Some Little Foxes

"Dear me! therc comes (mndina JarVis!" sPghed pretty M-iliel Lee, a. sble loofcel out of tlit wJbdtiv and íav ají oíd lady coming acíross tile te-ivm, - a' TCry queeir loofcing oíd lady in a; plain gray gow,n, a dark purple shahyl, and an old-fashioiied silk calalsh ovter her thick rufíleü cap. "Mabel!" lid lier indignaiatly. "Oh, I knoiw it, rnaynmy déar. I'm a)tt avful sinner; bút Grandma Jarvis la sa ffOiOd, and sensible, and so forth, I aJwiaiys foel as if I wejre a pro,r littlO mut in tlie jaws oí a ftteel nutcracber w.lien 8he is abnut." "She g-enorally finds out and brings oiit ti g-o,od ia you," said Mrs. Lee, smiling, but slve said no mor", ímMirs. .Tar1i,s turaod tlie dóor-handle at tlilat moment and camo Ín. You naw at once, if you saw der face, th;at slhe was a peraaa oí keen inisight aiul juclKini'ii!; perhaps less lotvfable thau a gentler and more ,n':-atíious mature, but yet ai woman to be thOTioughly truated and rèlfe'd on. Mabel wa'e a lady-like. briglit gírl, sptoiled, to be éure, as childi'eñ aae apt Uo be wJicn tbere is but un.' in a flaimily, and peaenttog1, lik.' any gpóiled cR!Vd; her gríiudmother'.i Sharp tViinmciUx aaid sensible advice. Ait heart, htawever, she repeetcd her, aiul p)erhap(3 a liittle more ihat flie Bld lajdy n- i-i-h and Kenerorns, and young people, even the least jurrcenary and grfispmg, ïeel kindly towards the üiamd thti.t brings tiaoely and coistly giSts. '■Mabel even ioa'gatve the ol.l-world dï-ess, simce that gi'ary" goiwn v;:s heavy lusrterless silk; the t!ii:'k (niilleS cap-rnïlles India; nnisliii aivl thread lace; thle purple shawl erape, cidvered with embroidtery, an:l the ■wüiit-e kerdhtef fastened with one gTeat 'dlaimjoiud. Granxlma Jarvis never thought oi' her 'cüoithes further than, to have tliem tíomlfortablle, aind not too outre. She kmlew very well the woirl'd ivas like Mabel, aujd would forgive the simple fashkxni for th costly material, and, with a grim humor, he alwayx cal'ed her diamond pin "Charity." "It 'contera so many of my sins, my dar," 'she saidí. "I pass for a vonwiiii of íieiise with ninety pt'ople out oi a Mimliwl, slmply on account of vhis '- trünicct. It blinds th.em so thiey leain't we I ana ;int oí the fashon." To-day, Mr. Jarvis had a del'mite firrsMïd. .Silip sait down on tli? sofa, and toidk Oíf lier calaah wlth deliueration. 'Mi';het.l)le," said Hlie, líxing her i-y, - on the youiiïf girl, whose oolor rost to hier fair faje at the obnoxioiis name, "I hear yoiii are g'oiiiíí to le bi' mlíiirried." Mlatel bluiMlied Htill nioire hotly, and looked trais'ht out of the window. Tliie telNtale pane reilected a knit bitav antl imrn,-!Hakably Crosg llps. Jim. .Ta.rvis laivghied. 'Yiou are i-atlier (itartlins, mother." "I fiiiould think the íax"t was more wtartlims tilian I aan," dryly answered the bid lady. "I fjot your note la.st alght, Hetty, and I made up my mind to come oer thís morning and nee aliout it." "Yours aro the first t tonus, mtother. Xoliody else. kndws It!" "I haven't compratulated anyhody p-et," enappett llrs. J:arvis. "I never do i.'omgratnlate any-Wo.dy till a year tbfter their wedding day, and thcn I Bom't diave to very o.ftea. I caine to tiiiy. dlcia"t a'iï.v of you gtve the cliild .. ;i..v service. I wamt to do that :ii.v-(ï!. t-ü!iKis got my name and it omglLt to be gilt, or .silvered or sometliing, tic i-onole her lor euch an oldfaliomed aiipelarion, thougli she does t-op and ta.il it as if it were a goose],i'vvy." 