Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-06-01

stantial breakfast for Barry also. When he
had eaten it he took up his hat crown.
go out the way you came in said Pru-
dence, ''or else you'll bring bad luck"
Barry gave little incredulous laugh, but
went out into the porch. Miss Abigail was
there, taking deep breaths Of the fresh morn
ing air, aud she bade him kind good morn.
ing as he went down the path again between
the lilacs, exuberant in growth but meagre in
bloom.
81 wonder why our liacs do not flower
more freely" Miss Abigail said to Prudence,
who had come to the door
II dunno" Prudence answered.
Barry heard, and turned.
81 guess it's because you leave the old bios
SONS on" be said, hositatingly. Mother
used to say must pick the blossoms of one
year il l wanted any the next"
And then he passed through the little gate,
closing it carefully behind him, and trudged
away along the moist brown road
That is a very uncommon boy, said Miss
Abigail, looking after him with serious eyes.
yes" answered Prudence, he's a clever
enough little chap-for a boy"
ITO think of his knowing about lilacs !"
continued Miss Abigail, medita.ively. II
must cut of all the flowers this spring"
AN he got as good u mess o. milk from
the heifer as l could "a done myself with a
we'll hand Prudence added.
Eyes, he would have been handy about
milking and bringing in wood for YOU said
Miss Abigail.
"Au' bringn the letters from the post Of
flice,' continued Prudence 'its good piece
over to the village in muddy walkin'."
80 it il, said Miss Abigail
She gazed reHectively along the road, which
led to the little hamlet mile away. Barry
was climbing tho hill-a mere pitiful, lonely
speck in the distance, as he was a mere insig-
nifcant atom in the great body OF humanity.
Miss Abigairs eyes filed,
"We might have kept him" she said.
"'T aint too late yet" put in Prudence.
Tho two women looked into each others
eyes.
III you can make him hear" began Miss
Abigail.
But Prudence had already gained the road
and sent long, quavoring cry after Barry.
"B-o.o.o-y!"
But the little figure they were watching
plodded steadily on.
"Gmme the old tin horn out O. the kitchen,
Miss Abigail-quick - called Prudence, ex-
citedly.
Miss Abigail, staid spinster that she was,
without thought Of the ludicrousness of tho
proceeding, ran to the kitchen, snatched the
horn from its nail, and ran out with it to Pru-
dence. Aud PRUDENCE put II 10 her mouth,
and blew a blast 30 long and 30 loud that it
startled the birds into silence and set the echos
ringing from hillside to hillside.
He en- hear that Of he ON hear anything"
declared Prudence.
He did. He stopped. Prudence waved
the horn vigorously. There was a moment
of suspense, and then Prudence turned to
Miss Abigail, who was standing at the gate.
Hes a-comin back" she said.
When Barry, breathless with the haste he
had made reached the cottage, Miss Abigail
was on the porch,
1--WE made up our minds to keep you, she
said, $50 long as you don't make too much
trouble"
"Oh, thank you, ma'am!' cried Barry. 'In.
deed, I'll try to please you!'
And | am sure he has succeeded, for the Ii
lacs have been in bloom three times since
that morning, and he is with Miss Abigail yet,
growing tall aud strong and manly as the years
60 by. He tils the bit Of a farm which so
long lay unimproyed, aud in winter attends
school at the village, where he is in excellent
reputo. io is SO faithful, aud helpful, and
kind, that Prudence is fain to apothegmatee
the horn after this manner:
"Hsrnsome is as harusome does, an you're
deseryin' Of bed O. v,lvet, ole horn, for the
deed you done that day -