Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-30
yntetestitn Storg.
THE
THE
TWIN SISTERS
A Tale of the Early Christians.

f A04S VA SAH AN ~A& ~ yAttASs
In the reign Of Marcus Aurelius, there
lived in Rome a good old senator, who
had two daughters. Veronica and
Berenice were noted, less for their beau.
ty and gentleness than for the extraordi,
nary resemblance they bore to each other
and for their mutual affection. These
girls were twins I; their mother had died
during their infancy, and it was found,
after her death, that a mothers eye only
had been able to distinguish the children
Had their father, Flavius Torquatos,
bestowed much of his time and attention
to them, he might have acquired the
same power Of discrimination !; but the
noble patrician's hours were divided be.
tween the senate-house and the court
and when he came home at night wear,
led, he was well enough pleased to play
with his two sweet little girls, without
farther troubling himself concerning
them. And yet he was a kind father /; he
entreated his widowed sister to take ur
her abode with him, that she might take
care Of the children ; he allotted for their
use a magnificent suite of rooms he
purchased for them a numerous train Of
slaves. Veronica and Berenice had
scarcely O wish angratified.
AS they increased in years, the re.
markable similarity of their persons re-
manned undistinguished their characters
became essentially different. Berenice
was pensive, gentle, it night be some
what melancholy, and fondp f retirement.
Veronica Yves Volasile, gayay, of quick
and warm affections /; yet did these
points of difference not lesson their fond
affection. II
They had completed their sixteenth
year, when among other presents bronghi
by their father on his return from a visit
to the east, was a. female slave Of extra.
ordinary intelligence aald merit.
She soon became the ~fayorite of Berene
ice and the noble young Roman would fire..
quently reeline for hours on her couch,
while the slave beside her, occupied at
her embroidery, would tell her tales oil
her own family and native land. She
wept when she spoke Of her peaceful
home and aged parents, and Rerenice
felt as though she loved the girl the
more for her fond regret. She asked
her for what cause her liberty had been
forfeited, for she knew that Alice had
not been born a slave I; but on this point
she could moi obtain satisfaction. Ber-
enise would not pursue the painful sub
jeet, but her sisters curiosity was not 50
easily suppressed. She questioned her
father, and the reply of Flayius made
both his daughters start with horror.
1t was for crime he said % for
crime of a biacker nature than you can
conceive for crime that merited death
but | pitied her youth. Nay he con.
tinued, be not alarmed She cannot
will not, injure you; she is gentle and
tskillful in the healing art for this rea,
son | have'he abont9you And, you are
Romans and noble Berenice you will
not, descend to undue familiarity with a
slave
BeFenice2 remembered thi.s, injunction
she meant to obey it; but shortly after
this conversation She was attacked BY d
painful aili9gess, and. during the tedious
hours Of sleepless nights, she could not
refrain FROM desiring Alice to tell her
stories, and sing her songs. as she had
been wont to do, Often aud often, as
she watched the quick, soft step of her
dependant, and compared her unwearisd
assiduity and gentle activity with the inl-
dolence and ~Qarelessness Of her other
slaves, she w9ndersa what could be the
crime Of which SO meek and qnoFandihg
q creature had been gailty. One night
she felt worse than usual, loand having
persuaded her sister to retire for d while,
she lay perfectly still, and meditatng on
the past, and on the fature, that fearful
future, d (which she knew so little, and
which she 80 much dreaded. Alice was
kneeling by her couch, and believing her
mistress to be asleep, she prayed ia a soft
voice TO the God of the Christians for
her recovery, Rereniee listened In still
attention she beard to 6er surprise. the
meditation Of q being impI6rcd, of whose
very eaisleace she was totally ignorant.
She saw Alice arise at last, with an ex
preston of resignation and holy hope in
her meekIy raised eyes, which she had
never Witnessed in the yotaries Of Joye.
She called the trembling girl to her side,
and bade her quickly explain her sacred
faith. Alice hesitated she knew the
danger she would INCUR for both and
some remains of the fear of man yet lin
gered about her heart. But she con.
qnered the unworthy feeling, and draw
ing from the folds of her robe roll f
parchment, she read aloud to her atten-
tive auditress the record of the most sur,
prisfng eyent in the history of mankind.
Many inenths had passed away. One
evening the two sisters were together in