Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-04-19

''is the most lovable fellow in the world
yet he has a grudge against every family
in Plympton."
As time passed and children began to
grow up around them, the strain upon their
mother became almost intolerable Ed
ward loved his children passionately ht
| heaped luxuries upon them secretly, he
believed them superior to all other human
beings but he nagged them necessarily,
and each Of their petty faults he received
| as personal insult and injury 10 himself
Tom" he would excaim, with face
Of despair, ''is biting his nails again
have spoken to him about it thousand
times It is open defiance That boy de
spises me, and he shows it ~ Or, Rosa
writes a wretched hand. She knows how
ambitious l am that she should excel in
penmanship. She has no affection for me,
Alice-none whatever :"
It was in vain that his wife represented
that all children were falible. or begged
him to let time and patience do their work
'No ! make every sacrifice for them.
If they loved me, they would not pain me
in this way" he would reply with real ag-
ony Of soul, when Rosa failed in her geog-
raphy, or Bob came home bedaubed with
mud.
Alice, beyond other women, possessed
sound sense and sweet, joyous temper
but as she neared middle age her friends
wondered why blessed as she was with
wealth, good loving childred, and a hus-
band whom his church, party and state
honOred, she should have the faded, watch
full face of one who has had a long strug-
gle with disease or disgrace
Bob, who was fiery, excitable lad, un-
derstOod the meaning of her look.
Poor mother ~ he said, one day after
he came home from college, taking her
head into his arms 1T would be easier
to fight with wild beasts at Ephesus than
to keep guard over my fathers temper and
mine. But l will make an end of it soon"
What do you mean, Robert p
Tom aud are going away, mother
"Nuur father means you to study law
and medicine at home, she gasped.
81 know but, mother, if we stay there
will be an open rupture. Father takes ev-
cry difference of character or opinion as a
personal insult. We are not as patient as
you. Let us go to California and shift for
ourselves. We are no longer children, we
are men,
at will he better in the end, pleaded
Tom. "He will love us better out of sight
"How will you break it to him :" sobbed
Alice. ut will kill him to think that his
temper has driven you from him
''He need never know it, said Bob. Il
will only show him the business side Of the
matter" He went out to find his father.
But Edward guessed the ruth. An hour
later his wife found him sitting alone. His
features were drawn and sharpened as hy
sudden age
Alice, he said, "the boys want to leave
us feel that they are alienated from
me. fear that | have been too stern with
them She did not answer "You think
| have been too stern -
mo, Edward - Alice could hold her peace
for lifetime but if forced to speak she
would not bridge the gulf with little lies
You have not been stern, but exacting
and fretful"
He was silent, never having received
such blow. "Io you = he said, in a low
voice. "lou have found it hard to hear -
Sometimes, my husband" She went
up to him aud put her arms about him
hut he gently pushed her aside.
Il would rather be alone. ! Iexactng
and fretful :"
He had always felt that he was dealing
love as largesse about him. receiving poor
return and he had been the suspicious,
unreasonable tyrant, making home intoler
able He had never seen this face in the
mirror before, but he knew it was his own.
Ask the boys to defer their prepara-
tons,' he said to his wife. Il will talk it
over with them when | can think clearly
But they never talked it over.
Mr.. Moxon had been tempted to invest
heavily in a mining speculation. The news
of its failure came to him that day. He
read the telegram aloud and laid it down.
Are YOU deeply involved in it, Edwards"
his wife asked.
Yes. If this be true we shall lose ev-
rything-stOcks, land and house | am
an old man to begin the world again"
why, father ~ Bob sprang from his
gether you and Tom and l. Three boys
Wen go to California and start afresh"
Tom had his arm about the other shoul-
der. Edward looked up at them and at
his wife who was kneeling at his feet. He
laughed, but the tears came.
please God, it may not be as bad as
we think but if it is, boys, I'm ready"
1t was even worse than they thought.
When the business was settled there was a
bare pittance left, hardly enough to take
the family to California.
But through these dreary DAYS it was no
ticeable that not word of complaint came
from Ned Moxon's lips. The man in him
rose to face this real disaster. He was
hearty, cheerful, courageous. Every day
he came to Alice to tell her of some new
proof of kindness from his friends, who
crowded about him in this dark hour
But it is the boys who will carry us
through ~ he said, with triumph. They
stand by me shoulder to shoulder. They
have heads for business such as never had,
Alice
The Moxons, father and sons, have had
I ha- E.,ht Co. ,,,
/ years they marched together over a bare
space in life, facing poverty and even want.
| Edward Moxon knew that it was his own
| folly which had brought his wife and chill
dren into these straits, and he worked with
desperate energy to protect them from
| hardships All the strength and tender
ness of his character came out the ag
| grieved whine was now never heard in his
voice.
II wonder said Rob one day to his
mother "how | ever could have thought
father ill-tempered He bears the worst
troubles with such large, calm good humor. !"
That evening Rosy putting her sugar in
her tea, balanced the tongs on her fingers.
Light weight, mamma Where did they
come from {"
Her father frowned. They came from
a man, he said, ''who in the time of my
trouble offered to back me with money to any
amount. If you notice every disagreeable
trifle, Rosa, you will make life burden"
Then Alice felt that her husbands cure
was complete.
But there are so many Ned Moxons in
the world So many wives and children
are crushed under their many virtues and
their single fault
Is there no cure for them but bankrupt
a.