Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1854-10-19
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FIRST MARRIAGE IN THE FAMILY.

"Home RI How that little word strikes
upon the heart-strngs, awakening all the
Swee, memories, that had slept in memory's
chamber Our home was "pearl OF price"
annong homes; not for its architectural ele
gance--foI it was only lour-gabled brown,
country house, abated by two antedIlnvian
oak trees; nor was its interior crowded with
luxunes that charm life and come from every
cline. It's furniture had grown old with us,
for we remember no other; and though polish
ed ps highly as furniture could be, by daily
scrubbing, was somewhat The worse for wear,
II must be confessed. =
But neither the house nor It's furnishing
makes the home, and the charm OF ours lay
10 the sympathy that linked the nine who call
ed i. thonle' To one another. Palher, mother,
and seven childreh--fve OF them gay hearted
girls and two boys, petied just enough 10 be
spoiled--not one linz, had ever dropped from
the chain Of love or one cofroding drop fallen
upon its brightness.
'One star differeth from another in glory
evenin the firrnanentof home. Thus--though
we could not have told stranger which sister
or brother was dearest-from our gentlest EEL
eest,, and invalid herself, but the comforter
end counsellor Of all besides, tothe curly hair
ed boy who romped and rejoiced in the appel
lalion OF baby given FIVE years before-still
on observing eye would soon have singled out
sister Ellen as the sunbeam OF our heaven,
the morning star of our constellation. She
was the second in age, but the first in the in
heritance OF that load Of responsibility, which
Ia such a household falls naturally upon the
eldest daughter. Eliza as have said was i'll
from early gill hood and Ellen had ldered
all her burden OF care and kindness with a
!" ligKter heartan lighter step. Up stairs and
gdown celar--in the parlor, nursery or kitchen
at the piano or the washtub-with pen, pen
Gil, needle or ladle, ,--Sisier Ellen was always
busy always with smile on her cheek, and q
varble on her lip. ID. .y... ...,r
Quietly, happily, the months and years went
by. We never realized that change was 10
= come over cur band. To be sure, when moth
ter would look in upon us, seated together,
with our books, painting, and needle work,
and say, in her gentle way, with only half a
sgh, 'ah, girls, you are living your happiest
Ndsysv' we would glance into each others eyes
and wonder who would go first. Bat it was
? wonder that passed away with the hour and
q Yuffled not even the surface of our Sisterly
:, hearts. II could not be always so - and the
danger came at last i''H Fi f7' '.r
-Huilt was like the crash Of thunderbolt in Q
clear summer skyl Sister Elien--the fairy o.
the hear,hstone, the darling OF every heert--
fwhich of u. cou Id spare herr Who had beer
so presumptuous as 10 find cut her worth9--
For The first moment the question burst from
each surprised, half angry sister Of the blush
ing fearful Ellen. II was only Tor a moment
for our hearts told us that no body could helr
,,,lo L. nIn1 oh har lOut m
blue eyes intothe clear well spring of tina
heart beneath. So We thew ourarmS around
her, and so5bed without word. -,
We know very well that The young clergy
mon whose Sunday sermons and gentle adfno
nilionshal won all hearts, had been for months
weekly visitor 10 our fireside circle. Witt
baby George on his knee, and Georgie's broth
Grand sisters clustered about him, he had sa
through many an evening, charming the hour
away until the clock startled Us with lts'un
welcome 8 O'clock warning, and The soft!
spoken reminder Girls, it is he'd time,'
woke more than one stined sigh OF regret
Then sister Ellen. must 60 with US 10 lay Geor
Gle in his little bed: 10 hear him and Annette
repeat the evening prayer and hymn, her lip
had taught them 10 comb the long browl
braids of Emlys head, to rob Arthur Of th,
story book, over which he would have Squan
dered the mid might night oil and TO breathe
kiss aud blessing over the pillow Of eacl
iolher sister, as'she tucked the warm blanket
tenderly around them.. asl
We did not know how often of late she ha,
stolen down again, from these sisterly dutie
aIter our sisters were licked in sleep; or if on
eyes and ears have ever been open to the fac
we could not have suspected the minister t