't), g-raudiina!" JIalx?l turned a pleased and pretty ïa,-e away frgsn the window now. "Dom't lx.' oveivonic yet, Maybe you'll change your inind befare the end, mi.-is. l've gM a bit of aidvice 80 J1ÖU aisd a pi-o.mlxo to t,uk' first. Tiit' atüviee is ij leave oii tbs piauy floir sis mioftthis, and taki' to the kitch(iii. M'n oa.n't live oln love and waltzeé, mui-h lesa a man oï rln' Seldn t.ribe. I kii'o:v 'wu. If lie rtan't lia.ve glotad food,, liell bs bout first, ajttd tJien hie'll have dyapepsia, and tiu'u thk'w'li b ■ ai - ji!ui!i ai a iïoingin the öojpB of the miulberry treoí, whlch tilinga aire a figiu-e. But that's the a.d'vicc." () gnaiadania., I ciiu; make gplendid come, and nlce pudding, too, and ('lutrllcKttee, ju-t as good as Cross!" "Fiddle-stitksl Tmni caa't mako bread, dr boíl a un)': ato, or broil a steak.'" 'But oinj-body can dto' ihat." Mus. Lee milekl, aml grandma turned a wlthiering look at Mabel. i; .ut be a iool! Tlhere isn't one in a Ivunúred can ota .■itii.-r, and 1 doubt i yoiu've tt)t bi-ains to; bi: yon iniglvt try-" ïhere rote up instantly ;i raighty vvr ;i1vl' In Mabel's frmmine s ul to show Graudíma JarvU that süe could do more than lie gave lier eretlit for, that tího would learn liow to t;iik iin splte ni tliis dlacoaraing propheey. It Ib Juet possilile grandjun knew wlio -hv was talking to. "Thoii, as to the protaise. I'm g'aiins tío eend yuu oer a. matto; one W t.he.-i' paintcd gimcracks ever.vbody lianus ap everywh(.'re. I don't fcnov? wliy tihey cali tliera Hluminated, I'm mure, efxcept-by tlie rule af contraríes, tor t ucfd extra spectacles and a ralciuiin llgbt to read tihera by; but i un i-aii rOad mtoe; I wïished oCf the coirlicueíB; uuily proimiise to pead it jnKWning beflore breakfast, or 1 '-:ni tv'll ji(i you umb'í et t;i" íer.c-set." "Oh, yeis, of couwse I'H read it, grandma,- tbe idea." ■11, wiell, il' yon read it, you'll think aln'mt it, I'll warrajit. No'W I woíasit go home and seuid Jolin over with ttie thiugw;" and witli a frosty little cai-c -- ii M:il.'l's fair check, and a ivod to her miotlier, the old lady went. "Graiwima kneees me Just like a flani-slu-ll," saiid Mabel, in hall solilKuy as Slie soit down again liy the vind;0'v. Her nno'ther could not help laiishinK, fr the cool nip oí tuin lip, thnt was granctam'B substitut.e flor a kisn, certainly (lid suggest and laivmiincss. Joiin eame directly bajük with tlie. p:icka.s?e, and Mabel e&grly untied and önSoldesd it. The ni'Oito was printed in large Gertoan tcxi. ea&y to retad though gay with nía aii'! colore, and it rau Ome: 'Tajtae the Jlpaces, tlïe little Eoxes ■that épióil the vine, i'or omr vlnes have terwler grapeS1." Mabel stared. -.i:. ■:!!()■, v.liat on oarth does it inclín?'' Mrs, Lee emilecl and si,ii(d, both, as slie re ud the 1 -il onrer the giii's Ider. ''Look ber, M:iii," sa.id Sliljpiag a l:i i g ;' liip o;f her r, ■ i : i ■ 1 fehe ?! -1 r '.;i rn 1de, ;■:■,■ !" ar-d iooked uj) [pesJilx aatonishied, into her er's Ca e. "I s-upp-oee í randima méans me to téll y.'.'i Í story. Matoel, ■ Lleh sise , ;,]:l on ■ whiéoi I w.i ; nr-r engageö. It liiii't hier bitterly to" teil it, but it ,,.. mu ■!! goiod. I tilinte tdit; coii-UÏ mot bring heiaeli to teil you You are not 1: . ■!■ diaMglrber, anl t-mi do., lovfe hier a I di. aawl you hever have had reasoin to pity her ae X !a-:'. Yo'u i, ;■ elaw Graaidfafchier .lavv.;--. Mlatoel." ■■Why, I ilioHislit he dfflfid be.oTL' I vas hioira'." "Kö, he died ten yearS agü' in Braz!l. I newr wuv luim mysselll, MB,b; he nlevte-r even knaw he had a. da.ughter." Mlotliier!" Mr.