Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-04-27
Grnrral 1Htsctllanu.
THE posrMAsrER's DAUGHTER.

Late on tho night after my return from
France, where ! had been living for seven
years, my father and younger sister had left
Anna and me alone. We were in a hali-con-
fdcntial half-reserved mood, sounding one
anothcr's hearts, with fond words shyly spo-
kon, and close questions shyly asked. We
sat in a glmmer of fre-light on the old kitch-
en- hearth, where We had played together in
our childhood. The low rocking-chair oc-
cupiod. the white wooden cricket on which
Anna sat beside me, the large painted cup
board, the secured dresser. the bright pewter
plate covers, and the blue check curtains
drawn across the window, were exactly as
had left them. Only everything in the house
seemed smaller, dingies, older it was home,
yet not altogether the home my memory had
pictured it in the sunny south Of France, /
! could not utter the ill-defucd disappoint-
mcnt that felt in spite of my great Joy, and
falling into the silence which is the language
of full heart tried to recall my home as it
was when / left it,
The home of a tradesman in straitcncd cir
cumstanccs straitened, not by ill-conduct or
scIi-indulgcnce, but 10y devotion TO study, clc-
CANT tastcs and thoughllcss hboralty. Ours
was poverty TO be almost proud Of; but it
weighed heavily upon our young hearts, de-
. P'O'' "' "u "civ "' ila1. IHal oI NIo'"oI!y
co,NPan'on'hlp ana ana. Although scarcely
"o'C 10 ehter INTO lhe intricate details OF
! neglected business remember lne daily
warplng cares, the petty economics in house
keeping and the hmrassmcnt of perpetual
claims upon onr iorcthought and energy. Ny
father was a stationer and postmaster in the
town OF IonwcIl and upon my twin-sister
Anna and myself now devolyed the chief
mt 6
our townsmen were not a reading or writing
people, and the work was not much for us
out The perp.extIes arising from our ignor-
anco OF the world and the want OF that san
guine confidence with which young men en-
counter cares ana responsibilities had been
the burden which had worn out the elasticity
OF our spirits and sent me from the prccari-
ous resources OF home TO seek a more certain
pt"nt lh the occupation OF an Eng'lsh goV-
crness In family resident aoroad. Our young
est SISTER Elite nine years our junior had
oeeh "'ii eHn,ateu oy ihe result "i my efforts.
j. no" SIX N-ano twenty Aa' returned TO take
once more snare I'D the greatly increased
uuues oi tno post once.
All Che day my father and sister had been
uneon'oious'y comparing me win my former
scIi' and han watched them iurtlvely, seek
wrought My h'ner hau become "a bowed
uo"h' hoaty heaue" o'H man. hl'el on'y ior
comioriaole retirement nul, IN reality more
engaged In business tnah uut'hB 'he PRIME Oh
ms me- soon Wearieu WIN un"on,ea e%or-
"o"' require" Ny ms o'lc'a' post E'ue hau
grown UP INTO Io'e'y ana nea9''lul girl oil
seventeen amiaOle' lmpuislVe' ana passionate
a''achea 70 our ''iher' ali whose opinions
shc reVerenced unques stoningly' and to whose
lnduIsent iondness she had been accustomed
20 appeal against Anna decisions. But
silently noted the greatest change in my twin
SISTER As she sat quietly beside me, her
thieK haiF pushed back nom her face saw
"itA sorrow that her checks and lips were
pae her clear grey eyes that used TO wear
looN oil quiet 9op'i'ines'' were aimmed and
careworn' and her mouth did not relax so
quickly in'o smies as days OF Old She had
an al' OF "hSnor ana unfnleth the'S-
III Is not worth "hue Ni'hng one self to
get h'ing' SAID gently s'rohIng her woyy
HAIR
81 SHAH not k'II myself now she answer
ed' smthns sadly 81 tmnk should ii You
had not come home Tor cannot help worry
ing httie' mo-" ana inen' about business /