Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-02-27
A PICTURE OF LIFE.
DY JANE I. Rounk.

Wnen the Inter Ei'eS MA /" ''''''' "N~ W
tie ears, adding. there, take that; ano
now 50 to work !!
why, mother, what have ! done 2
Done, you have done nothing only sci
and pored over that old paper for more
than an hour s
"But, mother, the chores are done, and
II is storming.'
Go under the shed, then, and saw
wood
And he went, the boy Of fourteen,
dwarfed alike in body and mind, the for
uer BY hard labor on the farm, the latter
by hard knocks
Poor boy and this was the nephew |
had SO longed to see, for | remembered
him as a sprightly hoy OF three years, full
of life and animation; and this was tho
sister that had como SO far to visit, and
this vas my first observation day in the
family circle, Tor sickness had hitherto
confined me to my room, where all had
been smiles and kind attention.
My sister was some years older than my
self, but being only sisters, we were much
together, and had few ofany secrets which
we concealed from each other and for q
while after we married, the one going to-
wa;ds therising, the other going towards
the setting sun, we had kept up regular
correspondence, but the cares Of growing
family. and poor health, soon check ed the
'etters, and at last they ceased entirely.
Once she had visited her old home aad
friend, taking Charlie, her first born,
with her, bright lad o. three summers.
Eleven years had passed when | resolved
to make her visit and see how she pros
pered in the west. Success had crowned
their labors. ard TO the casual observer,
nothing was wanted to make life agreea-
bic.
Three lovely girls wandered from room
TO room. Let US follow them to the sit>
ting room. The eldest threw down her
book, which instead of reaching the table
as she designed, fell to the foor Instead
of saying, Pick it up, my daughter, she
gave hera quick slap on the head, which
sent her roeling and picked it up herself.
Quiet was hardly restored before another
offender. for some slight cause received
pox and an angry word, and thus the af-
ternoon was spent, y,.......
I - hat
not common, and waited impatiently for
the evening but alas it came all too soon
for as much as my feelings had been tried
during the day, they were worse tried in
the evening. The candle had been pla-
ced on the stand in the middle of the
room. The farmer tired with his days
york in the woods, had leaned his chair
back against the wall, and was already
snoring the mother, with the youngest
in her lap, sat rocking by the fire l
with my feet on the fender, and nobody
by the light. Charlie had hunted up his
paper which had been tucked away, and
timldly drew up his chair by the stand
in the hopes of finishing his story, but
bark I. III
Come, my boy just move your chair
back and do not make yourself so con-
spicuous' gsor Il
He moved back, and soon slipped from
the room, and was soon forgotten by all
but myself; but often in the course of the
evening did l wonder where the boy was.
About nine he came in, and expected
scene, but noquestion was asked, and he
passed on to his room. could not re-
frain from asking my sister where Charles
spent his evenings. H..u
Oh she said. he generally goes over to
the other house, they take the----and
always reads !! aloud evenings
This .hen, was the mystery-the boy
could not have the privilege of reading at
home, and went to the neighbor's.
felt sick, heartsick and homesick, and
longed for the quiet of my own home
But whole winter was before me, and
something was to be done.
At last all had sought their pillows, save
my sister and myself An unpleasant 81
lence pcrvaded the room was thinking
how to begin; | knew my sisters heart
was in the rigL. place. if l could only
reach ii; she asked what was thinking
about.
l told her | was thinking of our moth
or. asked her ifshe remembered how
terderly ard lovingly she reared her fam.
ily--how she sympathized with all our
hsIle imaginary wrongs and troubles
how we spent our evenings, when moth
er would tell us some pretty story,
or brother Charlie would read the news.
papers. r.5 .r w
1t was enough, already she was weeping
on my bosom no promise was ask ed or
frag AZ bal l. 4