A STORY

O F

HEMLOCK-HILL.

AUNT TABITHA STRONG would have made a capital' woman's-rights woman, if she could only get time to attend the conventions. She had the spirit and power, but not according to knowledge; so what she lacked on one side was made up on the other. She was the mother of four as large boys of their age as might be expected at this day, and the guardian of an orphan girl, the only legacy bequeathed to her from a deceased neighbor, a distant relative of Aunt Tabitha's husband: and they all dwelt on Hemlock-Hill.

Aunt Tabby, as we used to call her, was a born Yankee lady, rather tall, and to all appearance as square as a brick. I used to look at her as she moved about the house, and wonder if she would break if she should happen to bend in a wrong direction. Every thing was said and done in the same square, hard way, whether it consisted in saying the Lord's prayer, which she did every morning after breakfast, or in punishing the boys, by making them hold chips between their teeth; and they would as soon have had their teeth all pulled out as to have dropped one till she bid them.

Another remarkable feature about Aunt Tabitha was, that she could never change. She had the same rules, the same old maxims, such as, 'A rolling stone gathers no moss' morse,' she called it; 'A stitch in time saves nine;' 'Early to bed,' etc., that were transmitted to her from her grand-mothers; and it was impossible for her to walk in any other direction but the same old time-worn path, day after day, and year after year. How her heart was ever changed is only known to the mysteries of a higher power, though I believe that event took place at the youthful period of her christening, (who would have dreamed that she had ever been an infant?) when the solemn word, Tabitha!' was pronounced by the good minister. She had ever since been one of the strongest kind of orthodox, and preached it to Uncle Joe and the boys as regular as clock-work. Uncle Joe took it reverently, as a matter of course; for he was also a church-member, though his piety was of the strangest kind, Aunt Tabby said: and no wonder she thought so, for while she appropriated every spare cent to the use of the Bobtayle Missionary Society, Uncle Joe was silently bestowing his upon the poor heathen near his own door. Many were the blessings he received when his back was turned; for he never stopped to listen to them.

Little Phebe, the orphan girl, who was growing up under the proper care of Aunt Tabitha, was a gem of a creature, with sweet blue eyes and sunny-brown ringlets, which had been repeatedly shingled' to suit Aunt Tabby's taste; but 't was of no use; they would n't grow straight, let her do what she would to straighten them. Aunt Tabby really believed she would lose her soul by the means of them air wicked curls,' but she would clear her skirts, she would do her duty at any rate; so I suppose she did.

Phebe had always been a very improper' child. She had often been known to run away down to the brook at the foot of the hill, and follow

round little Joe, Jr., who would catch fishes with a pin, and when he was lucky enough to catch one, would tease it away from him and throw it back into the water, 't was so cruel to see them die so. Then she knew all the birds'-nests around there, and would n't tell Joe either, and would feed the birds, too, echo back the songs of the robins, and laugh to think how she cheated them; then when she must go home, would just stop on the door-step and smooth out the dimples with her hand, press her rosy lips tightly, and walk in as properly as she could; for it seemed like going to church, every thing looked so solemn.

Phebe had now reached the age of fourteen, and had never been farther than the village, though living within ten miles of the city.' Aunt Tabby thought it a dreadful sinful place a perfect Sodom; but Parson Jones' darter' was going there to spend a whole year at school, and why could n't Phebe go too? This was a strong reason, and finally prevailed, on condition that she should work, so as to pay her own board. Aunt Tabby's oldest boy was going there to study to be a missionary, and he would certainly report her doings to his anxious mother.

'Good-bye, Aunt Tabby,' said Phebe after getting on her bonnet and things. Good-bye, Phebe! Remember what I tell you, that you must go and set under the sanctuary every Sunday with Miss Jones and Ezekiel. That A stitch in time saves nine;' Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise; also a girl. You cannot sarve God and be a mammon; now don't forget to remember;' and Aunt Tabby lifted up her two hands and laid them down again, as though she would spread her remarks over her like a blanket, and with another stately good-bye, which Phebe did n't hear, she withdrew into the house, while Phebe, Miss Jones, and the said Ezekiel drove slowly down to the city. As old Dobbin was not remarkable for swiftness, the way seemed long to the two girls, who would gladly have got out and run. They knew they could walk much the fastest. And then there were wild-roses, honeysuckles, and almost every thing growing along the hedges to make bouquets of, that Miss Bessy could carry to sister Mary's two children; so at last out she flew, with Phebe following in her foot-steps, to the utter amazement of Ezekiel, who supposed they had fallen, till he heard their ringing laughs behind him.

