The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-29
The First Marriage in the Family
By MARY IRVING.

"uome J.! How that-llttle WORD strikes
upon the heart strings, awakening all the
sweet melodies that had sleptin memory's
chamber! Oar home was "pearl o.!
price" among homes; not for its archi-
,iecturat elegance-for it was only four
gabled, brown country house, shaded by
two antediluvian oak trees; nor was its in
tefior crowded with the luxuries that charm
every cline. Its furniture had grown old
with US for we remembered no other; and
though polished as highly as furniture could
be, BY daily scrubbing, was somewhat the
worse for wear, it must be confessed.
- But neither the house nor lis furnishing
makes the home and the charm of ours
lay in the sympathy that linked the nine
Father, Mother, and seven children-fye
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 ofloye. or one corroding drop fallen
upon its brightness.
ssNssOne star differeth from another star in
glory" even in the armament of home
Thns--though we could not have told a
stranger which sister or brother was dear
est--from our gentle sseldest," an invalid
herself, but the comforter and counsellor
ofall beside, to the curly -haired boy, who
fomped and rejoiced in the appellation Of
ssbaby," given five years before-still. an
observing eye would soon have singled out
sister Ellen as the sunbeam Of our heaven,
j, the s.morning STAR Of our little constella-
ssfion.s
She was second in age. but the first i'll
the Inheritance Of that load irresponsible
ty which, in such household, falls natu-
rally upon the oldest daughter. Eliza. as
Il have said. was i'll from early girlhood /;
and Ellen had shouldered all her burden
Of care and kindness, with, a light heartand
. q lighter, step. Up stairs and down cellar
lin the parlor, nursery. or rkitchen-at the
spiano or the wash -tub-with pen, pencil.
nee1le, or iadle-s sister Ellen was always
busy. always with smile on her. cheek
and warble on her lip.
Quietly, happily, the months and years
went by. We never realized that change
was to come over our little band. To be
ssnre, when mother would look in upon US
seated together. with our books, paintings
and needle-work, and say, in her gentle
way, with only half sigh. "Ah. girls, you
glance into each others eyes, and wonder
who, mould go first. But it was wonder
hatpassed away with the hour, and ruffied
: not even the surface Of our sisterly hearts
Il could not be always so-and the change
came at last
~ Sister Ellen was to be married!
- II was like the crash of a thunder-bolt in
clear summer sky Sister Ellen-the
lairy of the hearth stone, the darling ofev
:. .ery heart-which of us could spare her
.sStHAo had been so presumptuous as to fine
a;out her worth? For the first moment, thi!
question. burst from each surprised, half
s. aSRry sister Of the blushing, fearful Ellen
! aItsWas only for a moment for our hearts
ss4old us that nobody could help loving her
who had ever looked through her loving
blue eyes, into the clear well-spring of the
heart beneath. So we threw our arms a
round her, and hid our faces on her shoul
der and lap, and sobbed, without word
.-'. We knew very well that the young cler
s.gyman, whose Sabbath sermons and gen
ssle admonitions had won all our hearts, hat
been, for months, weekly visitor to ou
c6resids circle. With baby George on hi
y knee, and Georges brother and sister
s,ciustered around him he had sat through
many an evening, charming the hours a
way, until the clock startled US with its un
welcome nine-o' CLOCK warning; and tn
Soit.y spoken reminder, '.Girls, it's bed
time! !n woke more than one stifed sigh Q
!. regret. Then, sister Ellen must alway
20 with us, to lay George in his little bed
:, to hear him and Annette repeat the even
q ing prayer and hymn her lips had tpugh
them; to comb out the long brown braid
of Emily's head; to rob Arthur of the sto
--xr.book over which he would have squan
dersd ssthe midnight oil;' and to breath
4. kiss snd blessing over the pillow 9
each other sister, as she tucked the warn
/. blankets tenderly about them. We did nc
know how often, Of late she had stole
down sgain, from these sistefly duties. a
80 n,,r sat,esa vara locked in eleeD or. i