Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-06-13

CNeI since L WAS hNts duu was hAhOeSSh
on my last birthday-that now he has
condescended to remember our existence,
and promise us visit, it's no wonder
that can't keep him in mind. And we
are not sure that his coming will benefit
us any. He may be cranky old man,
and very hard to please. 1t is more than
likely he is, for father with whom he
could never agree, though he is his only
brother tells me he was an unusually
cranky young one"
"Ob, you must make him pleased with
you" declared Matt, decisively. "You
have one advantage, and great one,
over the Others. You are his god
daughter, you know"
81 know it to my SORROW" assented.
Samuellal What a name to give an
unfortunate girl babyl If it hadn't been
for that saving Ella, what would have
done9 Fancy a woman's being called
Sam all her lifep
"But you will do your best to get into
the old chaps good graces, won't your"
said Matt, coaxingly.
"Well, yes, 1 will, since your heart
seems to be set on it" l promised, though
l wondered at the time why he was so
anxious that 1 should become favorite
of Uncle Sans. "Pll do everything but
give up the Reader"
Matt Brewster was chief proprietor of
the store where my brother George
was clerk, and he was also my acknowl-
edged lover. The latter fact made me
the envy of half the girls in Wildwood,
for Matt was considered the handsomest
and most fascinating young bachelor in
! the place. He was tall and slender, with
very light hair, blue eyes, straight nose,
and a small mouth.
Mrs. Leroy, the young wife of old
Captain Leroy-looked up to with great
respect by three-fourths of the popula-
ton of Wildwood, because she had her
bonnets and gloves straight from Paris,
gave it as her opinion that his brow was
too narrow and his chin too retreating.
''Give me-" she said, "calmly and coolly,
'the school-master, any day, in prefer
ence. He is not quite as tall, but his
shoulders are broader, so is his forehead,
and he has a certain manly look and way
about him that is utterly lacking in Mr..
Matthew Brewster"
Strange as it may appear, did not feel
as indignant at this adverse criticism of
my betrothed (by -the-way, had stipu-
lated at the time of our engagement, now
two months old, that marriage should
not be thought of for at least two years.
as some of the other girls did Nettle
Haley, for instance-daughte of Haley,
the builder, with snug little fortune in
her own right, inherited from her mother
was particularly wroth.
"She only talks that way" she said,
referring to Mrs. Leroy, "because she
wants to seem different from everybody
else, just as she sends to Paris from this
out of-theway village for her bonnets
and gloves Why there's no comparison
between the two men. Matt dances
beautifully; Mr.. Erickson don't dance a
step. Matt sings lovely; Mr.. Erickson
can only join in bass. Matt has com
plexion like a girls; and Mr., Erickson
has one like-like-"
ga mans, F." suggested, misehievously,
as she paused for a comparison.
ooh, pshaw, Ella, what a tease you
are And about your own beau, too! But
don't really believe you know''--and
here she heaved a deep sigh-'what a
lucky girl you are"
Well, began the Reader, and soon be-
came so absorbed in my work that every
thing l cast eyes upon instantly resolved
itself into First Lesson. Did the butcher
stop at the door, 81 see a man, he is a
butcher; a butcher sells meat, immedi-
ately flashed through my brain. Did one
of my intimate friends call, I greeted
her in my mind with, 81 see a girl; her
name is May'' Cor Lib, or Molly, which
ever it may be); "she comes to tell some
news" My very dreams were haunted by
like examples. Isaw the queerest things.
Their names were gibberish. They played
strange and ridiculous pranks. But for all
that-perchance in consequence of all
that-the book progressed rapidly, and
the first hundred lessons were almost com
pleted. when mother received Letter from
a cousin of hers, dated from the same
place in Australia from which Uncle Sans
had come. 1t read as follows:
'DEAR SARAH-Your brother-in-law
starts for Wildwood in a few days.
trust that he will arrive safely, and bring
you permanent relief from your pecuni-
airy troubles. You will find him much
changed in personal appearance-the re.
suit of several hard fights in which he has
been engaged-since you last saw him.
Never handsome, he is now-peculiar-
looking. write this especially to warn
you, and to have you warn the others,
not to allude in the slightest way to the
physical blemishes it will be impossible
for you not to observe, as any such allu.
sion would have the effect of rousing him
to furious anger. With love to Samuella,
upon whom he seems inclined to look with
favor, and kind remembrances to the
rest, I am yours faithfully Tom"
And not very long after the reception
of this letter Uncle Sam made his appear.
ance. He was peculiar looking, ITO use
a favorite remark of one of our oldest
citizens, with vengeance.
His head was bald in spots, as though
the hair had been pulled out by great
handfuls, and his face was all awry. Add
to this the expression of an ogre, and
you will not wonder that the children,
who had been hastily dressed at news
of his approach, were as hastily with.
drawn to the kitchen when he ar
rived. Poor little darlings we got then
away just in time, for their lips hac
begun to CULVER and their eyes to grow
big with frightened surprise. ''They
will get used to him by degrees, wits
pered my mother, as l gave each of then
a re-assuring kiss "And now, Ella dear
go back and do your best to entertain
him until your father comes in, while
see about the dinner"
returned to the parlor. sat dowr
opposite our visitor. found a dreadful
fascination in his unsymmetrical face.
could not remove my eyes from it.