Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-05-18
dQlortrstcr 9allp Spp.
WRITTEN FOR THE sPY.l
THE DELAINE SKIRV.

every thing pertaining to the building and its
surroundings might have appeared, if not just
right,at least well enough; still to the acute OBJ
server, with fine taste and a nice sense of APP
preparedness, many defects were apparent.
The house was evidently designed by one
considerably skilled in the science Of architec-
ture and was well adapted to its locality. The
structure itself was perhaps taultless, but some
thing scarcely descrbabIe about It's finish and
surroundings, was evidently wanting For
every dwelling house, to be right, should have
surroundings suitable and appropriate to its
own construction and locality. But this par
At...lar cottage was as if the designer or build
kad either forgotten his original plan, or
tired of his work before its completion and in
sheer tcklcness Of purpose gone off to sumo
other plan or business; OF perhaps, what was
never the truth, had like the foolish man in the
parable, commenced to build without first
counting the cost, and had i'll the end failed
in means before consummating his plan.
BE the cause what it might close obscrva.
ton showed many things wanting to complete
the perfect whole about the cottage Stones
little heaps OF rubbish, rough surfaces, ii few
feet of unfinished wall, halt finished fence or
gateway, vacancies lacking shrubs and trees,
and such like things and wants, detaced and
married the beauty Of the whole.
a realization OF this evidently fitted out and
in to the mind of plain, though well dressed
and cOmely looking woman, somewhat past
the middle age OF Lille, who, with two young
ladies, constituted the dfumatis perSonae Of our
sketch. | say that it was evident that such
thoughts would enter her mind Though per-
haps she did not allow them 10 settle and
trouble her, as she occasionally looked from
the window near which she was sitting at her
sewing, upon prospect most lovely yet
Whose foreground was not i'll accordance with
the more distant view. 1t, the foreground,
married its lovelincss. She felt it. The rem
etration OF Lavater was not needed to know
this, and she occasionally compressed her lips
with lrmness, shook her head slightly, and
drew her breath little harder and longer,
though not quite enough SO, TO constitute a
sigh.
1t was plain that she derived hearty pleasure
from the work on which she was engaged and
that she turned thereto for relief from the I'M
pleasant emotions engendercd by the outside
prospect. 1t was equally plain that she was
making a Shirt for her husband. From the
care which she bestowed upon it, and the smil
ing satisfaction with which she regarded it,
one could plainly SEE that her heart prompted
the labor OF her hands. This lady was Mrs.
Barrett
She and her husband, with their two
nieces, occupied the cottage. The Barretts
had been married quarter of Il century,
yet had been blessed with 10 offspring of their
own 10 supply this defect in the family,
some of their relatives or friends were usually
inmates Of the house.
The two young Indies before mentioned, had
just returned from walk, during which they
bad called upon some of the friends OF their
carly glrhuOd, who were NOW married and
settled ia The village, as the heads OF domestic
establishments; | will not cali Them homes !;
because like our young lady callers, l fear they
were not genuine homes 10 constitute which,
sympathy, regard, and harmony, must be mt
tual among It's members. M matter how
much indulgence o. scltsacrificc, or splcndor,
or luxury, may fill Il house, il Tie first rcqul
sites are wanting, 1t is no home.
fhe young ladies after dYesling themselves
of bonncts and shawIS, had upon returning
from their walk, entered and seated themselves
la the room where their aunt was sewing.
Frances the younger, drew a work basket
towards her and commenced mechanically TO
tumble over lis contents, as ii in search OF
something; though at glance one saw that
one hdo bliitlhthS VI l'lIIS lttilNl IMAM Vi
what sine was DONG win her hands.
julia, the elder by three years, possessed a
keen perception OF the realities OF lie and Il
strong dislike to whatever she considered par
tial, unfair, or unjust. Justice was with her Il
prime virtue and especially scltJuSticG. She
telt that people failed more in dong justice TO
themselves, than To others.
She now leaned her head upon her hand,
her elbow resting upon the table near which
she sat. She tapped the floor quickly and
nervously with her foot.
The Aunt discovered at once that something
disturbed the girls. II hope you have had a
pleasant walk, my dears, and found your
friends all wel?" she said interrogatlv ly, IN.
tending thereby to draw them out; for she
saw that they only waited an opportunity to
speak what they felt.
Frances was the first to answer and said
eyes, thank you Amt, all were well and sent
love TO you. And we had pleasant 1cdk GER
tainy," with Il strong emphasis upon the last
word but one.
A momentary pause followed when Julia ask
ed deliberately, at the same time looking tow.
ards the last speaker, "Were they really all
nell, do you think, Frances g
81 believe they all called themselves so
physically they might have been, but So
cially and domcstically, | fear few of them
were off tile sick list.
81 reckon not a very serious indisposition,
since none Of them complained OF il"
AN indisposition, Ut course, which they
not only would not name, but would try TO
conc ,ai both from the world and themselves"
said julia slowly.
1''Well if they manage to conceal it from
, themselves, replied Frances, smiling, "is it
not just the same to them as it they were real
ly well 2!
no NATTER | suppose, it, by opiates, soda
tives, or by some other means, | can render
myself nsensibe Of the fact, said Julia, bit.
terly.
"Ohl you make too serious an affair Of
what | fancy is scarcely realized, though it
may be universal" said Frances, quickly, as
she pushed the work basket from her with
motion which denoted that she thought the
evil worse than she acknowledged it,
''You may well call it II universal evil, said
Julia, sadly. LET us for few moments pass
our old schoonatcs and playfellows, who have
become wives and matrons, in review before
us aunt Mary's protest against talking about
people, to the contrary, Notwithstanding, she
added, parenthetcally, as she saw her aunt
look reprovingly at her, upon hearing the first
part of her remark.
The good aunt smilingly shook her head,
but resumed her work in silence.
"Andahrst Mrs. Jane seymour, continued
Julia, "as she is our nearest neighb0r. Doyou
not remember what Il model OF neatness and
order she used to be. Her desk at school and
her own room at home were always in perfect
trim meat as a new pin Why, she could
not tolerate a person about her who deranged
things, especially il they brought particle OF
dirt about them"
Julia stopped speaking and looked at Fran
ces, who, as il continuing the same thread of
DISCOURSE said "Ah see you are thinking
OF the slippers, and the dressing gown, and the