Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-06-10
GS.GBG3 G63Bo
MY 7 WIN SISTERS. ID.
BY MRS. ANNIE E. BEECHER.

remember OF being hustled out of the
house in great hurry.
l remember of being told that l could
spend the day at the house of little
| friend.
remember of my brothers coming
there at nightfall, with the astounding
news that | had "got couple OF little SIS
ters -
My stars didn't spur through the
streets like locomotive stepping not
until fairly compelled by nurse Bradlee,
who wiped the perspiralion from my hot
forehead, smoothed my hair, put on a
clean bib and tucker, and led me, in a
frightful state of curiosity and trembling
delight, to my mothers bedside, where
she lay with the "twins."
She unrolled pair of steaming blank
cts, and | saw--oh, my heart'--my sisters!
l had pictured on my frenzied route
home, two perfect little, doll-like speci
mems of humanity, rose-lipped, curly
haired, lair-skinned, &C., but here was
the reality
Puckered, and to be squint-eyed, my
sinking heart foretold me.
They were the first babies had ever
seen; and, as they stuck out their small,
red, damp fists, and squared away at me
with the crookedest and most rublcund of
all mortal legs, l groaned in agony of
spirit, and fled to my own room TO weep
awav my bitter disappointment, in silence
and solitude.
No one will ever know with what Sc
cret misgiving | watched the growth Of
those "twins." Sometimes | tancled
they were out-growing the "squint," and
would get quite light-hearted about IT.;
when suddenly they would leer at me,
from my mothers lap, in the most ghast-
ly manner, dashing my hopes TO atoms.
| did not name my fears TO any one,
lest it should reach the ears ofmy mother
and pain her; SO wrestled and writhed
with my intense agony, in secret along.
used to sit hours in the foot of their
cradle, my feet doubled under me, singing
to them, and rocking with might and
main, to get rid of the thought, which
was perfect bug-bear TO ME.
Yes, they would be squinteyed, |
knew they would: and all the schoolgirls
would laugh at my little sisters----my
squint-eyed sisters. They had always
sneered because | hadn't any, and now
these were worse than none.
Well, | sung on, rocked on, and old
Father Time. he came every day, and
smooihered away a wrinkle from their
.puckered up, apeish little faces.
"Mother mother" | exclaimed one
morning, ";he twins are not going TO be
squint-eyed." Tears were streaming
down my face, and my good mother for
the first time suspected all the anguish
Childish as | was) had endured.
"Certainly not" said she smoothingly;
"babies all squint when they are young.
It's because they have no thinking con-
troll over their movements"
did not stop to wonder at her explana-
toni was too happy for that.
With what alacrity now dragged my
schoolmates in TO look upon these won
ders Most Of them had sisters, or a
sister at least but not one had two, just
alike.
See here!" said | one day, trium-
phantly---"see here :" turning the soft
downy hair, family perceptible, off the
fat wrinkIy necks, at the back of their
heads over nv fingers.
Curly hair going to have curly halr!'
and clapped my hands in ecslacy al the
idea-.-bare as it was.
besought my father with tears TO get
a basket carriage, tha, might drag them
about the vilage---one at the head---an-