Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-06-15
LOVE IN dSTTES.

|
Certain, wife, responded the deacon from
| his cart in the dooryard.
"Thero comes Kendalrs now basket wagon
with two women in it, pursued the good lady,
wringing her mop. 'Isn't that the horse
| that balks Z"
Being in the critical act Of emptying a four
| gallon bucket Of soap, the deacon vouchsafed
no reply. When the jellied mass had quiver-
ed and splashed into the barrel in waiting, he
| looked up just in season to see the gay little
pony shy at the cart aud 60 tearing down the
road.
They'll upset! they'll be killed Run af-
ter 'em! DO something!" shrieked Mrs. Chut-
| ter.
Don't get excited, wife they're all right
now That girl drives like man."
And, picking up his bucket, the moderate
deacon started for second supply Of soap
But, though the little incident had failed to
shake his nerves. it did make him oblivious
of his wifes washtub poised on the landing
OF the dim stairway, and as q natural conse-
quence he put his foot in it. The tub rolled;
the deacon swayed like pestle in mortar /;
there was lively succession of bumps, fol-
lowed by a clatter and thud, and deacon,
tub and bucket strewed the cellar floor
'Adab and Abihu ~ circulated the fallen
saint with sinful energy.
whats up, uncle p cried an anxious voice
overhead
II can tell better what's down." was the
grim response. Come and brace me while
try to step"
The owner of the voice, lno-looking youth
Of one and twenty, was already cropping his
way among the debris, his aunt following with
the camphor.
The deacon 3 attempted locomotion resulted
in groan.
81 must have spranod my ankle, Harvey
II I'd postponed this tub race till after I'd
been my rounds, t would have been better cal
culaton.'
"Oh, wouldn't worry about my rounds
uncle. What's the hurry -
My customers expect me to .day-that's
the point. l hate masterly to break my word
Now there's the widow Cleaves waiting for me
to take her ashes, so she can clean up after
me with the boiling suds, and up at Kcndall's
they're clean out of soap
And not clean without it, eh p laughed
the young man. "See here, uncle since you
are going to feel so uneasy about disappoint-
ing the people, why not send me in your
stead 7"
You in your fine clothes should smile! ="
mumbled Mrs. Clutter, the stopper of the
camphor bottle between her teeth.
why can't my unces mantle fall upon
me, auntie! was intending to borrow the
frock."
"Well, if do say it, you've got the Vance
common sense. Some young men Of your
bringing up would be ashamed to drive soap
cart"
"Humph! some young men would be fools &"
said the deacon, with warmth Nobody
has any call to be ashamed to deliver such
soap as l make. II you've mind to run the
team to-day, Harvey, l shall be obleeged to
you"
Fifteen minutes later the worthy deacon
was extending his aching length upon the
sitting. room lounge and gazing through the
open window after his youthful proxy, who,
duly initiated into the mysteries of the call
ing, was driving away in the big blue cart
Behind jouuced and croaked an empty ash
bin, faukCd by two covered barrels of soap
but the swinging seat was clean and comfort
able, and commanded fine view Of the sur
rounding country.
A half mile and moro the road wound thro
his unce's fertile acrey, for Deacon Chutter
was withal farmer Indeed farming was
his chief vocation, soap boiling being an ac-
cessory venture growing out Of sundry extern
sive experiments in the use of leached ashes
as fertilizer. 1t was one of those tuneful
mornings in early June when all nature Joins
in glad doxoogy. The newly arrived bob
olnks tipsy with glee carolled in the mead
ows. The orioles, hanging their hammocks
in the elms, could scarcely work for singing
Gay breezes whispered love to the graceful
young clover, then danced away to iirt with
the coy hillside birches. Everywhere was
light and motion, irradated by the benignant
sun. For Harvey Vance's study-weakened
eyes there was even too much glare, too much
flutter, He lost no time in putting on his
blue goggles
who cares if they do make me look like a
Fsar !, 81 L., Ia - l.
his aristocratic nose. Thanks to them aud
to the change of air my poor optics are un.
| doubtedly improving. l shall be back in col
lege by fall. Ha ha if the fellows could
only see me now !"
And here, to the infinite surprise OF staid
Dobbin, his new master broke into a rollick-
| ing class song-a song abruptly ended as a
turn in the road revealed near farm house
"If peddle soap, I'll peddle it with due
decorum," solloquized the youth, knocking
upon the back door with the handle of his
whip.
To have seen the capable air with which he
measured ashes, bushel by bushel, giving in
exchange money or gallons of soap, accord
| ing to the customers desire, one would have
pronounced him bred to the soap business
Since his month rustcation at his Aunt Chut-
ters he had made the acquaintance of most
of the farmers along the river, and these ex-
| pressed their qualification at the fact that "a
| judges son wasn't afraid TO work" but
outside the parish limits his triumphal march
| terminated. He was a stranger in strange
land. One man asked if he had bought out
the deacon second hoped he wasn't intend
ing to run an opposition team; and the loyal
widow Cleaves could scarcely be persuaded to
surrender her ashes, because, forsooth, she
| preferred to trade with Deacon Clutter.
/ nha1iapt t, big o1a 81 ipctruatioVu Of har
cottage the young man took a crossroad TO
Kendalls a summer hotel familiary styled
| "The Eyrie."
you'll find it long three miles, had been
Mrs. Cleaves's parting remark.
'Hhree miles, and not neighbor between
here and there l couldn't blame the widow
| if she should want to change her situation, ~
mused the deacon's deputy, scanning the
western horizon. Shouldn't wonder if that
cloud yonder meant business. l thought the
sun was too bright this morning, Well, a lit
tie high-toned thunder will drown this ever
lasting racket"
Facing about to wedge in position an empty
soap barrel, he observed two ladies driving
up the hill in basket phaeton.
"ThRt looks like Kendall's team that gave
auntie such panic this morning." thought
he. "The ladies are probably some of his
boarders-TOm Cavender's mother and sister,
for aught know I've heard they were stop.
ping at the Eyrie. Goodness wouldn't il
be a joke if l should fall in with them to
day !"
Meantime the younger lady in the carriAg,
was merrily commenting on the quasi soap
mans active figure, conspicuously and amply
clad in the deacons canvas frock and overalls
~ hope he isn't perambulating maniae
mamma"
"Its the very cart that frightened tn
pony - was the terrified response 'Do le
me get out, Lila! Oh oh J"
But already the horse was backing dow
the hill. Harvey sprang from the cart ant
grasped the refractory animal by the bridl
just in season to prevent the carriage iron
overturning in the ditch.
Thank you, sir-thank you very much in
deed, said the girlish driver, the color comin
back TO her face "Now if you will be kim
enough to lead our pony past your cart, W
shall be yet more obliged"