Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-04-24
CHATTER II.


gently into my lap.
"Do you love father toO?" she asked,
in her frank, simple manner.
" Yes, darling, love him. I answer
ed, sand l want to love you all, and be
loved by you. Now he is gone l am sad
and lonely. VIII you not love me,
May ?"
The child kissed me grayely; but did
not reply to the question.
Aunt Jane sent me to call you to
dinner" she said, slipping from my arms.
When we had finished this lonely meal,
and the children and Jane had gone up
stairs to the afternoon lessons, 1 visited
one or two rooms which had attracted my
observation the day before. One was the
attic chamber, where / had noticed heap
of old packages which / wished to ex-
anime. In one corner stood a pile of
old pictures, some soiled, some with bro
ken frames, but which on examination
found worthy to be rubbed up and newly
framed. One especially won my admi-
ration. It was a portrait of young and
beautiful woman. The soft auburn hair
and hazel eyes were very lovely, and the
features, though not expressive of any
great energy or depth of character, were
faultlessly regular.
] heard some one passing in the hail.
= and opened the door to ask some ques-
tions about these pictures. 1t was Ell
len.
" Are you busy, Ellen?' asked. Il
not, I wish you would come here a mo.
ment."
Ellen looked surprised, but followed me-
without any reply.
II want to know something about thest
pictures. Some of them are very fine
and it seems to me strange that they
! should hang them out of sight"
"They got injured" said Ellen, ant
Aunt Jane did not have time.to get then
: e mended.'
"Here is a beautiful landscape"
J said.
= knew, by the quick dilating of Ellen
hazel eyes, as she looked at the picture
that she could appreciate its excellence
and regretted that she had been so lon
debarred the privilege of cultivating he
- naturally artistic taste. resolved to bel
% her to make up the lost time.
Now here is one in which 1 am sti
more interested,"I said, taking up tn
u portraits. "Who is this, Ellen ?"
Ellen started, and then the color rushe
to her cheeks, as she answered, in a 10
" voice, " 1t is my mother"
had suspected as much. The resen
r blance was striking between the picture
~ face and little Harry.
"Is that the way you preserve yor
mothers portrait p l asked.
-. "Aunt Jane puSit away before"
Before l came, Ellen ?"
eyes," was the brief reply.
"Wen, / shall take better care of it
future. l am not to stand between "
and your mother, Ellen. wish you
,u love and honor her memory above {
others. ] shall try to make you wis
:, and happier than ever, instead of gloon
and sad"
There was slight culver about ]
I'D lens firm lip, as she turned and left
room. / began TO feel encouraged.
ed That evening 1 had fire made in t
mo parlor, the piano was unlocked, anc
took my music from my trunk. In
cleaning before there was any light
the room, save that of the tremulous Fl
ave light, sat down to play. They were
there; Jane at crotchet-wOrk in corn
.od and the children seated silently about
fire.
found the piano an excellent inst
and ment, and after playing a variation, wh
rom drew sigh from the depths of NJ
4 7 James bosom, and shout of delight fr
dis my little Harry, / began to sing. It
an old, plaintive, Scotch song that
my chose: something to touch and melt
fear heart.
lake May and Harry were standing, one
each side of me, when ] ended, and Il
lett glowing faces expressed their delight.
new 81 like that, said Harry, " | "
ting Aunt Jane wouldn't keep the piano 10
at ed, 50 that nobody can touch it
was A loud warning cough from his an
P to bic aunt made him shrink little nea
litter to me. DO sing another, pleas
be- whispered May, and sung Goet
lg to i" Miller and the Brook, that wild, n
en- ry old song.
teei- What do / say Of murmur,
yraxy That s.ar, rnurnour be Z