Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-07-04
SEEN AND UNSEEN

shouldn't wonder il we was, mother
Master hot at any rate, by the looks of that
sun, but we may git thunder shower fore
it's over"
Farmer Faxon and his wife were sitting
on their western doorstep, enjoying rest af
ter long, busy day, he in the hay field, she
with baking in the morning aud ironing in
the afternoon.
Little daughter Susy sat between them, so
close TO her fathers knee that her thick
reddish brown hair brushed across it when
ever she turned her head to look at the red
sun sinking behind Bald mountain on one
side, or at Eben milking in the barnyard on
the other, and then bent again over her
book, an illustrated Pilgrims Progress her
last Christmas present from Mrs. Goodwin
ITS like Christians shield isn't it = she
said at last
Her mother laughed. 1T looks to me
like one of our stove covers when it gifts
red hot. -
Susy turned to her father.
Il was thinkin' Of the fire balloons last
Fourth O. July. 'Tisn't fiat to my eyes
There Eben's done milkin'" He rose
stiffiy, like a tired man no longer young,
adding "You bring a dipper of water out
TO the red shed, sis We've got to grind
our scythes, an then I'm goin' TO bed, for
we must start soon's it's light to git ahead
of the heat
Mrs. Faxon went in to strain the milk
and Susy, closing her book with a sigh, was
about TO follow her, when she saw her
brother give little reckoning nod-he had
a pail in each hand-so she ran round to
the shed door TO meet him.
Say, sis" he whispered, there's sing
at the schoolhouse tonight If you II turn
grindstone for father, you en- get a new
dime out o my wallet in my Sunday coat
pocket
IAN right said Susy. And, OH Eben,
will you ask Cynthy if she don't want 10 90
blueberryin with me to morrow up on the
mountain where you're goin' to NOV =
| He nodded pleasantly, and the parents
only smiled at each other when they saw
| him. washed and brushed with clean
| giugham coat over his flannel shirt, taking
the foot path through the orchard toward
the next farm, while Susy went to the
| grindstone.
Susy was wakened next morning by the
sound of wooden chairs drawn up to the
table over a painted floor below She sat
up, rubbing her eyes. Could breakfast he
ready Why had no one called her The
next moment she was pattering barefooted
down the uncarpeted stairs. The door al
the foot opened beside Eben's chair Her
father had bowed his head to ask blessing
on the food her mothers eyes were rever
emily closed, but Eben's we're open and
laughing He had heard the pat of the
bare feet, and as the door opened his strong
arm gathered the little sister like soft kit
ten into his lap, and as her arms went rounC
his neck his brown cheek rested on hel
tumbled hair, and both listened TO the sol
emn familiar words Heavenly Parent
from whom we receive the blessings of life
we thank thee for the sleep and safety oi
the past night, and for the food spread be
fore us. Keep US this day from all SIM an,
from dangers seen and unseen. Bless tn,
labor of our hands. and guide us for ou
good and thy glory, for Christ's sake, amen.
Then looking up and seeing his little girl
he smilingly said "How's brother goin' t,
eat an tend such big baby =
You no need to have got up this hour Oh
two," said Mrs. Faxon. "Cynthy's got L
help her mother, an ain t comm till hal
after eight. You run right back and TAX
another nap. CROWN children need lot
Of sleep"
But upstairs seemed too far from goo'
company now. Susy looked distressed. Ebel
felt her cling to him, and his kindly hear
mArms bed, he whispered, and opening
door behind his fathers chair he carrie
her into a down stairs bed room, laid he
gently in her mothers place, drew ligh
quilt over her, and left the door sOciabl
open Before he was fairly in his seat agai
the child was asleep.
An hour went by; two hours the me
were a mile away, up the hill Mrs FaNol
had churned, aud was now busy butterin
and turning her cheeses in the dairy.
The ticking of the old clock on the ches
of drawers was the only sound in the de
serted kitchen, and still Susy slept. Th
clock struck seven, but it did not rouse hel
A tall young man with black whiskers cam
up the path to the kitchen door. He was
his shirt sleeves, but he did not look like
farmer. His hands were delicate, his fac
pale, even frightened looking, and his mar
ner was anxious and hurried. He knOcke
lightly on the open door, but no one hear
him His restless black eyes searched e'
cry corner of the quiet hOmely room the
he stepped in
Susy's breakfast stood on a corner of IL
table the cat lay asleep in the rockiu
chair the bedroom door was open, TheI
might be some one there. He coughed. \
one came or stirred. Swiftly and silent
| ne Rllucu III, anu lOOk up DusN ONu Null
mug with rose painted on it. 1t was fu
. of milk Just colored with coffee. He drau
} it at one gulp, despatched a piece of p
3 and slice of cheese with equal greedines
5 thrust some doughnuts into his pocket, al
: then discovered dish of milk toast set {
3 the stove to keep warm. In his haste
knocked off the tin cover, and it fell ra
e tling to the floor, rousing Susy, who a
y swered, drowsily, "Yes, Eben, lm comm
and, like a shadow, the intruder was gon
Susy came yawning in, smiled at the mi
toast, picked up the cover, patted the ca
I and ran up stairs To dress Returning, 81
c brought the dish TO the table, and filled b
q mug from the pitcher, saying to herself,
r s'pose mother put all the coffee in the mer
: Jug for dinner" She accounted for d
. lack of the usual pie in the same way, b
= was quite satisfied to make her whole brea
4 fast on her favorite dip toast, with son
} apple sauce the man had left, and was ju
e finishing both when her mother came in.
h "Well, child" she exclaimed. with
g amused glance at the empty plates, "yo
!. nap made you good an hungry, didn't
n Now you en- wash up the dishes an put e
s away put some hard wood in the stoy
/. and set on the flats, while make the bed
o I've got all my butter an cheese work don
r an I'm goin' TO finish the ironin' fore i
9 any hotter"
" There isn't much left, is there, mother
d "No; onny the colored things that \
3 hung on the orchard fence, l guess
!. bring 'em in and sprinkle 'em fore | go
n stairs" She went out as she spoke, but
9 turned quickly, looking excited and re
}. Its the strangest thing, Susy | cal
/ find Eben's new striped shirt high nor 10
h an onny three pairs of socks, an kn'
n there was four"
# "Perhaps Eben took his shirt and forg
to tell you"
"Well, l guess folks'l think Pm gift
pretty shif'less if they see my boy go
roun' in rough-dry clo'es You en- tell h
10 don't like it one bit. An the socks 4
= mended II twas any little starched thi
y should lay it to the calf he's eat up more
" one nightcap for me, but he wouldn't tou
. woolen feetin' There, child, you need
, look so distressed. Run an get the 81
. quart pail an your hat en- see Cynt
\ comm out her door"
n But | mean to pick more'n six quar-
a. mother"
,a "Well, there's the dinner pail the III
N folks took youll have that time yours
IL full"
IL ~ mean to take my little basket too
holds just a quart, and l like 70 measure
l go along. Oh, where can it be y
"A "Out in the barn, amt it You took
W to get the eggs las night, an brought
= 20 in your apron after all, there were so man.
10 ooh so l did I'll run as quick's q
y Good mornin' Cynthy. Please wait jus
, minute"
J. "Waitin cooler than walkin', this wea
Is er," said Cynthy, good naturedly, seat
y, herself ON the threshold. "Splendid i
d day, amt it, Mis- Faxon Father thin
we're in for a drought, but gran'na 81
her bones feel rain comm" "
81 That's what father says" said NJ