The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-22

| gone to bed, and Aunt Martha's drink
ing Mrs. Msssey's sassafras-tea fol
purifying the blood, I'll tell you about
my medicine"
"Lavinial" called feeble voice from
the adjoining room. Haven't you got
window raised there? This draughi
is killing mel"
And then followed a cough.
"That," said Mr.. Perrot, with q
solemn and detected air--"that is the
woman, who year ago, was the pic
ture of health, and never minded going
to market in rain or snow. Nobody's
home was kept nicer than ours, no.
body's children 30 bright and tidy; and
now"
He paused and shook his head slow
ly and despondently.
Lavinia patted his shoulder, as she
passed behind him to take pie out of
the oven.
"Never mind, Uncle Samuel. just
wait awhile, and see what my medicine
will do. She'll be the same woman in
one month from now that she used 10
be.n
"If you'll do that, Vinnie," said Per-
rot, earnestly, "I'll make you present
of your wedding-dress, and something
handsome into the bargain"
And Winnie, her comely face flushing
as she drew out the pie, smiled, and
remarked that the oven was very hot.
That evening, after supper, she and
her uncle had long talk together.
Next day was Sunday-a day, bright
and warm as June.
4 =.
you like to step to the church round
the corner? It's only little way, and
the fresh air and 7unshine would do
you good"
"If had the strength" said Mrs.
Perrot, plaintively, "and wasn't 30
liable TO catch cold. Mrs. Massey
thinks my lungs are threatened"
"Does she? Well, Pm sorry to hear
it," said Perrot, with an air of con-
Germ. "Perhaps you'd as well stay in
by the fire, and take care Of yourself
though l do feel rather lonesome
going TO church every Sunday by my
self, and the children don't behave near
30 well without you to look after
them"
"Poor thingsl" said the invalid,
with sigh, ",hey may too soon know
what it is to need mothers care. l do
hope, Samuel, that you will give them
one who will be good and kind to
them, though nobody can ever fill the
place of a real mother"
"Why, yes, Marthy. You must
know that l would never think of
choosing any but a good woman to
fill your place in the family" replied
Perrot meekly.
His wife glanced up sharply, but he
was slowly stroking his chin and star
ing at the ceiling.
Mrs. Perrot read her Bible and
hymn-book by the fire while Lavinia,
who stayed at home to attend to the
dinner, peeped through the blinds at
the people returning from church.
"How many more women there are
than men!" she observed. "And there
comes Uncle Samuel. How we'll he
looks! don't seem to have grown any
older than he used to be. Why Aunt
Martha, who's that lady he's walking
WITH"
"Old Mrs. Badger, is it?" said Mrs.
Perrot, looking up from her book.
"Oh no-nothing like her. She's
rather young and handsome.
Mrs. Perrot found strength enough
to walk to the window.
"Why, it's that Widow Vaughan,
who's on visit to the Browns, oppo-
site. How could he have picked her
up?"
"Maybe she picked him up" sug-
gested Lavinia, knowingly. "I've al
ways heard that young widows are
ready to have any man wait on them,
married or SINGLE"
"She looks pert enough" said Mrs.
Perrot, disparagingly.
Her husband came in presently, look
ing pleased and cheerful.
~ wish you'd have gone to church,
Marthy. We had good sermon, and
its delightful day for walking"
"How did you pick up that frisky
Widow Vaughan" inquired Mrs. Per.
rot, abruptly.
swell 1 happened to come out of
church at the same time with the
Browns, and they said something about
the sermon, and somehow Mrs.
Vaughan and me dropped behind. She's
very fine woman, and an agreeable
talker."
"Chatters away all the time like q
poll-parrot. Never gives anybody a
chance to say anything"
"She asked about you and was very
sorry when l told her how bad you