The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1884-12-11
ON NEW YEARS DAY.

said Philo Lusk.
He had just come back from his
snowy tramp to the post Office, with
the weekly paper and one letter.
Old Mrs. Lusk had brought in the
lighted candles, and piled an extra log
on the fire, so that the low ceiled kitch-
en- was all aglow with ruddy light,
while the smell of stewing apples, and
the song of the teakettle. which hung
from the iron crane, lent practical
idea of comfort to the scene.
"Taxes, amt it?" said Mrs. Lusk,
whose eyesight was not so good as it
had been.
"No, it amt taxes" mechanically
uttered her son, still intent on the con-
tents of the envelope that he had just
torn open.
"Well, then it's a letter from your
Aunt Sophrony, out on Long Island,
asking for money"
"No, it amt" said Philo. "It amt
letter at all. It's just card. Miss
Valeria Whitman. AT home Jan. l,
1884,"
"Law said Mrs. Lusk. "She wants
you to call there"
"Get out" said Philo, with a sud-
den access of sheepishness. "Why
should l 90 there?"
"Well, why not?" asked Mrs. Lusk.
"1t's what the city people do, I'm told.
They make big cake and draw a
pitcher of cider, and set down in their
best clothes to see company Valley
Whitman is dreadful enterprising
She means to lead in the fashions"
Gam l to call there?" asked Philo.
"Why, of course" said his mother.
"What else does it mean!-'Miss Vale
ria Whitman. At Home"
"She's at home most days, amt she p"
said Philo. musingly. "There never
was anything of the gadabout in Valley
Whitman that 1 ever heard Of"
"Oh, but this 'ere's new kink!" ex-
planned Mrs. Lusk. New Year'a Day
don't you see?"
"1'd calculated to take the oxen on to
Snidge Hill and grub stumps out of
the clearin' on New Years Day." said
Philo.
"The next day will do just as well
for the stumps," said Mrs. Lusk, en-
couragingly. Zone might as well be
out of the world as out of the fashion,"
Deacon Folgrove got one of Miss
Whitman's cards-also Squire Hart.
In fact, there was not widower or
old bachelor, or eligible swain in all
Cedarville who was omitted from the
list.
~ amt as young as 1 was" said
Miss Whitman to herself. "It's high
time took steps to establish myself"
So she put fresh muslin curtains to
the windows, made herself new gown
according to the latest fashion plate,
and prepared for the festive Initial
Day Of the year.
Miss Valeria Whitman had Just
passed her iive-and-fortieth year. She
was stout and ruddy, with the very
best set of teeth that the Cedarville
dentist could supply, and a perpetual
smile riveted on her lips; and she was
very tired OF living alone and sewing
on vests to earn her pin money. AMI
she had determined, on this particular
occasion, to make a coup d'etat and
win husband.
So she attlred herself on New Years
Day in a green satin dress cut low in
the neck and short in the sleeves, and
pinned a bunch of chrysanthemums at
the left side, and puffed her newly
tinted hair in the most elaborate style
II do declare" said Miss Val to her
self, IL don't look a day over twentyp'
Deacon Folgrove was the first to ar
rive-bard-handed, hard-headed old
man, with complexion of leather, and
the keenest of twinkling black eyes.
II got letter from you, Miss Whit
mH," said he. 81 s'pose you want to
consult me on business"
ia, deacon, what very strange
ideal" said Miss Whitman, with a gig.
gle. mo. indeed 1 only wish to
promote sociability during this festive
season."