Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-10
AN EASTER GIFT.

lOiu 'h' J''' """'''y INV S"SN' 0'
They wouldn't believe us. Now let EN-
take the consequences
eve warned 'cm beforehand" said
Aunt Zcruirh "Thcy couldn't expect
nothin' faircr than that
Uncle Zcb and Aunt Rucy sat looking
at each other, one on either side OF the
big stone fireplace, like the old man and
woman we sometimes sec tete.a-tete in a
toy-shop.
They were ancient and wcazcn and
wrnkcd-So thin that it would seem as
if an extra blast from the brass.nozzled
bellows must assuredly blow them away,
while their spcctacles shonc like stray
stars from some unheard-of constellation,
and the veins stood out like whip cord
from their lean old hands.
Uncle Zeb Watcrson and Aunt Ruey,
his sister, were old batchclor and old
maid. All their lives long they had
been saving and scrimping and pinching,
as if economy were the handspring OF
their existence. They never saw red
apple with any appreciation of its artistic
beauty; they thought of it only as being
worth so much barrel; the corn silkcd
and tasseled out only as so much "primc
Indian-mcal;" )" the pink-and-white clover
heads represented only paaumgc value,
and the star-eycd daisies were nothing
more than ''pcsky weeds, that no critteI
on airth would cat"
And when, eight years ago, their half
sister Nelly had run actually ml
away from four dollars month and hcj
board-to marry black-cycd sailor lad
die, Uncle Zeb and Aunt Rucy had wash
ed their skinny hands of her altogether,
Alas and alack-a-d day! Love PROVED
but tickle reed for Hal and Nelly Ar
bush to lean on. The young sailor wa
lost on the first voyage out after his mar
riagc, and Nelly was left to support he
child as best she might.
1t was an uneven battle between life
troubles and the poor young widow, an'
when Nelly died, the little girl was sen
home to Spriggerdalc, with a pitiful let
ter from the young mother whose sun ha,
set so carly
But Uncle Zcb and Aunt Ruey abso
lutely declined to receive Nell.
"She amt nothin' to u.s." said Uncl
Zeb.
'Let her go to Hal Arbush's relations !,
said Aunt Ruey. och! he hadn't no rt
lations2 Well, l amt to blame for that
as | know Of"
"You wouldn't let this child go on I'll
town." said Mr. Jones, the cxprcss-agcn
to whose care little Nell had been COZ
signed as if she were brown-paper pacl
age.
eyes, | would" said Uncle zeb.
"Why not?" said Aunt Ruey, bluntly
So Nell was taken, with her lit
bandbox full of clothes, to the tow
house.
The matron looked puzzled-shc h0
no charges so young as NeHl-but 81
kissed the child, and gave her a piece
gingerbread and some patchwork, al
told her to be good girl.
Nell played about until she was tire
and then came to the matron with wis
full, upturned gaze.
"Nhcn am | going homcl" said she.
"fhis is home" said the matron.
Ncll's lip quivered; her blue ey
swan in tears.
81 don't like it," said she. 81 dor
want to live here! Mamma said | was
20 home at EASTER"
"What does the child mean" said t
bewildered matron.
Don't you know3" said Nell. 'Fil
comes Christmas then Easter? Al
mamma said | was to go home at Easter
ave don't have casters here-cXCc
now and again a few colored eggs" sa
the good matron. ''This is home,
dear; so put all of that nonsense out
your head"
But Nell cried, and refused to be co
fortcd.
"Can 90 and play2" said she, afte
little while, with the tears yet on |
lashes.
, "Yes--in the back yard, as much
= you please" said the kindly matron.
81 don't like the back yard, " said (
tidious Nell. cts all full of brick-b
\ and tomato-cans, and broken bottles Il
won't hold anything. want to go
=. the woods"
a "Well, don't go far, thcn," said
1" matron, who was busy mixing lime
the spring washing, and pcrhi
= was little relieved to be rid of Ne
e perpetual questionings.
So away went little Nell, her WI
= cambric sunbonnet tuttering in the ca
- April wind, down into the dells, VIII
the first pallid violets were thrust
= their purple heads up through layers
8, moist, dead leaves, and tender fri
. of green followed the course of the ri
let, the happiest little lass that the
q ever shone on.
r 81 wish could stay here always, {
or live in a cave, and eat berries and sa'
III fras. buds, and drink water from
III brook |" thought Nell. 81 don't want
ny 90 back to the town-houSe, where Ur
IN on Tim makes faces at me and old \
ay Hatch's hand shakes so that she So
her tea all over the table,