Phebe was

They reached the residence of Mrs. Bates about noon. really taken by surprise to see so many happy smiling faces. No one appeared to be so very 'proper' as she had expected; for they were all cheerful, and gay as ever she and Bessy Jones were, away from Aunt Tabby's. The children pulled the flowers to pieces on the nice carpet, and danced around the room in about the same style and attitude that she had practised on the side of Hemlock-Hill.

How I shall like to live here!' said Phebe. 'It seems just like a home exactly.'

'Well, come up to my room - to our room for you are going to be my room-mate, and we 'll have such glorious times!' said Bessy, running up to Phebe and kissing her face all over, not forgetting the tip of her nose.

Poor Phebe actually laughed till she cried; for the tears did come, though not such as she used to shed, when no one seemed to care for her

but good Uncle Joe. She had a friend now to laugh with, as well as to cry with.

Six months had glided rapidly away, and Phebe had grown very like a lady, though as gay as when she roved through the meadows, and sang bird-songs among the shadows of the old trees by the brook. Uncle Joe had visited her often; for he had so much business to do at the city now-a-days,' Aunt Tabby said, she never knew the like of it; there was n't any thing in the village to be bought, or sold either, and had n't been since Phebe went away.'

Bessy Jones has gone home on a visit, and I shall take the liberty to copy off the note' she promised to send Phebe, as it has blown out of the window.

'DEAREST PHEBE: I arrived home safe as might be expected, not having met with a single adventure, or any thing that looked like one. How ridiculous! when I was prepared for any emergency, and then nothing to happen! Well, I never expect to see any thing fiercer than a squirrel, so I shan't waste my imagination any more in this Don Quixotic manner. I arrived safe, as I said before, and found every thing exactly as it used to be. The trees and hills in the same old places, and every thing is as familiar as you could expect. Isn't that charming? I have been very busy about the garden since I have been here, arranging the plants, which I have done so far to my satisfaction. It is lovely, indeed! I shall take a few of them when I return, to remind me of this very happy nest among the 'Hemlock-Hills,' though there don't happen to be any more hemlocks here than maples, or any other kind of trees; I suppose, though, we may as well call it after Uncle Joe's farm, as there is nothing particular in a name, and it always has been called so, and, I presume, always will be.

a

- you never he

'Oh! must tell you about a young gent who is here rusticating. minister papa invited home with him. He is very handsome, though I have hardly looked at him yet; but he has such fine eyes saw any thing like them. But then it is nothing to me what eyes has, nor who he looks at with them. He walks in the garden a great deal, but I am sure I shan't walk there as long as he does. I just stepped out there about two hours ago to see to the plants, and, do n't you think, I had n't been there two minutes before I met him right in my path where he came from I cannot imagine, nor do I care, either; should you?

'I almost forgot to tell you how I went over a minute to see Aunt Tabby. Well, I did. So I told her you were taking music-lessons. 'What!' said she, 'on the pioneer? Yes,' said I, just for fun, you know; I should n't wonder if she brought him home with her some time.' Him! what! is it a male?' said she, opening her wide eyes : 'Well, I declare, I never knowed there was two kinds of pioneers before.' She said she hoped you would n't do more than what you could work and pay for. 'Oh! no,' said I, of course not.' Uncle Joe sees

to that, don't he, Phebe ?

'There, the tea-bell is ringing. I have got to go and sit right opposite Mr. Manly. If I was n't so very hungry I would wait. Good-bye,

now, dear, old, good-for-nothing darling! Write and tell me every thing, and I will you. I shall go back in a few weeks, or as soon as I can possibly.

Has Mr. Brown brought you any new books or music? YOUR BESSY.'

Yes, indeed; Mr. Brown considers it his duty as a teacher to select new books and music' for Miss Phebe, of course, and he thinks it much more proper to take them to her himself than to trust them with some careless person who took no interest in them whatever-very proper, indeed. And so, from motives of interest and duty,' would he press her hand, and once or twice he dared to kiss her fair cheek, from the same motives, of course, as they stood one evening by the window, gazing at the full moon, so gem-like and beautiful. What a long time he stood there, so close to that little trembling heart, his arm just around her waist, and looking love—no, duty — into those eyes, instead of looking at the moon and stars, as an astronomer should! What would the 'committee' have said, could they only have popped in at that auspicious moment?

