Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-11-24
THE COMING OF THE PIANO.
[By Gilmore Elliott Peake. l

a lamp BloWed palely In the level distance
from the window Of a cabin. The straight,
nat road was beginning to lose itself in
shadow ahead.
Along this road, which a boy would
have scanned In vain for a pebble to shy
at bird, a pair Of plump, sedate horses
nodded regularly as they bent to their
work. Their load consisted of a long, tall
box, which nearly filled the wagon bed.
On this box sat a small boy-if his cease
less squirming and twisting could be call
ed sitting-and on the spring-seat In front
two men.
IT'S gettin' late, Web" said the older
man finally, clucklng at the team. I'm
afraid Kate will come home before we
get this thing slowed away in the parlor,
and spoil It ALL"
Il think not answered his son, reas-
suringly. "She had examination papers
to mark today"
I'm bet she winl' piped out the boy
from behind, In shrill, excited tones
faint so easy to fool Kate as you
think"
Wen fool her this time" said the
father with chuckle OF anticipation.
AS they neared the grove OF noble
naples clustering around a large, in
| Wiling frame house, two girls in short
dresses came flying, bareheaded, down
the road Brant stopped the team and
| hoisted one Of them up to his lap, while
Web did the same to the other.
lis that 1t, papa?" asked the younger
one under her breath, as she gazed big
| eyed at the imposing box.
Looks like 1t, sis, don't it7" he an
| swered, gayly.
Yes, and I've set on 1t ever since we
| LETT town. and amt got splinter in me
yet" boasted Billy. You can't, though,
Milly, cause you're a girl and d fall off!'
| Il don't want to-" answered Miy, con-
tentedly smuggling against her fathers
| side.
Your sister 'ain't come yet. has she?"
| asked Mr.. Brant
mo, but she let out school ten minutes
early, and said she'd be home by five. and
| It's most that now" answered the child.
| She's going to ketch us, Webb" groan-
ed Brant
II don't think she'll be home before
half past five, papa" inteTposed the older
girl
why don't you think soP" he asked.
| at her significant tone.
| Because / set the school clock back
half an hour at noon" said she, simply.
| Mrs. Brant and Ion, another grown son,
| met the load in the yard. Her eyes were
misty, although her face was beaming.
Henry, 1 thought you and Web would
| never comet she exclaimed. THE chill
| dren have been half wild, and Milly was
sure that she saw Kate coming every
| minute. have lamp and hammer and
| screw driver here on the porch all ready
for you Do you want anything else?'
Nothing but time" answered Brant,
| as he carefully swung the powerful team
around and backed the wagon up to the
| porch.
| Half minute later the three husky
| men were Juggling and straining at the
nine acknowledgement box. Mrs. Brant
stood by smiling. with tools in her hand,
| 80 that not second might be lost; the
girls looked on with sparkling eyes.
Billy was stationed at the horses heads,
| merely to get him out Of the way, for
| Prince and Joe were absolutely trust
| worthy, and knew just what was required
| OF them in the way OF standing still But
| when the heavy instrument was half on
the porch. half In the wagon, Billy burning
| with his responsibility. suddenly raised
| on his toes gave Princes bride a smart
| jerk, and bawled, whoa The startled
| animals took a step forward; the plano,
| sticking to the wagon slipped to the edge
| OF the porch. and there the precious thing
| hung. with an inch Of flooring between
| II and destruction.
Mrs. Brant gasped and turned faint,
| but the next instant Lon was at the
horses heads, backing them in place
| again. Then Brant, white with anger
| and fright took a fierce stride toward
| the covering, conscience stricken lad.
His wife's hand stayed him. IT'S her
birthday gift. Let's not have 1t married
| by single harsh word. Billy didn't mean
! to do 1T"
| At last the box was safely landed. and
then the great dark, red, glossy, beautiful
| object was slowly slipped out.
For moment no one spoke. Then Mrs.
| Brant murmured softly, Il wish grandma
could have lived to see it."
Il suppose she can see it, mother,
| from where she is" said Web, with an
understanding smile.
We'll, mother get your blanket" said
| Brant, with an anxious glance toward
the road. She's liable to come any min
ute, now"
The blanket was brought and held
| against the tamb OF the front door, ac-
cording to the piano-man's Instructions,
in case of accidental contact; the piano
was rolled carefully through, first into
the hall then into the parlor and finally
into the corner which had been selected
for 1t fully six weeks before, in secret
family council while Kate was at school.
This room was heated only on special
occasions. This was one Of them, and
the wood-stove was cracking and roar
ing in quite a hilarious way, as though
1t knew a thing or two itself about birth
day surprises. Lon went back to the
wagon after the stool; Mrs. Brant deity
placed a vase and a photograph or two
upon the top of the plano, laid some mu-
sic on the rack in front, and 10! the new
| conner was at home.
Mother, set down and play one OF your
Oh tunes On IT, just 10 Try IT, DeIOTe Sne
! comes" said Brant, unexpectedly.
Mrs. Brant blushed quite girllshly, and
| looked at Web for his opinion.
mot now" said that thoughtful son.
you could hear 1t quarter OF a mile
| down the road. And we'd better be get
ting the lamp out OF this room, and the
box away. II she sees a light in the par
lor, she'll suspect something, sure"
The children, In picnic of delight at
all this secrecy and manoeuvring, scuttled
away; the stove was shut Off to stop its
roaring, which Kate would certainly have
heard; the light was carried out. and the
double doors closed, In their normal posi-
ton. The empty piano-box was slid
quickly into the wagon again, the loose
boards were tumbed in after it, and the
! whole, with crack of whip went rumb-
ling toward the barn.
But there was an atmosphere of ex-
pectaRcy and excitement about the house
which could not be easily disposed Of.
Nor were the children alone responsible
for It, Mrs. Brant with a bright red spot
on each cheek, started to wind the clock,
when she had opened 1t only to get the key
to her chest OF silver-ware. Henry, the
phlegmatic Henry, whose religion was