Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1853-06-24
VOLUME XIV.
From the National Era.
The First Marriage ian the Family.
by MARY IRVING.

on the Heaft-StriBgs, awakening al the sweet
memories that had slept in memorys cham
j berl Our home was pearl of price among
1 homes; not for its architectural elegance
for it was only four-gabled, brown country
house, shaded by two antedeluyian oak trees
nor was its interior crowded with the luxu-
rles that charm every sense, and come from
every cline. Its furniture had grown old
with us, for we remembered no other; and,
though polished as highly as furniture could
be, by duly scrubbing, was somewhat the
worse for wear, it must be confessed.
But neither the house nor its furnishing
makes tie home; and the charm of ours lay
in the sympathy that linked the nine who
called it home to one another. Father, mo-
ther, and seven children-iye of them gay
hearted girls and two boys, petted just enough
not to be spoiled-not one link had ever been
dropped from the chain of love, or one cor
roding drop fallen upon its brightness.
One star difercth from another star in
glory even in the armament of home. Thus
! though we could not have told stranger
which sister or brother was dearest-from our
gentle eldest an invalid herself but the COM
forter and counsellor Of all beside, to the
curly haired boy, who romped and rejoiced
in the appellation of baby given five years
before-still, an observing eye would have
singled out sister Ellen as the sunbeam of our
heaven, the morning star Of our little con-
steation.
She was the second in age, but the first in
the inheritance of that load Of responsibility
which, in such a household, falls naturally
upon the Oldest daughter. Eliza, as have
said, was i'll from early girlhood and Ellen
had shouldered all her burden of care and
Kindness with light heart and a lighter step.
Up stairs and down cear-in the parlor, nur-
sery or kitehen-at the piano or wash-tub-
with pen, pencil, needle or ladle-Sster FL
len was always busy, always with q smile on
her cheek and a MARBLE on herlip.
Quietly, happily, the months aud years went
by. We never realized that change was to
come over our band. TO be sure, when moth
er would look in upon us, seated together,
with our books, paintings, and needle-work,
and say, All, girls, You are living your hap
piest days" we would glance into each 9TH
er's eyes, and wonder who would go first
But it was a wonder that passed away with
the hour, and rufied not even the surface Of
our sisterIy hearts. 1t could not be always
so-and the change came at last
Sister Ellen was to be married
1t was like the crash Of a thunder-bolt in
a clear summer sky! Sister Ellen-the fairy
Of the health-stone, the darling of every heart
RI which Of Us could spare her? Who had
: been so presumptuousa to find out her worth
For the frstnoment, this question burst from
each surprised, halfangry sister Of the blush
ing, fearful Ellen! 1t was only for mo-
ment; for orr hearts told us that nobody could
help loving her, who had ever looked through
her loving blue eyes into the clear well-sprlng
of the heart beneath So we threw oar arms
around her, and hid our faces on her Shout
der aud lap, and sobbed, without word
We knew very we'll that the young clergy
man, whose Sabbath sermons and gentle adj
monitons had won all our hearts, had been
for months, weekly vister to our fireside
circle With baby Georgia on his knee, and
Georges brother and sisters clustered around
him, he had sat through many an evening,
charming the hours away, until the clock star
tied us with its unwelcome nine O'clock warn
ing; and the sottIy-spoken reminder, G rIs
it is beC-timen woke more than one stifed
sigh of regret Then, sister Ellen must al
ways 90 with us, to lay Georgia in his little
bed to hear him and Annette repeat the
evening PRAYER and hymn herlps had taught
them; to comb out the long brown braids Of
Emilys head; to rob Arthur of the story
book over which he would have suuandered
the midnight oil; and to breathe kiss and
a blessing over the pillow of each other sister,
as she tucked the warm blankets tenderly
r l. Il, ! u l., /.
of late, she had stolen down again, from these
siStelly duties, after our senses were locked in
sleep; or, if our eyes and ears had ever been
open to the fact, we could never have suspect
ed the minister to be guilty of such plot
against our peace. That name was associa-
ted, in our minds with all that was superhu-
man, The grey-haircd pastor, who had gone
to his grave SIX months previous, had sat as
frequently on that same oaken armchair. and
talked as kindly with us. We had loved him
as a father and friend and had almost wor-
shipped him rs the embodiment of all attain
able goodness. And when Mr.. Neville came
/ soul-klndled eve, we had thought his face al
50 the face of an anger-too glorious for the
print of mortal passion! Especially after, in
/ answer 10 an urgent call from the people
among whom he was laborng, he had frank
/ " told them that his purpose was not to re-
main among them, or anywhere on his ma
/ tive shore that he only awaited the guidance
| Of Providence to home in foreign CLINE.
! After this much, bewailed disclosure Of his
plans, We placed our fayoIite preacher on a
| higher pinnacle Of saintship.
( But sister Ellen was to he married-anl
married to Mr. Neville. And then Oh,
sister, You are not going away to India burst
from our lips with fresh gush of sobs.
was the first to look up into ElIen's troub-
led face. 1t was heaving with emotion that
rutiled Its calmneSs, as the tide-wayes ruifle
the sea. Her lips were firmly compressed;
her eyes We're fixed on some distant dream,
gllsSed with two tears, that stood still intheir
/ chalices, forbidden to fall almost trembled !
as | caught her glance.