-. Liee's lo'velv diark eyes fillcd with toara as ahie dfew Meubel ilows besli'de her oq the soila. "I hiave toeen Itolldí tha,t grajidmo: was a 'V-ery toeaítuMCuJí, hjgh-eplrlted jflrl at j-üur age, déar, animated, Tarilliant, tliioi-aughly sattefled with her.-elf and her tuiirrtoiunding-, espec íally when Jolüna.than Jarvis íell in lavft w.itJi her. Her íather died whea i-ahc ivas three years oíd, aiul her invalid moither ado'red the ehild, and spcniled eveu niiore tham I dtf yom." Mabel kissefl the siít hand laid on her shoulder, and gave it a avíHíuI little Wte. 'VDom't be homdi, mainmy, or I shall eat yo;u up. As if I was onc bit gpojled," "If yu were noit my child, you woaild not aeéa fírandma's lesson. Slie was tipoiled, as I said, and Jonatliain Jarviis kníw it, buít he was bewiit-ehied by her )pirit) and beauty, Qlnd thoiugh, a men are apt ta itMfik, that he coiuldl control and cure all that. She loved him, too, very dieeply, aifter lu?r fai-ihiin, and tlvere. wais noithinií to delay their inarriage, biut tlue da y tos í-íi'arcely fixed wdreii her nucxther suddenly saiik and died. Gramdiiniatflier did not niöurn hopetessly that it was tluocuglut best tio put o;f her marriage, thoiiich, out of respx't to her motuer 's niemory fcluere was no wedding-pfirty, and the, -happy pair' began their life at ource in tliie old hm.eitea,( whiere graodima. Uves today. "The ontlook before tbieáe two was very iaiir; yoiutih, Kealth. coanpetency, wliat eeemed to be devoted lave, made tJiem ia appai-emtly enviable eoupVs lut do KooiH'r were th.wc unbrokoin wills brousht into daily ontact, tham .tpcni'ble began. Vut niíiy l;vu.uh. Slabel, but their fiir.st disputo was oíbaat a i-oífee-pot. Slotheir inneiterned hB old [ashipoejd urn. hier lius-band the newer style oí pitcliiec. NtedUher woaild yield in a ■mere matter oí taste and this was thie beginnüue of evil. "Sillyï Yes, it loóte -ivoiKlíM'fully pllly to aiis; but I thjmk I lieard a very wanm dis.-nwsfoii omly yesterday un the peoper .style öi ruling hats SÓT a lady." líabel colored to the waree of her (la.rk liaii', and tried to Huiile. ■■Jhcy caiiue to a coinproniise ou this in-attei-, agreelug to drink chofOlace h place o. colt&èi, lint ortbeir sanall diKpaiites 'üllowed; thiey ill burned in (il mind, bU't 1 orgot mo-c . , li ii, soel'.ïiht and trii.l w&retlve mattvrs oí il,;-; ii;sk;uu. thiattgh they gnev lo a.-tivi roeaias ou' torment. "A duld was bom, amd Johatlian, in Ms sn:l aaid swre hc:u-t. thouj,lit that would bring peace, and hls indignaait and grieved wü'e hoied it it alsia, l'or eai'.-h blannied the other aa loniliatants alll; bivt the baby's eyes iii'vi-r savr i hi'ir strüïe; it flied, and the hope dicd with it. IJttle fuets are wiiat wear away love and liie, Malicl. My pooi lat her - and my poor ïiiO'Jit'r! TlMM-e was no kinüly friend in .i.y tune jn-tlicions word to eithov. Tiiey sahiO'wed a giaUlag íimiu to the woirld oiittslde, but gpew more alienated ila.ily. ■Tlicrr was no real quarrel, n: vital disagreement, bur the liourly fret oí uindiseiplirued tetmipor.j. Impatient naturas, strong wllls, and a sel! consUleratíon that íorbade yielding, that clU'i-i-licd pode a mi pctulanri', that reoofl'nized no duty except as owed tn itself. "The end oí tlic.