Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-12-20
A CHRISTMAS SLIPPER.

A young matron, with face better than
pretty and wiser than youth could ever
make it, sat at the head of her family table
one morning early in December. She was
surrounded by a group of beautiful chill
dreu, all more or less like herself
Robert, the eldest son, was in his father s
seat, for Mr. Nanness, sr., was far away
in Colorado, trying in a few months to un-
do the mischief he had made with a once
fine constitution by reason of overwork,
irregular diet and careless dressing.
Mr.. Nanness was rising young lawyer,
always in a hurry, ambitious for his chill
dren, fond of his gifted wife, and, as he
said, 'too busy ever to be sick"
He had married bright girl, the daug h.
ter of an army officer, and in this respect
he had shown great wisdom. For all
around adaptability and faculty for fill
ing any position no women can surpass
the wives of army officers. Mrs. Vanness
had been taught many things by her pa
rents, who had Travelled far and wide, and
her own experience at school had made her
practical and thoughtful.
For many years her little flock had been
known as "thOse lovely, well-behaved Van
ness children" while her domestic tastes
made her home tho dearest spot on earth to
Robert when he entered it weary after a
long, tiresome day in court
The home itself was due to Nettie's fore
sight. A fine old homestead was offered
for sale at a modest sum, since nearly all
the heirs were dead, and Nettie foresaw
that it would not only be very valuable
some day, but would make a delightful
nest for her small birdlings.
When young Robert was ready to enter
Harvard, and his dear sister and chum
Marguerite had passed her examinations
for Smith, when Lincoln, the second boy,
was just twelve years old, and little Tess,
always called echo Tess" because she
would repeat the sayings of her elders, was
deep in the fascinating mysteries of colors
and cubes in the kindergarten, trouble
came in the most unexpected manner.
The husband and father was brought
home one day from the court house in a
coach, with two kind legal friends and a
physician attending him.
ono more talking, Mr.. Vanness," said the
doctor, 1--WE must put you in bed at once, ~
and then the doctor went out and held a
brief conference with poor Nettie, who
seemed so calm and still that one of the
lawyers said to the other, "She acts as if
she had such things happen every day"
When Mr. Vanness was safely in bed
and the doctor had given minute directions
as to his care, Nettie learned that Robert
was making a very powerful plea in an inn
portant will case, with the eyes of all in
the court room upon him, when suddenly,
without the slightest warming the blood
flowed from his lips and he fell back pros
trate before them.
When a man is stricken down by sick.
ness or death it is astonishing how soon the
family income diminishes.
Robert, the eldest boy, took the first
thing which presented itself, and found
employment in store on the miserable pit
lance usually given to boys for working
early and late. However, he tried to con
tinue his studies at night when not too wea
ry, and it was some comfort to think thai
he was helping his mother by earning hi
own shoes with a prospect of promotion
some time in the far distant future
Lincoln was kept in school. Marguerite
obtained through one of her fathers friends