Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-04-20
0Nortestrr 1ailp Spp.
THE SISTERS.


DelouS W tue OdDDdln, IDat L, accompanied by
my sister and her husband, for the first time
entered the parish church of the pretty village
of Baconstield.
Our pew was on the left side of the centre
division; and in one on the other side of the
aisle were two ladies whom, from the exceed
ing plainness of their Dress | set down in my
own mind as sectarians. The ladies appeared
young, that is, Neutrality-suspicious. three and
four and twenty. The youngest was marked.
but not at all disfgured by the small pox, and
by the continued closed eye-lids, evidently
blind. She was fair, and had a pleasing ex-
preston Of cOuntenance, frequently improved
by the feeling which fitted across her face /
was much interested in her. But her sister, as
l presumed her to be- | could not understand,
and yet her face was one of those which in
stantly captivate-a fair, oval, and almost
taultless face, with dark eyes, and plainly
braided brown hair. The imperturbability,
however, with which she listened to the music
and to the sermon surprised me. Once or
twice color rose to her transparent cheek, but
it might not have been caused by either the
singing or the eloquence for it happened at
times when there was apparently nothing to
excite.
My visit was to extend only to a fortnight
three days had already elapsed, and as my sis
ter was particularly engaged the next day, l
NCAt OuI lOI u SIIUll ny lily SclI, OF, at least,
only accompanied by my nephew, Master Fred
erick Rawlins, fine little fellow of four or
five. | had wandered through green lanes
and over grassy meadows until | began to feel
rather tired and was looking at inviting stumps
of trees, and green hillocks, when we suddenly
came to a by-lane, in which about a dozen cot
tages were clustered. Although L knew we
must be near home, looked first at one house,
and then at another, purposing to ask for a
moments rest and glass of water for the day
was very warm.
But one door was closed at another moth
er was scolding some children; at another, two
or three boys together with an aged man, seat
ed in wicker-chair, were busy talking, and as
busy plating some coored straw-everybody
plated about that village; and so l passed on
until came to the last, and here | stood still.
AT the open door Of the little abode, the blind
young lady of the church was seated, plain
muslin cap over fair hair, and in dark cotton
dress, rapidly plating some fine white straw
l was almost glad that her infirmity prevented
her seeing my embarrassment but perceiving
that her quick ear had caught the sound Of
strange footsteps, said aloud to my little
nephew
Perhaps, Freddy, this lady would be kind
enough to let us rest for a few minutes"
Lady, repeated Frederick, "why, it is
Miss Rebecca."
"Ah! Mr.. Rawlins, am glad to see you
how is your mamma % she asked, rising
quickly, and taking his little hand
''Mrs. Rawlins," | said in as gentle a voice
as possible, sis quite recovering from her little
illness, and was in church yesterday"
Glow glad l am to hear it. You will par
don me, but are you not a relative of Mrs
Rawlins ?''
"Her sister,"
81 thought so your voices are so much
alike
During this colloquy, Freddy and l having
seated ourselves [ looked, with slight bow,
at the imperturbable eldest sister, who, SINH
larry alfred was sitting at small table at nee
die work. | asked her to obhge me with a
glass of water she colored, and, | thought,
looked confused; but before she could have
complied, the blind sister approached, and by
her fingers and gesture explained my request.
She rose instantly, and my heart sank within
me, as, with a smile, and really elegant incli-
nation of the head she presented the water.
Could she be deaf? The tears started to my
eyes, and my hand trembled as l took the
glass. What a fatality AS / looked upon
the sweet face, that now seemed to me strange
ly intellectual, my fatigue was gone. l drank
the water, and, rising, pressed the deaf lady's
hand, thanked her for the moments rest, and
then turning to the younger sister, took one of
her hands in both mine and said, in rather a
tremulous voice. that should trouble her soon
again with visit, as her house was so pleas
antly situated and then, taking the hand of
my little nephew, who was singularly silent,
wendell my way thoughtfully to my sisters
home.
1t was day or two before had an oppor-
tunity of questioning my sister about those af
ficted sisters.
fAh p she said, at is sad story. Their
father was highly respectable solicitor, and
Dr. Rawn's father attended the family as
their physician. Poor Rebecca, that is the
younger Miss Glenfield, had the small pox
when she was about twelve years of age, and
the poor mother in attending upon her, took it
also Mrs Glenield died 4; Rebecca recovered,
but was blind. Mr.. Glenfcld, it seems, took
it sadly to heart; he had loved his wife, and
cared little to look upon his blind daughter
He took to speculation, and of course neglect
ed his business. Then he was seized with
typhus fever and poor Amelia, that is the old
Miss Glenfeld, in attending upon her father,
was attacked in her turn. The father, in this
case, died, and Miss Glenfeld recovered, but
to incurable deafness and absolute poverty
for when the claims upon Mr. Glentield's es-
tate were satisfied, the helpless girls had
scarcely shilling left"
"But had they no friends 2"
"They had some relatives, and, at first,
believe, were kindly treated. They have still
some little annuity and their seat in church
but | suppose nobody cared to take charge OF
them"
"And so these poor girls were left to God
and their own endeavors. Has DR.. ,Rawlins
given any attention to their case
40 yes he has done a good deal for Miss
Glenfield, so far as health is concerned; but
the deafness he considers incurabe; and as to