And Phebe was happy, and proud of the appreciation' of her teacher; it was just like her. She always thought that pupils must love and obey their instructors, and she really could not help loving so kind and affectionate a friend as he had ever been to her; and not long before the merry days of Christmas, he had asked her to be his wife, which she had, like an obedient girl, consented to, after another year of happy school-days had passed.

She would now strive to prepare herself for future usefulness. It was surprising how strong her young heart grew; what great thoughts she had, for her; how she would strive to be a fit companion for him who was in her eyes the perfection of goodness and greatness, and to whom her heart and soul were united. He was a world to her, and she would read, write, study for him, and so would keep all these things in her heart, just as though dear Mr. Brown could n't read her every thought, as easy as he could' Webster's Dictionary.'

Bessy, charming Bessy, was seated there in her chamber with an open letter in her hand. She had tried to persuade herself and Phebe that she did n't care two cents whether she ever heard from that Mr. Manly or not. To be sure, he was quite agreeable, and she really did n't know what she should have done without him to talk to, it was so lonely out there in the country; and as for those dried roses, so nicely laid away to look at, she only kept them for the fun of it. Now, with that dear, precious letter before her, she attempts to read; her eyes are overflowing, and, half-laughing, half-crying, looks up to see if Phebe is watching her, who did happen to be looking that way just then.

'You will have a chance to see Mr. Manly, Phebe; he is coming here next week.

'He is n't coming to see you, nor nothing, I don't suppose,' said Phebe.

Oh well, perhaps so,' she answered; but I don't think he'll do any harm; he's very docile.'

Yes, but he'll frighten away Ezekiel, and that dashing young fel

low, Jarvis; and perhaps there 'll be a challenge, or a suicide, and a miraculous escape of the victim, and great excitement all round,' said Phebe, laughing.

'Oh! what a heroine I would make, would n't I?' said Bessy. 'Let's see black hair and eyes, ruddy-looking cheeks, a plenty of teeth, and rejoices in the dignified and aristocratic name of Bessy Jones. Well, I must try and be romantic after this.'

Ezekiel did get rather scared away when he found Miss Bessy had a particular star of her own she was looking up to all the time; but Jarvis very boldly inquired into the affair, and told his companions afterward that ''t was dem'd cool for Miss Jones to turn her attention upon such a dem'd specimen as that was. But who cares?' said he; and seizing a segar quite fiercely, he finally puffed himself into tolerable good-humor with the specimen,' Miss Bessy, and the world generally. So I was told.

'Well, Tabitha,' said Uncle Joe one day, Phebe is going to marry her teacher, Brown, and I suppose they may as well have it done here as anywhere, if you have no objections.'

'Bless my soul!' said she, raising her hands as usual, and repeating a variety of squares and triangles; I always knew she would. I knew if she did n't, she 'd marry some body just as good, if not better. I always expected it. To be sure, she shall come here; 'ain't this her home, that she is going to have as long as I do?'

'Oh! yes;' said Joe, but it appears she won't need it after Christmas.'

'Well, it's hers just as long as it's mine,' said Tabitha. Charity begins at home.' I always knew she 'd come back here like the prodigal son did, so as to eat, and drink, and be merry ;' and she looked as benevolent as though she was the respected parent, and had already given her two 'fatted calves.'

A few weeks after, and we see Miss Phebe the inmate of the longdeserted farm-house on the hill. Aunt Tabby considers her quite an object of respect. Bessy, too, is there, and they are conspiring together how to turn over a new leaf in the old premises.

They have stolen away into the spare-room, otherwise, parlor, and have silently pulled down the time-worn paper curtains, and put up some nice muslin ones in their place. The little black profiles that some stray 'genius' had cut out of velvet for Aunt Tabby and her ancestors, are deposited in one of her sacred drawers, together with a 'sam pler,' set in a highly-ornamental frame, which she boasted as her needle-work. There was the alphabet, in very large capital letters, a picture of Noah's ark, and a representation of the whale once inhabited by Jonah, besides something that was meant for the ten commandments, all of which were revealed in the colors of the rainbow, though time, which had destroyed something of its brightness, had left a large predominance of yellow, particularly in the whale. Even the little holein-the-wall, otherwise, china-closet, underwent a revolution. Aunt Tabby, suspecting something wrong somewhere, from young Joe's manœuvres, hurried round to find out what it was; and, stepping rather suddenly into the parlor, there she stood. Bessy thought she had been