The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-06-11
THE THREE GHOSTS.


Round cheerful wood fire, in quaint, old
country house, three sisters sat talking in the
twilight. The bright blaze illumned the walls
o.. which few portraits were hanging, and
cast grotesque shadows from the old fashioned
furniture. The ruddy glow lighted up the
three lovely faces of the sisters, who were en-
joying its cheerfulness.
Very charming were they all, but very diff
ferent in their beauty.
Margaret, the elder, she who sits to the
right of the fire, with head thrown partly back
while her hands are crossed upon her knees
is about twenty-five. She is tall, stately, and
proudly beautiful. Sophie, pretty Sophie,
sits opposite, on sola with the head Of little
Rose who is reclining on her lap.
Little Rose the youngest, with neither Mar
garet's queenly grace, nor Sophie's brilliant
beauty--was what ladies call darling-that
is, she was loveable, charming and innocent.
In fact, she was fresh and sweet as hawthorn
blossom.
These three young girls were singularly sit
uated
They resided in the old homestead where
we have found them, alone, excepts for the SER
wants who attended them. Father and moth
or were both dead within few years, and as
there was no relation to supply, even in a
yet more closely to each other, and continued
to live in their desolate home, like birds who
nestle together in the old nest-when the par
ent birds have left them.
Thomas, an old and faithful man servant,
and Kitty Cork, person notwithstanding her
juvenile name, of middle age and tried fidelity
were their only dOmeStics; but they sufficed,
for their laborS were performed in the spirit of
love and Willingness
Such was the little household of the sisters
and there they were settled-for life. For be
it known to you, oh incredulous reader! that
each of the fair sisterhood was under solemn
vow Of celbacy.
When their father died and left themalI alone
in the world, they took each others hand and
soemnly promised never to desert each other,
but to live and die together.
Three years had passed since that time, and
though their lovelineSs attracted suitors even
to their quiet, lonely home, no whisper had
ever been breathed by any of the sisters of a
wish to break that VOW.
On the contrary, they often applauded their
wisdom in deYising it, and swore fealty to it
anew.
Some such conversation had taken place on
the very evening l have chosen 10 introduce
them to my readers. Indeed they were more
of any treason to their code. Margaret's eyes
had flashed Indignantly at the very thought of
such treachery. Sophia had painted most
touchingly the lonely state of the other two,
should one be base enough to desert, and lit
tie Rose had declared
That even if King Charming ghimselfshould
como flying into the room in golden chariot,
and were to fall at her feet, all crowned with
diamonds, she would not waver the least mite
but should say very coolly, Rise Prince
Charming you can't have me. | have prom
ised my sisters never to marry
Margaret and Sophia laughed at little Rose s
sally and the greatest unanimty of opinion ap-
peared to prevail.
| While they sat over the fire discussing this
subject, Kitty Cork entered with basket OF
chesnuts, saying
IL We plase leddies, Thomas bids me gives
yees them nuts. He's afther pckin' them
hssel, and he sais as it's Hollow Ave, yell be
thryin' yer fertuns, good or bad-and IT'S
wishin' yo good LUCK and good fortune he ls
Does not Thomas know --?' began MIR
garet with frown.
'Oh-ay-he knows interrupted Kitty,
with slight toss of the head-but immedi-
ately repenting this imprudent gesture, she
added, with rougish Occurrences
/ Och. but Thomas is quare, headstrong,
lould body Purr ould soul, he has ay bis
icraks and Withstand one is, yen all three
o. wees be married before the years out Un.
fortunate, demented, craythur, that he is, te
take sic a crazy fancy.
Crazy, indeedn said Margaret, with dignity
but yet when Kitty was gone, the girls began
9 Just for fun,' to try the nuts on the hot shove