News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-03-15

der. Look here, Nab, sald she, Slip
ping a fiat cold hoop off her third finger,
and the girl read inside: Beware of lit
tie foxes - and looked up, freshly as
tonished into her mothers face.
Il suppose grandma means to tell you
story. Mabel, which she told me when
[ was first engaged. 1t hurt her bitterly
to tell it, but it did me much good. [
think she could not bring herself to tell
YOU. You are not her daughter and
cannot love her as [ do, and You never
have had reason to pity her as 1 have
! You never saw Grandfather Jarvis, Ma
bel ?"
''Why, I thought he died before 1 was
born.
mo; he died ten years ago in Brazil
[ 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.
81 have been told that grandma was
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 I do
you"
Mabel kissed the soft hand laid on
her shoulder, and gave it a willful little
bite.
Don't be horrid, mamma, or shall
eat you right up. As if [ was one bit
| spoiled"
eli You were not, my child, you would
not need grandma's lesson. She was
spoiled, as [ 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
rage, though out of respect to her
mothers memory, there was no wedding
party, and the happy pair began their
life at once 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 their
first dispute was about a cOffee-pOt. /
Mother preferred the old-fashioned urn,
her husband the newest style Of pitcher.
Neither would yield in mere matter of
taste, and this was the beginning of |
evil.
Silly? Yes. it looks wonderfully silly |
to Us; but L think heard a very warm
discussion only yesterday on the proper
style Of riding hats for lady"
Mabel colored to the waves Of her
dark hair and tried to smile.
They came to a compromise on this
matter, agreeing to drink chocolate in
place of coffee; but other small disputes
they all burned in on
5randma's mind, but I forget most of
hem, so slight and trivial were the
matters of discussions, though they grew
% active means of torment.
"a child was born, and Jonathan, i'll
lis sad and sore heart, thought that
would bring peace, and his indignant
and grleved wife hoped it also. for each
blamed the other, as combatants will
but the baby's eyes never saw their
.trif,.. II did, mud hope died with !
t. Little frets are what wear away love
nd life, Mabel. My poor father-and =
~ poor mother! There was no kindly
lend to say jUdiciOus word to either.
hey showed a smiling front to the Il
orld outside, but grew more aIienated d
ally.
EThere was no real quarrel, no vital
sagreement, but the hourly fret of IN -
sciplined tempers, impatient natures, II
rOng wills and self-consideration that Il
'rbade yielding, that cherished pride y
nd petulance, that recognized no duty,
kept as owned to itself. II
"The end of these things fastened. y
'efore the nameless baby slept in its n
reen grave year, father had set out 81
n Brazil IN merchant vessel. leaving o.
MS short adieu to his wife: d
You can say | have gone South on
usiness, Mehitabel, but yo,l must know 81
shall never come back. | am tired of
wing IN torment, and you will be glad Y
D part with one vino could never please f,
GU. So farewell
Yours in command, u
"'JoNATHAN JARVIS d
Mother was franticalIy angry at first. "
'he raved in her own chamber over what n
he termed moral insult, but as day IL
fter day came on, and her lonliness and "
weakness got out of her. she began to see k
Kings more honestly; and when thenews Il
anne that the ship had foundered at sea, Il
nd all hands persisted, then she was en- o
rely Frustrated. As she told me. her Il
asst life rose up, looked her in the face.
nd struck her down. I
81 was born after my fathers depart II
re, and very long illness carried her to
ne gates of the grave. She recovered C
t last, a stern and saddened woman. II
18th only one interest in her life, but el
ne brought me up with strictness
nd care, tenderly as she loved me, and d
hen l was about to take up life for NY
If, she told me this story and gave me fe
lis ring. "
g IF [ had killed the little foxes, said a.
le, sadly, L might to-day have a N
oddly vineyard of my own. Beware of IS
em, Hetty. They have spoiled my /"
e.
g And after all, Mabel, my father was
1t lost on the wreck. He was picked
. by another vessel and, under an as 81
med name lived ON in Brazil. In the L.
asp Of mortal illness, he wrote to his g
ife, asking and giving pardon. It was tn
ON him that all her wealth came, but tio
ne never for@ave herself" IN
"Poor grandma - sobbed Mabel. tn
and have been SO horrid to her!" re
I" 1t will console her for all her freaks. nc
y darling, if you only profit by her TO
tiful story" to