Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-10-22
Dannel and Angiennette.

.
nah.o
"Good land! who's been writing to
me? hain't had letter, can't tell
the time when. Pm almost afraid to
open it, Dannel. Mebbe it's got bad
news.7
"Bad news! who from, I'd like to
know? You're always expectin' some
thin gloomy
"Wa'al, there's a good deal that's
glo omy in this world-you know that
as we'll as I do.''
eyes, Hannah, IN there is good
deal that amt, too" He seldom
spoke with 50 much vigor and decision
when differing with his sister.
ssYou'd better open it N read it to
me; I don't feel as if [ could, some
how"
Daniel Martin sat down in the old
rocker by the west window. 1t was
early August and almost sunset.
Beautiful shafts Of red light threw
and his head, with it's scanty gray
hair
He tore open the envelope with his
finger, but the letter would not come
out. sI'm afraid I shall tear it all to
pieces, Hannah"
"Wa'al, let me take it; I'll try and
see what I can do. Pm dreadful
afraid somebody's dead"
s'I s'pose somebody is, somewhere"
said Daniel, with quick short lived
twinkle lighting up his pale blue eyes.
"Good land! who do you think
wants to come N see us, Dannel?"
"Cousin Angienette?" said Daniel,
in low, timid interrogative.
"Now, how come you to be thinkin'
Of her?" asked his sister, with consi-
derable asperity Of manner. "You
amt been reading right through the
letter, like some of them folks up in
the city the papers tell about, have
YEP"
s'I come across little picter yister-
day in the green chist up in the gar
ret that she sent me good many
years ago just afore she got married.
I guess she was kind of in my mind.
She used to be the chipperest girl It l
ever see in my life, n she had such
pretty curly hair"
ssTwas red,n said Hannah.
''Wa'al It want real red, kind O.
pink"
"We're too old to be clipper now,
any of us. I don't see how I can have
her, no way, Dannel; we amt seen
her this ten year"
"Wouldn't she kind o. liven us up?"
asked Daniel, timidly. We don't see
many folks you know"
Wa'al, if you're tired O. havin' your
poor old sister round, 1 s'pose I can
write IN have stranger come in IN
take my place."
Hannah's voice trembled, and her
eYelids grew red, one tear gathering
force enough to trickle slowly down
her cheek, like slender rill, which
has no great source behind it.
ssI guess I wouldn't think any thing
about it perhaps she might
make some work. didn't know but
she could help along with the quiltin';
she used to be master hand at sewin'.
I could tackle up IN go to the deepo
for her as wells not, now Pm through
with the haydn"
ttYou'l have to write the letter,
Dannel, 1 don't seem to feel like it,
my stomach's so weak. / s'pose 7
shall be sorry I had her come, don't
want her meddling with my cookin'."
That day week the three cousins
were seated in the best room, which
led out of the kitchen. 1t was mere
box of room, and had musty odor
it was SO seldom opened. Two large
old naples shaded the windows, and
grew SO near that they seemed like
grim sentinels, forbidding the en-
trance of heavens light and breath.
81 don't sees you look much older
IN you did ten or fifteen years ago,
Angienette," said Daniel, as he cross
ed one leg over the other, and tried
to make himself stationary in the
slippery horse-hair chair, with its
hard, unyielding seat.
"Wa'al, don't knows feel old;
I've got good health, IN sech nice
children! There amt nothing they
don't try to do for me sence their
poor father died. But Pm fifty-five
next month. That's older IN you,
Hannah, by three years."
ST hain't never he'd sech health as
you've he'd" said Hannah, as she left
the low chair and took a seat in one
the back of which was tall and straight
and stiff.