Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-01-11
TUNES CHERRY TREE.


TUNES CHERRY TREE.
From his school-boy days, when his
short brown legs ran other peoples err
rands, when his slate pencil and books, the
cookies in his diDner-pail and his pocket
hoard of marbles, strings and jack-knfe
were at the disposal of his companions.
down to old age, when his house, his mon
ey and his heart were expended on the
worthy and the unworthy alike, Tunis was
everybody's friend. His hating speech
and shy manner seemed always limited to
the one expression of his inward impulse
toward all mankind-a general and indis-
criminate formula of hospitality. To stop
him in the street and exchange a few
words with him was to be asked to a meal
at parting, while to do him favor was to
be pressed to spend a week. He would
hardly give you time to finish your bust
ness before his eye would wander in in
ward speculation and his face brighten at
thought of something to offer from basket
or store
"The pears are ripe" he would break in
gently; or 81 guess the melons are about
good now; come up tonight and try 'em."
When all the fruits of the earth had had
'eir due season, then it would be a new
rel of cider or a bottle of currant wine
opened, or more often nothing but
vn irresistible hospitality that tempt
to reckless invitations scattered far
e along his daily path. Like all
18th that superintendent virtue, he
e trial to his family and friends
often happened the burden of
aneous entertainment fell upon
10 &.
her plaintive, indulgent way
'erious fault in her eyes was
ina,~ .esistance to every matrimo-
IN she could concoct for him. Dur
ing lie long bachelor days that succeeded
her death black Jane tided him over the
difficulties that were ever arising from for
gotten or unexpected guests.
The only woman he had ever wanted to
marry had never suspected his desires, nor
indeed did he do so himself until she had
united her fortunes to those of his next
door neighbor. She had so dominated his
life from the time they wore pinafores to-
gether and sat at the same desk, had so
commanded his time and service in loyal
affection, that she became to him natur-
al part of himself He came and went.
fetched and carried at her arbitrary bid
ding, with unconscious and patient obedi-
ence. When she married he awoke to his
loss, but his way of bearing it was charac-
teristic of his simple, self-devoted nature
He never by word or deed betrayed his
feelings toward her, but kept on his course
as her devoted slave and friendly providence
Her husband, who was a sea-captain, had
a kindly, Neutrality-suspicious. regard for
him. Sometimes he would say noncha
lantly at his wife's grateful mention of
those
good fellow-a little soft in the horn. but
blamed good fellow, you know"
No one knew as she did during the wears
that followed just how much of blamed
good fellow" Tunis Van Brunt could be-
Every morning, during her husbands long
absences, the lanky figure would appear in
her doorway with CHEEKY "Well, Esther,
what's up today? any errand down town.
he was mail carrier, business man, gener-
al manager and burden bearer; and when
the children came he constituted himself
r"r also. His sandy-haired. pink-faced
white eye-browed exterior was not
lutiful, but it carried with it strength
help and good cheer to the little house
hold next door, and often in delicately con-
cealed ways little streams of refreshment
from his atiiuence found their way into the
frugal fields where had beeh transplanted
his one Hover of all the world. The bios
som opened for another, but his were the
hidden streams that watered its roots. The
harvest is not always to him who cultivates
the seed.
In time the adored Esther's imperious
ways toward her faithful friend softened
into an attitude of half-tolerant, eXcusing
protection. But not nfrequently the old
childish impotence would flare up and
scorch him. OF all seasons when he was
most in need of a guardian to defend him
from his vice of hospitality the most impor-
tant was cherry time. On the crest of a
widesweeping lawn stood the Joy and
pride of his horticultural collection, his
cherry tree. No child in the town had
been more carefully nursed and coddled
and its spreading branches each year Yield
ed rich returns. So devoted had he been
to its welfare and growth winter and sum-
mer, that his curious attachment became a
by-word among his friends, each of whom
tried in turn some little pointless pleasant
ry.
81 guess Tunes got a treasure buried
under his cherry tree" said one with a
patent wink at Esther, who stood eating
ripe cherries, her baby on her arm, as Tu-
mis- tossed them down.
81 have, indeed" was Tunes grave an
swer, land there's nobody but me and the
tree going to know what it is, etherw
"It's one of Tunes mild insanities, :"
said Esther, as she released a red bunch
from the child's clutch.
One day, just at dusk, Tunis appeared
on the neXtdoor threshold with a dis
traught expression which was clear evil
dence of some new imprudence of hospi-
tality.
"Got any cookies, Esther" he said
deprecatingly, as he removed his hat and
rubbed his red locks in a fever of perplex-
ity-"or anything else handy to eat? And
say, can't you send the boys over quick, to
pick cherries?"
''Why, Tune, what ails you? No one
could pick cherries now; it's too dark, and
they'd look crazy enough up the tree with
lantern! What kind of a mess have you