Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-04-27

Z
kus have been followed for many years by thousands
| Of young readers through the pages Of Our Young
! Folks and St. Nicholas. But now the Peterkin chill
dren are children longer the little boys have out
grown their rubber boots and the family become
separated that it would be impossible to continue
the papers in coherent form; therefore st. Nicholas
publishes in its May number 1.-The Last of the Peter
kins." We print the concluding paragraphs.l
So much pleased were all the family with
the German preceptor, who had taken such
good care of the three little boys, that they
decided that they should continue under his
instructions and return with him to Gratz.
This decision made more easy the other
plans of the family.
Both Agamemnon and Solomon John had
decided that they would like to be foreign
consuls. They did not much care where, and
they would accept any appointment, and both,
it appeared had written on the subject TO the
department at Washington Agamemnon had
put in plea for a vacancy at Madagascar, and
Solomon John hoped for an opening at Rust
chuk, Turkey if not there, at Aiutab, Syria.
Answers were expected, which were now tel
egraphed for, to meet them at Constantine
pie.
Meantime, Mr.. Peterkin had been consult
ing the preceptor and the Russian count about
land journey home. More and more Mrs.
Peterkin determined she could not and would
not trust herself to another voyage, though
she consented to travel by steamer to Con-
stantinople. If they went as far as Nijninov-
gorod, which was now decided upon, why
could they not Perseyere through Russia in
Asia
Their Russian friend at first shook his head
at this, but at last agreed that it might be pos
sibl6 to go on from Novgorod comfortably to
Iobolsk, perhaps even from there to Iakoutsk.
and then to Kamschatka
And cross at Behring's Strats " exclaimed
Mrs. Peterkin. 1T looks so narrow on the
map"
''And then we are in Alaska" said Mr.. Pc
terkin.
"And at home" exclaimed Mrs. Peterkin,
land no more voyages"
But Elizabeth Eliza doubted about KAN
schatka and Behring's Straits, and thought it
would be very cold.
But we can buy furs on our way, insisted
Mrs. Peterkin.
"And if you do not find the journey agree
able " said their Russian friend, you can turn
back from Yakoutsk, even from Tobolsk, and
visit us
Yes-W!
For Elizabeth Eliza was to marry the Rus
sian count
He had been in boat that was behind them
on the Nile, had met them often, had visited
the ruins with them, joined their excursions,
and had finally proposed at E1fu.
Elizabeth Eliza had then Just written to con
suit the lady from Philadelphia with regard to
the offer of a German professor they had met,
and she could therefore give nO reply to the
count.
Now, however, it was necessary to make
decision. She had meanwhile learned a few
words Of Russian. The count spoke English
very well, made himself understood better
than the professor, and could understand Eliz-
abeth Eliza's French. Also, the count knew
how to decide questions readily, while the
| professor had to consider both sides before he
could make up his mind.
Mrs. Peterkin objected strongly at first.
She could not even pronounce the Russians
name. How should she be able to speak of
him, or tell anybody whom Elizabeth Eliza
had married?' But finally the family all
| gave their consent won by the attention and
! devotion of Elizabeth Eliza's last admirer.
The marriage took place in Constantinople
not at Santa Sophia, as Elizabeth Eliza
would have wished, as that was under Mo
| hammedan dispensation. A number of Amer
| lean residents were present, and the preceptor
sent for his other pupils in Athens. Elizabeth
| Eliza wished there was time to invite the lady
from Philadelphia to be present, and Ann Ma
ria Bromwich. Would the name be spelled
| right in the newspapers All that could be
done was to spell it by telegraph as accurate
| ly as possible, as well as they themselves
knew how, and then leave the papers to do
their best (or worst) in their announcements
of the wedding 'at the American consulate,
Constantinople, Turkey. No cards"
The last that was ever heard of the Peter
kins, Agamemnon was on his way to NADIA
gascar, solomon John was at Rustchuk and
the little boys at Gratz; Mr.. and Mrs Peter
kin, in a comfortable sledge, were on their
way from Tobolsk to Yakoutsk and Eliza
beth Eliza was passing her honeymoon in the
neighborhood of Moscow. -Lucr6tid p, HUE