The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-05-18
MISS HILDRETII.
BY HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoFFoRD.

80 finely on the baluStrade, with his
feathers sproal or trailing them over
the green sward. l really must have
one, john"
"They be an awful nuisance, man,"
demurred John. They'd never stick
to the balustrade. They be as hard to
manage as children, an that's a fac. )"
"They keeps up an awful squalling,
miss" put in Jane, the maid, when the
matter reached her ears. They'll be
worse than Miss Noyes' guinea-hens
and Miss Dunn's parrot, or them
children of larson Miller's-I never
lid see such neglected plaques as they
be-" she added, ir%relevantly. 81
wonder their mother don't rise in her
grave. But the poor man--what does
he know of the care Of babies, with
his sermons and his prayer-meetings,
and his parochial visits and his poor?
He's off to this wedding or that fu-
neral, or he's reading the word to the
sick and blind. It's a shame there's
no women folks, but hired help, to look
after 'em. 1 sea him myself one day
a-tidying of them up, and pinning on
their clean collars wrong side out and
upside down.
81 wish him joy of them," said Miss
Prudence. 81 prefer the peacock"
The first night after the peacock's
arrival, however, Miss Prudence never
closed her eyes, or the bird his mouth,
30 to speak; but when he pranced
across the lawn in the morning light
Miss Prue thought she would rather
lose her sleep than the sight of so
much beauty.
"Miss Dunn says she'll have to lay
in a stock of choral and bromide, if
you're going to keep the peacock" Jane
reported; and Mrs. Noyes herself
dropped in to suggest that he could be
killed and stuffed.
Hell be quite as decorative" said
she. without disturbing the neigh
bors."
Every two or three days a small ur-
chin would appear with the bird in
tow, and remark, demurely: "Your
peacock strayed over to Dickens, and
I've fetched him along home" for
which civility sundry pieces of small
change would be disbursed.
"And who are you?" she asked,
when the same youngster had per
formed the same benevolent service
some half-dozen times.
81? Oh, I'm Parson Miller's boy"
ellis son?"
"Why, yes uni reckon So"
81 shall have to shut him up" said
Miss Prue. His travelling expenses
will ruin me"
By this time the poor bird had lost
most of his fine tai feathers in the
process of being run down by the
Miller brothers and their contempo-
raries, and presented a ragged appear
ance which went to its owners heart.
So he was shut up in a temporary pen
till he should learn better ways; but
Miss Prudence, going to look after him
one afternoon, found the two Millers
inside the pen, chasing him about tC
display his plumage, while their little
sister stood outside and clapped heI
hands, and a crowd of other children
stood peeping between the Stats.
"What are you doing, children p
she cried.
"Oh, we've been reading about pea
cocks, and they need exercise" vouch'
safed the eldest Miller.
sit seems to me that you need
stick" said Miss Prue.
"Father don't approve of whipping
chirruped the youngest; "do you
father?"
And Miss Prue lifted her eyes ant
met those Of the Rev. Austin Miller
which wore a startled, perplexed ex
preston, while the color palpitate,
across his pale face.
"My children have annoyed you,'
he said, with the hesitating tone which
begged to be gainsaid.
"They have only annoyed the pea
cook" answered Miss Prue, dropping
her gaze, and flushing rosy red in he
turn.
81 came in search of these rogues,
he went on. bridget was sure the?
were in some mischief did not eX
pect to find you"
mo, Of course not" said Miss Prue
in a voice studiously matter-of-fact.
81 have read somewhere" the Rev
Mr.. Miller pursued, "that the onl.
real happiness which ever arrives t
us springs up quite unexpectedly il
our path-it is not the e.ult of search
l dropped the thread of my sermon
against my will, at a critical point t
pick up these little folks. l have IN
reward"
You are very easily satisfied RI
turned Miss Prue, in the same remot
voice. She was hardening her hear
against the persuasive tones which ha
once been like the music of the sphere
to her.
"No, l am not easily satisfied.
havenever been satisfied with myself
with some hasty a tons of my own,
should say. Miss Prudence, you hay
never forgiven me?" he spoke hal
questioninkfy, as if he would fain
contralicted.
"Inever thought of it rs anythin
to forgive" she said, and her voic
melted and broke a little in spite {
herself. at was so long ago." lit