Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-26
LITERARY MISCELLANY.
For the National Era.
A BR0THER's RECOLLECTION OF AN ONLY
SISTER.
BY MARY IRVING.


BY MARY IRVING.
CHAP. ".
Two years had passed since had looked
upon the only being left me to cherish. had
been toiling, "A before, in my Western home,
Tor the maintenance of my helpless charges
the invalid and tho infant.
III was day Of Indian summer Sunset was
streaming down long, misty reach between
acknowledged hills, when refined up my
horse at the carefully. fastened gate of prim,
red farm house. 1t had seen more than hum
dred years pass over its santing ridge-pole;
but thanks to the incessant care of its watch
full inmate, preserved q decent though some
what grim, appearance in its old age.
!" Not unlike the house. herself surely said
| to myself as the latter-named parsonage APP
peared under the arch of the doorway, with
hgh-crowned, stiffly. starched cap blue skirt,
white apron, and gray spencer, over whose
folds white muslin triangle was pinned with
excess of nicely There was no want Of well
come, however, in those fiery gray eyes, nor in
the shrill tone that accosted me as though
had still been the boy she used to order about,
years before
"Why, Ralph, is it you, ra'ailyi Come in,
boy Shut that gate, though
Aunt Tryphena whom have introduced to
you known in the parlance of naughty neph
ews as "Annty Triple, y was q cousin of my
late father, though much older than himself
She and her mother whom she always gov
erned, having the more positive talent for
the busines) had brought him up, after the
early death of his parents left him an orphan.
For this reason, partly, and partly for want of
better haven for my gentle dove, had left
har in tba hove ff An,
knowing that her physical well-being at least,
would there be carefully guarded.
A strange little apparition came springing
through the back doorway, and, with a cry,
fell into my out stretched arms. gazed down
at her, half doubtfully. Was this Lulie, or
some clfsh changeling procured by the old
aunt to delude me? But the sweet, strong
pressure of the loving little arms about my
neck, the sobbed . Pm so glad you've come,
brother Ralph left no room in my heart for
anything but sudden petition for Heavens
blessing ON her, and on all who had guarded
her.
"Good gracious! is the child possessed .
spoke up the old aunt, whose ideas Of young
maidenly propriety were somewhat outraged
TO scamper at such q rate over the floor
and then-why, for shame, Miss Eulalie your
brother will think you sad romp, instead Of the
well.behaved little girl he expected to indn
There that will do, Auntyl" said |, press
ing the little hand held tenderIy in mine;
for the joy-beaming face had suddenly length
ened into soberness, and two large tears stood
in the sluices of the lustrous eyes she lifted to
the face of the speaker.
Well! Go and shut that door which you
left open, child ~
As she turned, ! had full view Of the
couture which had 10 amazed me at first sight
asit quite changed the appearance Of the child
/. Her long natural ringets had been combed out
the hair brushed hack in the style Of the por-
traits of Martha Washington, and tied in
stiff bunch ut the crown Of her head, with
huge bow Of yellow ribbon Her dress, of
blue check, danged against her shoes, though
the greater part of it was unseen, being shroud-
ed in great white dimity apron, with long
sleeves that buried her hands. Altogether, the
apparition was ridiculous, and could not sup.
press . smile.
AS she attempted to close the door, it was
pushed open with force that nearly oyerset
her, BY black boy of about ten years, whose
woolly head and white eyes surmounted great
Gus fence corners for the use Of his mistress.
"Come here, Zcb!n called the latter aI.ay
down your yorbs, and make your best bow to
he young mani
A common association exists, in the minds
OF children and story-tellers, between an " old
maid and n black cat. Aunt Tryphena, who
had q cordial hatred Of oil the feline species
had taken TO herself, instead Of the ordinary
purring and scratching familiar, Jet black
orphan boy from the wor khouse upon whom to
expend tho small inheritance Of petting pro-
pensitics that had descended to her. "Zebn
was the only creature within her jurisdiction
for whose faults shc had not the eyes OF an
Argus. Her implicit faith in his trust-worthi.
ness equalled her distrust of all others of hu-
man kind.
A little incident occurred, the day after my
arrival, which had its effect upon the views
and decisions both Of Aun. Tryphena and my
self
A small apple-tree stood near the garden
gate, shaded by spreading butternut This
tree had that year borne It's first fruit, and
Aunt Trypbena who was an amateur in
"grafts,v particularly desired to see il come 10
full maturity. She had, therefore, forbidden
tho children 10 touch the fruit Of that tree.
But an "appleV nterdicted il, as every orchard
Ist knows, sore temptation to the progeny Of
Eve.
Eulaliel Enlalie Lincoln where IRE you 90
screamed the voice Of Aunt Tryphena, in
tone above its ordinary shrillness
was sitting in my room, reading the only
newspaper that found its way 10 those parts !;
and, through two open doorways, commanded
view Of the whole scene that followed
Aunt was stepping emphstically toward the
house, having slammed the garden gate behind
her. zeb as usual, stumbled along close npon
her heels
voice that at first seemed to come from
the clouds, answered her and, in minute,
Eulalie slid from the high hay-loft, and came
forward with an air Of hesitation in her step,