The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1886-07-07


alton.
Mary, dear" said Mr.. Taber, " do
YOU ever think how far Imagination
goes toward fixing the value of every
thing? Do you remember the story of
the Hibernian who held a potato in
each hand, and imagined one meat and
the other bread? You do? Well, let
us exercise our imagination at this
feast, as we will imagine it. Here, my
dear "-handing over the scantily sup
piled bread-plate-" have quail on
toast.n
"Thank you, pa" said Mary, CT
prefer an ortalon with truflles."
" Here you have it," said he, passing
a fragment of salt fish, done to a
nicely"
" Now little of the ounce jelly, pa;
thank you," as he passed over apotato.
Thus they went on merrily from one
thing to another, and enjoyed an mag
mary repast of the most elaborate de-
scription. No menu at SWANS ever
presented anything more luxurious,
crowned with a bowl of delicious choco-
late, with cream from the water-pitcher.
Mr.. Taber arose from his table as well
satisfied as if he had gorged himself
at an aldermanic feast, and passed into
his little parlor humming a tune. But
it was all feigned, and he felt anxious
for Mary. After lighting his lamp he
returned to her and found her weeping.
" Don't give up, my GIRL" said he;
" the Providence that has watched over
us so long will not desert us now, and
feel it in my bones that the darkest hour
has passed. So dry your eyes, dear, and
before you clear away the remainder of
our feast please 60 to Mr.. Manners
door and borrow his evening paper for
me if he can spare it,"
She put on her shawl to go, and he
returned to the parlor. 1t was cold
weather and little stove was striving
with handful of fire to make the room
warm, but was not succeeding very
well. Mr.. Taber took up book and
made an effort to read, but it was a
failure. A reaction had taken place,
and his recent good spirits were at a
low ebb He got up and walked the
floor, but his nerves were drawn to
their utmost tension, and he sat down
again with his face hidden by his
hands. He was looking at poverty
through his fingers, and, like the SOL
ulCIS dU oil NlOOlC .
"bitterly thought of the morrow"
He tried to rally, got up again, and
was moving slowly and thoughtfully
across the floor, when there came a
violent ringing at his door-bell. TIC
say that he was startled fails to express
it. He fairly trembled for a moment,
and hesitated before he dared to 60 tc
the door. Upon opening it a sudden
rush of snow from without almost
blinded him, but he saw by the light
from the parlor the figure of mar
standing upon his doorstep.
GLOW are we, Mr.. Taber!'' said &
muffed voice from the depths of wraps
and comforters. "Come to spend the
evening with YOU"
Mr.. Taber, recognizing the voice Of
Mr.. Manners, his neighbor, welcomed
him heartily.
"Glad to see you, my dear friend,
said he; "come right in. Shows, dom
it? Now hang up your coat and wraps
l am very glad you have come. 1 was
feeling quite lonesome when you rang
This is indeed neighborly."
81 was almost afraid 1 should in
trude," said the caller, shaking thu
snow from his coat; "but, feeling rathe
dull at home, told my wife l would
run in and see you. How are your"
&C All right, and many thanks TO
your company. Sit here by the stove.
He didn't dare to say " fire." TO
that would have been fearful tray
esty of the fact, as barmecidal a
the recent feast. But they sat dow
by the stove and warmed themselve
', with spirited conversation, durin'
which Mr.. Taber forgot all about hi
late dependency.
GLOW it does storm, to be sure,
! said he; "why, l didn't know it unit
d, you came in" The wind ratified tn
, windows fiercely.
! 1T came on very suddenly" salt
Mr.. Manners, "and now we will do a
! they do in Spain, when it rains let
rain. We will let it snow, and have
comfortable hour by ourselves. d
i, you expect any company"
'. "Bless you, no. / have few caller
in fair weather, and to-night-wasn'
: that the door-bell?"
. &C thought it was" said the neigh
). Dor, " very faint though"
= While Mr.. Taber was rising to atten
y the summons another peal sounded
: this time in earnest. AS he opened tn
), door two men, attended by cloud {
snow, stepped inside. Mr.. Taber sa
o that they were two of his best friends
Slater and Smith.
Welcome, gentlemen, he said, shall
= ing them by the hands, " this is an III
:, expected pleasure, and on such nigh
y too. Bless me! how glad am to see yoV
Hang up your coats and come right
if here where it is warm. Here is M
h Manners, gentlemen, to whom you nee
A no introduction. Sit down"
q They were having a jolly time, ar
told Mr. Taber very reasonable stol
about how they came there-had G
" lost in the snow, think, while goir
= to visit sick brother Mason or som
), thing of that sort, and thought the
"a would call on him, his house being nea
- Mr.. Taber was sincerely glad to S,
70 them, and was beaming with smil
g. when the door-bell rang again. Wi
y a surprised expression he went aga
~ to the door, and this time there we
ct three in the binding snow, whom
g. knew and welcomed, as he had Il
others.
70 4" thought you might be lonely c
~ y. so stormy night" said Mr.. Jones,
az he took off his coat and rubbers, " al
10 ea 7 c,nt Aebar onI Gpaa1 to nopa oil m