go to school?" asked the
bachelor.
"Yos, but l don't want to. I hate
studying"
"You ought not TO do that. You
wouldn't want to grow up Ignorant,
would you?"
"Couldn't get married i'll was igno.
rant?' asked Celeatina Maria.
"Ahem !" coughed the bachelor; "you
ore too young to think OF that"
"Are you married?' asked the child,
suddenly.
mo" said Mr.. Worthington, some.
what embarrassed.
"Well, that's funny, You're old
enough to be, anyhow"
"I'l wait for you, my dear"
~ wouldn't want to marry YOU"
"Wouldn't you? Why not?'
"No, you're too Old"
Eyes, I'm too old to marry, my dear
81 don't know" said Calestiua Maria
az guess mother would marry you
Mr.. Worthington blushea crimson,
and the blood settled at tho eud of his
nose, which didu't improve his appear.
anCe.
"You shouldn't talk so, my dear" he
said. "Your mothor wouldn't like to
have you
81 didn't think said Celestina. "But
you need not tell, you know"
"No, I won't"
GLOW many teeth have you got?" in
quired the incorrigible child, after u
slight pause.
II don't know l never counted. How
many have your
| "About twenty or thirty; but mine
don't look so nice as mas"
"Your ma has very pretty teeth
eyes, she ought to have"
"Why do you say that"
"Because she paid enough for 'om.
Didn't you know she bought them of
the dentist, and paid an awful lot OF
money for them? / wish they didn't
cost so much, for ma said she couldn't
buy me new cloak this winter, cause
she had to pay SO much for her teeth"
! 'Really," thought Mr.. Worthington in
perspiration, "this terrible child is
Likely to reveal to me all her mothers
secrets. / wish her mother'd come in.
l don't feel right listening to all she
! SAYS. | would not be her father for II
good deal"
! Just then Mrs. Wilkins did come in,
smiling and little flushed, having been
in the warm kitchen. She could hardly
have looked so COM lacent if she had
known how much Celesina Maria had
revealed during her absence from the
| room.
"Pm sorry to have left you so long,
Mr.. Worthngtor," she said "but these
servants are not to be trusted entirely.
I Lave to look after Susan little, or
she would make sad blundcIs."
"You are quite excusable, madam"
said the bachelor, politely.
Il hope Cslcstina Maria las not
troubled YOU said her mother.
VI, III, llot W. pli'
! Sect down from the gentleman's lap"
said Mrs. Wilkins. "You are too
heavy
Soon tho supper table vas laid, and
the three sat down. 1t is needless to
say that the repast spread upon it was
an inviting ono, for Mrs. Wilkins was an
excellent housekoeper. She pressed
MIR. Worthington Hospitality to do jus
tice to the repast, and he began to for
get Celestina's revelations rs to her
mothers age aud teeth, when the young
lady, evidently becoming very FESTIVE,
began to nudge her mother.
"Ma!" said she.
''Re quiet, Celcstina Maria, can't
you?' said the widow, who was pouring
out a cup of tea for Mr.. Worthington.
! 81 want that cakew
/ "What cake?' inquired Mrs. Wilkins
in the utmost unlucky iorsctfulness.
"Ihe cake that you promised me ii l
wouldn't say anything about the gentle
mans long nose !" was the startling re-
/ ply
/ 1t is hard TO say which became the
most embarrassed, the bachelor or the
widow.
You peiveIsc child" said the wild
ow, shaking her offspring with empha
sis. "Why do you tell such wicked
lics?'
! "But you did, ma" persisted Celes-
tina.
/ This was too mnch for Mrs. Wilkins
She took Celestina Maria by the arm,
and put her out OF the room, returning
to her place in great embarrassment.
"She is q troublesome child, Mr..
Worthington,' said the mother "You
mustn't think anything OF her unluchy
speeches"
"Oh, certainly not" eaid the bachelor;
! but it is to be feared that he did, for the
conversation tagged after that, and he
! took an early leave.
/ He didn't propose to Mrs. Wilkins,
who is still widow. She has, however
despatched Celestina Maria to distant
boarding school, and is busy with fresh
plans of Il matrimonial nature, in which,
as Celestina Maria is away, she may
succeed.