Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-04-04
VOL. $4,000. NO. 26.

flower in the middle of the dinner.table ?
Are you an aesthetic young lady, Kitty ?"
Kitty laughed heartily.
"Don't be afraid, aunty. | only want my
earwigs and slugs, and the maids shan't
quarrel but | want some low chairs and a
pretty little table and lamp, aud place TO
put my piano and my various pictures and
pretty things. And | want to send away
this dreadful stove and have an open wood.
fire. saw some beauties of andirons and
brass fender in the attic, aunty."
"Wood-fres make lot Of dirt, Kitty"
"The new girl can sweep it up. Let us
put this carpet in your room, and stain the
floor and put down rugs. It's 30 much
cleaner. l see you are going to say Yes,'
you dear. There is just one thing more.
saw trunk in the attic-the trunk l
guess and most beautiful old silk dress
the dress, aunty 2"
"Yes, Kitty, the dress. What now Am
| to wear it to church with peacock feather
in my hat Z"
"Not quite. was only thinking what
lovely sofa cover it would make"
Kitty pink and white brocade
Not exactly. Have it dyed"
81 never thought of that said Miss Ran
dali, opening her eyes very wide. Its not
"Or soft olive or lavender" suggested
Kitty. "You must choose a pretty paper,
first, you know, and then color TO barmonize.
Oh, you dear, good aunty. / do believe you
are going to let me have my way, and turn
this house into distractingly lovely little
home"
"Distracting, indeed sighed Aunt
Catiy. "But-yes, Kitty. You are young
and have the tastes of your times. I'll not
thwart you. If you sit by the fire, shan't
miss my neat little stove perhaps. II you
are happy, maybe I'll get to like the new.
tangled ways"
"Do let me kiss you, dear Aunt Catty.
/ am so glad. wish could set TO work
this moment"
Well, dear, you can. There is that bro
cade. Rip it up"
"Just the thing cried Kitty, delighted,
but her Aunt stopped her.
"Only, child, don't rummage. | do hate
to have my things tossed and tumbled about.
There's nothing in the garret but old broken
things, no good at all. Promise me TO leave
them all alone.'
"Al right, aunty." Kitty ran gladly up
stairs. She meant to be very good but
she could not help just looking at this old
screen, delightfully."- capable of restoration,
or that old clock, banished for its irregular
! life, but which, when set in order, would
look so well in the hall The hall Kittys
countenance fell. How could anything
really be done to such a pokey, common
little house Kitty sighed, as she lifted
out the heavy brocade, and wished these
decorations might be applied to some.
what worthier home, something picturesque
and artistic.
However, she had gained much, and it
was with bright face she stood before her
aunt, laden with the old.fashioned fnery.
"See, Aunty, it is a perfect beauty. |
brought down this lovely scarf, too. 1t
would make such a table-cover. Did you
know it was there
"I never took one thing out OF the
trunk" said Miss Randall gravely. at
was bitter gift to me, and scarcely know
why did not leave it behind at the Masons.
What a weight it is have always sup
posed it was the wedding dress. think 1t
will be real relief to me to send the stuff
to the dye-pot. The mere thought of its
pink.and-white foweriness has always turned
me little sick. Just look how it is lined
throughout, and what shspe Aunt
Cstty seized the scissors and began to rip
vigorously.
al WONDER" she calculated, whether
Aunt Katharine really thought | would
make guy Of myself by wearing that thing
10 be married in"
"Oh, no aunty, you would have to rip
and alter it, Of course but with white
satin, you know, and plenty of tulle, it
might have been made lovely"
"With my yellow cheeks " said Aunt
Cattv, with asnort. She ripped on.
"Kitty
Kitty, who had been daintily detaching
the old lace border from neck and sleeves,
looked up, startled, to see Aunt Catty sit
ting perfectly limp and pallid, staring at the
silk, from which protruded various stiff,
greenish corners. What was it? Kitty's
mind was quick. She jumped up; she tore
recklessly at the beautiful silk the Innings
fell apart. Miss Randall sat paralyzed.
They fell around her. Greenbscks with
out number Fifty dollars, one hundred
dollars-by twenties and forties they came /;
and Kitty, growing methodical, gathered
them all up and put them into aunty's lap.
81 do believe the whole sixty thousand
are here l'' she cried.
They were. Sleeves, waist. all were
pulled apart, ard the carefully padded bills
extracted. Just over the heart was stitched
in little note;
Dear Niece Think kindly of me II you can.
II your James Lavater is better man than mine
you will find the real worth Of this, my wedding
dress. II he is what think him. you are well
quit OF him and may thank me. In any case you
are sure to find the money soon, for 1t wouldn't
be you not to rip up and dye my old silk and
make 1t of some use. Niece, MAY you be hap
pier woman-whether maid, wife or widow-than
your unfortunate AUNT CATHARINE.
Poor Aunt Catty she could hardly re.
cover from the shock and surprise but
when she did it had wonderfully softening
effect upon her. A dozen bitter little angu-
larities and queerness which had grown out
ment dropped away at once and forever.
She looked younger and sweeter than she
ever had, her niece thought, when she
handkerchief, cheered by the knowledge
that Aunt Katharine had not insulted and
forsaken her, as all these years she had
thought but what in reality saved her
from what might have been an unhappy
which shrank back in good time, thank
heaven Aud now, instead of soured,
forgotten old maid lonely and drear, as she
had considered herself, she walked to the
truth that she was a rich, healthy, indepen-
spoil, aud delight in; niece who was
wildly dancing around the room, waving a
greenback over her head, and crying with
merry triumph:
"Aunt Catty, never say again that you
hate rumma9ing. g."-Independent.
Wanted TO Hear the Order.
AT the second hattle of Rnll RIM n recrnit