The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
For the National Era.
4 BgOTHER's RECOLLECTION OF AN ONLY
SISTER
BY MARY IRVING
CHAP. ".

49, =.
for the maintenance Of my helpless charges
the invalid and the infant.
II v,as a dsy Of Indian Summer. Sunset was
ssreaming down a long misty reach between
rainb3ydecked hills, when ! refined up my
hnrso at the carefully fastened gate of prim,
"a farm house. 1t mad seen more than hun
dred years pass over its slanting ridge-pole /;
INIT thanks to the incessant care CT lite watch
f,l inmate. preserved deceat, though some
what grim, appearance in It's old age
q Mt unlikc-the house, herself; snrely,Y said
| 10 myself, as the latter-DaEei parsonage ap-
uenIei under the srch of the doorway, with
hizl-crowned stfly starched CAP blue skirt,
wh..e apron, and gray spencer, oFer whose
f3l- a white muslin triangle was pinned with
excess CT nicely There was no want OF well
come. however, in those fiery gray eyes, nor In
tbs shr.ll tone that acccsted me as though
had still been the boy che used to order about,
years before.
WHY, Ralph, is it you, rd'aliy! Come in,
Low SHUT that gate, though
Aunt Tryphena. whom have introduced to
you. (known in the pnrlanee of naughty neph-
ews a. "Aunty Tripe,') was cousin of my
late father, though much Older than himself.
She aai her mother when she always gov
elncd having the. more positive talent for
tie Jusines) had brought him up, after the
carly 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
be- in the charge of Aunt Tryphena, we'll
knowing that her physical well being, at least,
would there be carefully guarded.
a strange little apparition came springing
through the back doorwa and, with cry,
fell into my out stretched arms gaEed down
8. her, half doubtfully Was this Lulie, or
sJiae elfsh chsngeling procured by the old
aunt to delcde me But the sweet, strong
pressure Of the loving little arms about my
ECck, the sobbed " Pm so glad you've come
brother Ralph " left no room 10 my heart for
anything but sudden petition for Heavens
blessing on her, and on ali who had guarded
her.
Good gracious is the child possessed ? ,
spoke up the old aunt, whose ideas of young
maldenly propriety were somewhat outraged
TO scamper at such rate over the floor
sal thcn-why, for shame, Miss Eulalie your
brother viii think You sad romp, instead of the
Welbehaved little girl he expected to 6ndD
There that will do, Aunty!" said l. press
ing the little hand | held tenderly in mine
i0T tho joy-bearning face had suddenly length.
onei into soberness, and two large tears stood
in the siuces Of the lustrous eyes she lifted t.
the face Of tho speaker.
" Wen! Go and shut that door which you
left open, child"
As she turned, | had full view Of the
c0FUe which had so amazed me at first sight
a. 1t quite changed the appearance of the child
Her long natural ringlets had been combed out
the hair brushed back in the style of the por
traits Of Martha Washington, and tied in q
lfft an - - 60 A..
huge bow of yellow ribtoa Her dress, Of
blue check, dang'ed against her shoes, though
IN" greater part of it wac unseen, being shroud
ed IN a great white dimity apron, with Ions
sleeves that buried her hands Altogether the
apfarition was ridiculous, and could not sup
press Il smile
Is she attempted to close the door, it wa
pushed open with force that nearly oversee
her, by black boy Of about ten years, who's.
Noolly head and white eyes surmounted a grea
bundle Of tausy and yarrow, culled from vari
Gus fence corners for the use Of his mistress
Come here, Zeb!" called the latter clay
down your yGrbs and make your best bow t.
he young mani
A common ass citation exists. in the mind,
Of CHILDREN and story tellers, between an '' ole
maid and a black cat. Aunt Tryphena. whl
had = cordial hatred of all the fsline species
had taken 10 herself, instead of the ordinary
pairing and scratching familiar, let black
orphan boy from the wol kbouse, upon whom &
cxpe0d the small inheritance of petting pro-
Iensii'es that had descended to her. ''Zeb'
was the only creature within her jurisdiction
= whose faults she had not the eyes Of ar
Argus. Her implicit faith in his trust worth
its' JAILED her distrust OF all others Of hu
mSn kind
A little incident occurred, the day after my
arrival, which had It's effect upon the view.
and decisions both Of Aunt Tryphena and my
lolE
small apple-tfee stood near the garder
gate, shaded by a spreading butternut Thi
tree had that year borne its first fruit anC
Aunt TTyphena, who was an amateur il
gratis" particularly desired to see it come tx
iul maturity. She had, therefore, forbidde,
the children TO touch the fruit of that tree
bntan apple" interdicted is, as every orchard
Eve. '
L:ialie. Eulalio Lincoln where are You
screamed tho voice Of Aunt Tryphena, in {
tone aRo7e its ordinary shriilness
vas sitting in my room, reading the only
newspaper that found its way to those parts
aao' thrCugh two open dCorways commanded
view OF the whole scene shat followed.
Aunt was stepping empha iealiy toward The
house having slammed the garden gate behinC
heF' Zeb az usual, stumbled along close upor
Eer heels. NfO'
=, n Voice that at first seemed to come from
the Clouds, answered her; and, in q minute
r'diahe SID from the high hay.ioft, and came
IfW"rd with an air Of hesitation in her step
ana 40 unwonted color in her cheeks.
enid, come here! don't want YOU h
lc4 ne lies What were you doing in the gar
den yolderlD
deeply.
speak," was the stern command.
II was reading the child
on were not, girl! you het How dqr
Jon puck my pearmains, and tell me a false
hood about it ~
IL never touched your pearmains, aunt
Exclaimed she, looking up in unfeigned sUr
Sop. not another word of falsehood." cri
"a the old lady. "Zsb! 90 and cut me goo
iinap:e-tree switch I'll bring the truth out G
felt the blood Jingle in my veins; but calm
"a 'no hrss strong impulse, and walked leisure
y to tho front door
You shall not whip mel cried the chill,
Pass!onately, with all the Lincoln spirit fash
ing INTO her eyes. You have no right to cal
Inc lar shall tell my brother Ralphlp
Laialie!" spoke, gravely, but gently.
she made one bound toward me, but stop
PED clinching her hands firmly together III,
VEINS in her high forehead we're dark purple
ridges.
=, Now, Ralph Lincoln, cried aunt Tryphena
none Of your modelling with what doesn'
concern youl Go back into the house.! !"
Pardon me, aunt; bat the reputation o
tins little girl does concern me seriously -
She has told downright lie her looks bo
tray her and it would be the everlasting ruiz
OF her to pass it over! II isn't the apples