-c tiiinus liastened. Beík)ire t lie nanmeteiss baiby liad slept in itB ;i']'ili"-i '41-avi' a year, tather liail set nut tor Brazll in a nuerclvaat vessel, leaving tilia .short adieu to his vrtíe: ■ -Yon can eay 1 have sime south oa business, -Mi'lietiable,' he '.viote, 'but yon musrt know r shall nevar oosile ti;i;-k. I mi tirí?d oí living in ■firaicnt, ;;nd yon will be filad to parí vi t-h cue who oould ncver pica--' yon: So iarewrll. Yo'tirs' t') eammand, JONATHAN JARVIS.' "MoWmt was frantioally an;;ry at iirst'. She raved in her own olia.mber over what siie fcermed a mortaJ in-uit, lmt, as day aitcr day came on, amd lier kwillness and wéaknesa firew over lier, she bc.an to!fi thingsmore h'onestly; and when nws e ame íhat the snip had fouiidered at sea, and all hands perisfyed, then who va.s ciHirily i)ro'-trat'd. As shc told m', Iwr pa;st roas up, looketl lier In the tacé', anuí ntmck her dinvu. "I wan priiiaturely bnrn. And a very long LHiïietss : air raed h'r to the fíales oí (leath. She rejovered at las;, a stren and síuldenud woinan. with only onc interest In her liíe; bu-t ehe broug'ht me up wi,th strictuess anid caa'e, téndferly as lie lo'ved siif; a:ud wlien I WOB about bo take ■my lije up for mysclf, t.old me this bitt?r ,sliory, anuí gaíre míe tliús ring. " 'If I htu küled folie little fuxes,' k;i, id shc, sa-dly, 'I nuigiiit to-day have a gioodly 'iiiicyai'd of my own. Bemare of :!;:::!, Hetty. They liav;: i j):)ili'!l my lile.! ■ -' . nd ,".11, Mabeí, my íather ■iv;:;. 11.;! íopt in that iviv -k. !!;■ was rkf!i v,) by aaiothter rastel, and, mter au aéeutaied aamte, livd on tu Brazil. In. the gi-asp o; ui o? tal illj . ■ tvrate t-i btja wite, askiogg and gjving pardon. Ifc was frQim Irían t ña 1 all lier ive:ilt!i came, but sin lias oever fórgiven herself." "I'oor gramimiáí" sobbed Tilabel, "amd I háve been so lioirridly hateíui tr her!" "It will c-oosial her for all your (Veaks. my aarlidg, if j-ou only profit ly hei' pitiii'ul story." The next tiiine Gnandma .Tarvls dame ovkir, lliabel greeteü her with ia strinsviit hüg mul a heartfelt kiias, u(O't at all oi th elamslH'U onlcr. "Gractous!" esclalined the old lady, trfthdiraiwiaig lnu-self a little ta look at Mabel; buit he saw the brown. cyt-s fill, and her övn groiw dim. "Go a long, child, go alongl" i-ha growled urader hor breath. "And now lyou'vle galt youir leison, don't forgle-t it." It would have been hard for Mabe te do so, wiieo the exquisitely wrought tea set that adorned hej table through all her married life bare om every cover the sly and eag er head of a, tiny fox, and the very eream pitcher had for it-s handle the slender body of that treatfheroue au imal, its eag-er head peering over the brim, and its long, buishy ta,il cnrvinfr ontward at tlie base. Maay and tnany a time, vlien orne trüling matter irritated her, amd a quick or Btinini; ■word rose her Ups, a glance at the tea set shut her pretty jmouth cloisely just in time; mul wheu Grandnia JUirvis came into Boston a year after M'abel's m&rralge, to eat her Christmas dinner ast Mr. Selden'a he nodded qua int ly at the lady of the hiouee as ehe said: "I oongratulate yiou now Mehi'tabte. I can do it with a clear oonscience. It's l)een a god huiating year, I see." Mabel eolored anl toughed, and her huebaml stared, but nobody explained the sytillic utterance; only Mrs. Lee gave her mother a loving and grateful look, and GraBdma Jarvis riped her spectacles. And the moral is, - Let us all go )o?c huntiiií?!