The Georgetown news., 1855-12-27

the gentleman for whom you seem now to
have no feeling but suspicious distrust, you
will love him as a brother should; for, will
you not be brothers,"
There IS more of it. But though | can
not read it without tears, it is not to be ex-
pected that Others will feel the same inter-
est init. Sol spare the rest. Nv sister
was half grieved, half angry, because I
would not be pleased when She was about
to surrender her whole life, hopes, happiness
to stranger. How could be pleased?-
| had never thought of marrying; why
should she? But she did submitted. [
witnessed the ceremony. even gave away
the bride. And l felt, while [ did so. that
l was giving away-losing-my only sister.
And so it proved. Her husband was no
| better or worse than most men. He died,
and left her no wealth save five children
She was not endued with physical strength
to manage such a bequest. The sister
whom had given away | took home again.
Heaven forgive mel But [ thought less of
his death and her sorrow than of my gain;
for my sister was once more under the same
roof with me. But my sad pleasure was
brief. She followed her husband, and her
children became mine entirely.
James Hayden said they were we'll pro-
vlded for. So they are. But" he said,
IF | had only a wife, now, to be their
mother" [ came as near quarreling with
him as [ could for saying such a thing
With such a charge on my hands, what
time have | to think of marrying? And
how can | be sure that my wife wonld be
their mother? The fact seems to be. that
some of us must keep our senses to repair
the damage done by the loss of their wits
in others. | am determined to be a father
to my sisters little ones, now my own; and
not to risk the distraction of being husband
to somebody who might cause me to be-
come recreant to my trust, by making me
father on my own account. | am too old
business man for that, and James HAYDEN
knows it. Haven't we discharged more
than one cashier for doing paper in his own
behalf The cases are parallel.
The little rOgueS have wound themselves
round me. They could not be more nv
own If they wore my name. But all love
IN this world is troublesome comfort. Such
perils as they have exposed me to! Yes,
perils; but L have survived them. [ am
myself still, and will keep so. Such an up
setting Of my bachelor menagei Such en-
counters with teachers, and governesses
and hOusekeepers! Such mistakes as trades
people are constantly making. | am con-
tinually Gathered in spite of myself; but
that [ care nothing about. There is one
thing [ can not stand l have sent away
six housekeepers, because each was mista-
] hO of 4lo
each was nothing 10th, for they all under
stood what that implied. And so did l.
There was but one guess where such mis-
takes could end-if not corrected That
end have guarded against by installing
Madam Pickle in the housekeeper's room
Nobody could mistake her for the wife of
any thing except the kitchen range.
But such housekeeper is no companion
for the children. l asked James Hayden
what | should do. He said, engage a gov
erness, and did. She came highly recon-
mended, and has not belied her good char
acter. The children have improved under
her instruction and example. Their man
ners are subdued and polite. Their pro-
gress in the branches they have studied is
notable. Their respectful attention to me
is most remarkable. Come, now, thought
1, after few months experience, this be-
ing at the head of a family is not so bad
thing after all.
Such pleasant thrice-daily meetings as
were our repasts! There was no keeping
the children away in the nursery, to feed
them like little pensioners, and let their
manners form as it pleased fate and the
cook. They were brought square to the
table, and taught how to demean them
selves And after tea they had always
something so pleasant to say to Uncle-pa,
as they called me, that their stay was pro
tracted till | gave certain understood sig
nails that | had had enough of them. When
L unfolded thepaper, or looked at my watch,
or put away my tOoth-pick, with the air of
one who has trified long enough, and now
intends to do something to the purpose, our
goVerness took the hand of the youngest
The rest foll0wed-not without some little
rehearsal Of Romeo. Parting is such sweet
sorrow, that they would have continued it
till midnight at least
"Stlll signing to go, and still 10th to depart"
Miss Amity was sometimes obliged to re-
turn for some little matter which the chill
dren had forgotten in their prolonged hurry
OF departure. Polteness would not suffer
me to see here enter and depart without
word. The dear children were never
firing topic for me; and Miss Amity, while
as sensible as was to their remarkable per-
lection, never failed to remember to whom
they owed it-their kind and paternal I'M
Gle. What she said upon this head-rather
by implication and innuendo than in direct
words-I could not but feel the justice Of
L feebly parried her praises, and thus gave
a pleasant little piquancy and prolongation
to the door-knob-in-h hand conversation.
And it came to pass that these conversa-
tions-at first held occasionally with Miss
Amity as standing interlocutor-became
of daily rnnntitinn nd then at NV rn