Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-09-06

worse don't, indeed ~
Leave your money to charity, Aunt
Betsy" | suggested
Charity begins at home" she cried
tartly. "Ill leave my money how and
where ! like, but not to he squandered in
senseless extravaganza, depend on that !
came to stay and I'll stay but I've seen
enough TO know that l shan't have an
hours peace while I'm in the house,
Before half the week was over, even
| Toms good nature began TO fail he was
heartily tired of Aunt Betsy, her carping,
her fault-fnding and her continual cross
questioning. She wanted 10 know every
thing and, though Tom parried her ques-
tions with a good deal Of lawyer like in
genuity, she contrived TO elicit great deal
Of information about our domestic arrange
ments, and she disapproved Of everything
she heard Five of the seven days of her
visit were gone and Tom, having arrived
at the same conclusion as myself, that who
ever got Aunt Betsy's legacy, we should
not, began to wish the other two days were
over, for the old lady was becoming really
unbearable She seemed deeply interested
in the mine in which my small portion was
invested, and my husband appeared, |
any information. On the afternoon Of the
/ fifth day, Just as | was preparing to 60 out
for walk, an old man in a suit of rusty
black, carrying a shabby bag called and
asked to see Miss Clayton. Jane showed
him into the dining -room-not, as she af
| terward said, without sonfe misgivings
about the silver-and on hearing his name
| my aunt hastened to see him. In about ten
minutes she came to the foot of the stairs
and called me.
Niece Frances, come here !" she cried,
| in a high, shTill voice and, as | looked at
her face, | saw in n moment that something
unusual had happened "This is Macer,
my man of business and legal adviser and
he's Just told me that I've lost all my money.
He tells me l have been swinded out Of
every penny Ipossess and good deal more
besides-that Craglands must be sold to
meet my liabilities that I'm a houseless,
homeless old beggar, without place to lay
my head. Is that what you've told me,
Macer Z"
Precisely, ma'am that's what I've told
you"
"Dear Aunt Betsy, am sorry :" l said
earnestly and really felt truly and hearth
ly grieved for her.
"No hope of legacy now, Niece Frances
so l suppose | may pack my carpet bag and
take myself off as soon as | please :"
"No, indeed, aunt you must not think
of leaving us until your affairs are arranged.
| Things may not be so bad as you suppose
In any case, you must ask Toms advice
he may be able to help you :"
81 don't know what to do, " the old lady
cried, wringing her hands. "If l lose
Craglands | shall he without home"
Not while l have one, Aunt Betsy l
SAID, laying my hand upon her shoulder,
Come Cheer up While we have a roof
to shelter us you shall share it, and know
Tom will say so, too"
Thanks, my dear if you really mean
it, and your husband says So too, I'll not be
so down hearted. It's only when troubles
come upon you that you learn to know your
friends
Tom returned early that evening and
before we went down to dinner l told him
of my aunt's terrible misfortunes, and my
assurance that we would never let her want
for home.
That was like you, dear-your real self,
Imean, he replied "and quite agree with
you that the poor old girl must not want
while we have anything. But, Fanny dar
ling, misfortunes, it seems to me, never
come singly l have been very anxious
lately about that mine in which Evans in
vested your money. Today the worst l
feared has come to pass the concern has
gone to smash and fear every fraction of
your $1,000 is gone !"
Tom, you're joking it can't be true !"
'I'm sadly afraid it is, dear
But what shall we do !"
The best we can, darling. l must work
harder, and you must be more economical,
that's all. It's unfortunate in one way that
Aunt Betsy should be thrown on our hands
just now but perhaps it may be beneficial
in another. if you will only consent to take
a few lessons in management and economy
from her"
Just at first | rebelled, but after "a little
while saw the force of Toms arguments,
and tried to be more economical Finally l
even condescended to ask Aunt Betsy's ad-
vice and assistance, and the result was won
derful. | saved quite fourth of my house
keeping money, and we lived quite as well
as ever A fellow feeling in misfortune
drew us closer together, and | began to see
that my old aunt possessed many excellent
qualities | had never given her credit for.
Tom declared the loss of her money had
done her good, and we certainly were no
poorer for befriending her in her trouble.
Still, at the end of three months Tom looked
careworn and worried No matter how
hard he worked, he was not able TO quite
make up the deficiency in our income. He
never complained or spoke to me about
money matters, but l could see that he was
very anxious. l think Miss Betsy saw it,
too, for one morning she surprised us at
breakfast with the intelligence that she was
going away.
81 came for a week and l have STAYED
three months, Niece Frances | thank you
for vott,. lrindnaSS 1u oil tbat TINA an1
you, too, nephew. l am not so completely
ruined as Macer said, and am able to spare
you a trihe to recompense you for the
trouble and expense to which you have
been put, especially at a time when you
could i'll afford it but | hope, Niece Fran
ces, that you will think the lessons in thrift
and economy I've taught you the best leg
acy you could receive from your Aunt Bet
sy,' and, laying large envelope by Toms
plate, she kissed us both, and in spite of all
our entreaties, hustled away with her car
pet-bag, promising to come and see us an
other time.
"What can be in the letter, Tom It's
addressed to us both, with Aunt Betsy's
love. Do open it, dear !"
my darling look here-bonds for e5000!"
Tom cried in amaZement "Do you think
your aunt has taken leave of her senses
Ohn she mean us TO nave all inns money
81 think so she seemed sane enough,
Tom. But where did she get it Oh,
here's a note-'An installment of Aunt
Betsys legacy mot to be invested in a mine)
in grateful remembrance of favors re-
ceived.'n
"My dear, she must have been trying us
all the time, just TO see how we should act,
1t was part of her plan, no doubt, and re.
member now she never said she had lost her
fortune-she only said that old Macer told
her so.n
"She deceived me most completely" Tom
declared Fancy the old lady being so
artful However, Fanny, though the mon
ey is as welcome as flowers in May, it's not
half so valuable as the lesson we have
learned-to know how to keep and how to
spend. That is Miss Betsy's best legacy"
London Mugdzine.