The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-16
For the National Era.
my TWIN SISTERS.
BY MRS. ANNIE T.. BEEcHER

! remember of being hustled out of the house
in great hurry
| remember of being told that could spend
the day at the house of little friend.
| remember of my brothers coming there al
nishtfall, with the astounding news that had
"got couple Of little sisters 4"
My stars didn't spur through the streets
like locomotives stopping not until fairly
compelled by nurse Bradlee, who wiped the
persrratiOn from my hot forehead, smoothed
my hair, put On clean bib and tucker, and led
me, in a frightfnl state Of curiosity and tren,-
hi,'g d; y, t. ny I;9thnr's h'asila Il ts.
She unroiled par Of stcaIaing blankets,
and saw-oh, my heart-my sisters
had pictured, on my frcnzied route home,
two perfect little, doll-like specimens of hui
mainly roselipped, fair skinned, curly haired
&c. but here was the reality!
Puckered, and 10 be squint-cyed, my sinking
heart forotold me.
They were the first babies had ever seen
and, as they stuck out their small, red, damp
fists, and squared away ut me with the crook
edeSt and most rubeund OF all mortal legs,
groaned IN agony of spirit, and fed to my own
room to weep forth my bitter appointment
in silence and solitude.
No one will ever know with what secret mis-
g;vings | watched the growth of those twins :
Sometimes | fancied they were out-growine
" the squint" and would ges quite light heart
ed about it when suddenly they would leer al
me, from my mothers lap, in the most CHASTITY
manner, dashing my hopes to atoms.
did not name my fears TO any one, lest il
should get to the ears of my mother, and pair
her So | wrestled and writhed with my intenS,
agony, in secret and alone.
| used to sit hours in the foot OF their era die
my feet doubled under me, singing to them
and rocking with might and main, to get rio
of the thought, which was perfect bugbcar t
me.
Yes, they would be squiuteyed, | know they
would and all the schoolgirls would laugh a
my little sstcrs--my squint-ayed sisters. Thel
had always sneered because hadn't any, ant
now these wcre-worse than none.
Well, | sang on, rocked on; and old Father
Tine, he came every day, and smoothed away
a wrinkle from their puckered-up, ap4ish LITTLE
faces.
Mother mother | exclaimed, one morn
ing tho twins arc not going to be squint
eyed" Tears were streaming down my face
and my good mother for the first time suspect
ed al the anguish childish as it wa-) | haC
endured.
Certainly not" said she, soothngiy ba
bies all sqint when they arc young. It's be
cause they have no thinking control over theil
movements"
| did not stop to wonder at her explanation
Was too happy for that.
With what alacrity | now dragged my
schoOl-mates in to look upon those wonders
Most Of them had sisters, or a sister at least bu
not one had two! two Just alike!
'See here!" said one day, triumphantly-
"see here! " turning the soft downy hair, faint
ly perccptible On the fat wrinkly nccks, at tn,
back OF their heads over my fingers
"Curiy hair! going to have curly hair =
and | clapped my hands in ecstacy at the
idea--"bare as it was!"
besought my father with tears to get a
basket carriage, that might drag them about
the vilage-one at the head-another Mt the
foot o, what proud sight it would be
/ got the carriage-by dint of perseverance,
and 1 put the twins " into it, arranging them
as pleased; and gave them their first ride
out into Gods sweet air and 4 called upon
everybody met with TO admire those sweet
baby faees-fresh as early vio.cts--in their soft
rose-colcred hoods trimmed by myself with q
bow exactly on top.
How my mother dared trust me with so pre-
cicus burden, know not. But her conf ienct
was not misplaced If saw horse or even
1oht ell barron miles away; would scamper with
nv rich burden into harbor - to wit, some
neighbO's garden carefully closing the gate
behind me. Thus secured, | would dance al
sorts cf fantastic minuets arodnd the carriage
generally to the profound nssonishment of the
TWINS"
was ont in the sun with them {. sight,
as my mother said and, indeed" she added,
| had made an "Injun of myself, and wa:
not lit to be seem"
But if was tanned and freck!ed until my
nose resembled q turkeys egg, ian uncle's com
parison.) the twins hourished and gre"
faircr every hour, and was satisfied
0, what sunshiny days were those when q
glance ut their tiny baby. shoes sent thrill &c
my heart when the lightest touch of their
small velvety piping lips created 10 me a hap
piness 80 intense that weep to think OF 1T even
now
Pink and azure robes, golden fiossy curls
lily neeks aud arms, silvery broken prattie,
absorbed my whole baby breast.
What proud day was that upon which
was permitted to trick cut one of tho "twins
and take her with me to school