The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1858-01-26
THE SISTERS.
by META GREY.

One by one the long hours OF warm
summers afternoon dragged slowly away,
and tho soft, hazy twilight was so1ening
the rose-tints from the sky, when the stage
coach stopped before Mr.. Parsons door and
Edward Parsons was cordially welcomed
home by his family.
In the first moments of greeting he for
got his friend and college chum, Walter
Leigh, who had, at his solicitation, como
to spend few weeks with him.
Walter had been the first to form
friendship with Edward when he entered
college, and tho kindness then extended to
n stranger had been fully appreciated and
highly valued. Thus an intimacy arose
between tho young men, which timc serv-
ed only to strengthen.
Walter was something of an artist, and
had made great calculations upon the
sketches he would make while at the beau
tiiul romantic home of his friend, who had
given him such descripti ms of it and the
surrounding scenery, that he could not FORE
go the pleasure Of transferring them to pa
per, that he might, when far away in his
own home, look them over, and in gazing
upon their varied beauties, commune with
his dear friend Edward.
If he was prepared to SEQ all that was
beautiful in woodland scenery, he WAS
somewhat astonished when Edward led him
up to the laughing group, and after making
him acquainted with tho old pastor, his
gray. haired sire, and the good natured
matronly lady by his side, he presented
him to his sisters Maude and Alice.
The look of unfeigned admiration did
not escape the eye of any one present, as
each one was separately introduced, and
left to entertain him, while Edward follow
ed his little brothers down tho narrow path
TO see their little garden, and the new
house they had built Cor Bruno, and the
painted chicken. coop for the little brood of
new comcrs. And then there was kind
word of welcome from tho old servants,
and "God bless you" from the old nurse,
who felt piqued if the least neglected.
The travellers were somewhat faligued,
at his mothers request, retired carly
Edwa.d felt that his mother was right in
her suggestion, but Walter wished to ling
er longer with Maude and Alice who felt
Alice was the youngest, and Of no beau
ty save that it might be in the graceful
turn Of the well shaped head, with its au-
burn curls, or tho lvrge blue eye, SO soft
and patient. Her features were ircgdlar,
and the mouth, though unusually large,
was not ugly, as a sweet smile ever played
around it.
Maudo was proud, naughty and bcaut-
full. Her well moulded figure was reed
like and flcxilc in its native grace; her
eyes well full, dark and lustrou-, shaded
by curling ashcs, which contrastcd we'll
with the rosy richness Of her velvet check
her hair was soft and glossy, riva.ing in
hue the j"tty darkness of the raven; was
smoo,hly parted on her fair broad brow,
aud plated in the Grccian style. With
sweet, harmonious voice and irresistible
smile, Maudc Parsons wrs creature born
to be loved and admired; and yet there
were but few who did not love Alice with
deeper and more lasting affection.
Alice was cain, patient and gentle. 1t
was her hand that tastciully arranged ev-
erything in the lttlc parsonage; it was her
voice that soohcd the infant brother to
sleep, or arranged the pillows for an inval
id friend or waived away the pain from
her fathers brow. Whether or not there
some mysterious sympathy, surely she was
never defeated in her endeavors.
And il her eyes lacked the beauty of
her sisters, and the rosy bloom SET less up
on her pale cheek, she was the light of
her homo and the darling Of brother Ed
ware.
Maude was too conscious of her own
charms to fear Alice's rivalry. Even in
the limited circle where the pastors daugh-
ters visited, Maude had been looked upon
as the belle; and, if not noted for her ex-
treme piety, had been looked upon as one
os high and generous impulses, scorning
mean action.
There was but few bcauX in the village,
end those few were not suited to tn fasti
dious tastes Of the young girls at tho par
sonagc Endowed wish fine minds, and
by iudicious training, highly cultivated,
they could not find congouialty with hair
braincd fops from the city, OF the ignorant
villagers. Thus they retained the respec
tive ages Of eighteen and twenty without
ever having been in love.
Alice thought not of such things; when
the daily duties were over at homo por-
tion Of her leisure time was spent among
the sick, calling upon somc youthful friend,
or in her fathers library, whore she would
amuso herself by copying her fathers man
uscript for him. If such thoughts did
come, and doubt it not, for was there
ever young girl who did not indulge her
fancies in weaving bright dreams. They
did not linger long. The heart, capable of
the purest, deepest and most lasting affcc
ton, did not lavish them upon imagery,
but boarded them up until proper object
came 10 claim them.
Unlike Alice, Maude lived in an ideal
world Of her own, read light romances, and
imagine herself the heroine. The small
circle of Amherst was too much limited
for her ideas, and tho foolish notions ex-
pressed on many occasions had drawn forth
some rcproof from her father, and gentle
lecture from her mother, who, il she loved
Alice for her goodness, looked with no
small degree Of pride upon her beautiful
Maudc, and made every allowance for her
foibles, as she was not too old TO recolcct