Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1861-04-12
THE rWo SISTERS.
By kAruASrEL HANrHoRNE.

The following story, IDe Simple ana COMES
tic incidents of which may be deemed hard
II worth relating after such a lapse of
tine, awakened degree Of interest a hundred
years age. in a principal seaport Of the Bay
Of Massachusetts. The rainy twilight Of an
Autumn day. a parlor on the second floor of a
house. plainly furnished. as beseeined the cir
cumstances of is inhabitants, yet decorated
with curiosities from beyond the sea, and a
few specimens of Indian manufacture, these
are the only particulars to be presented in re
card to scenes and seasons. Two young and
cornely women sat together by the 6regide,
nursing their mutual and peculiar sorrows.-
The7 were the recent brides of two brothers,
a sailor and laudsman, and two Successive
days had brought tidinas of the death Of each,
bv the chances Of Canadian warfare and the
ternpest uous Atiautic. The universal sympa-
thy excited by this bereavement, drew numer-
Gus condoling guests to the habitatiOn of the
widowed sisters, several, among whom was the
minister. had remained until the verge of the
evening. when, one by ore- whispering many
comfortable passages of Scripture, that were
answered by more abundant tears, they took
their leave, and departed TO their own happier
homes. The mourners, though not insensible
TO the kindness of their friends, had yearned
TO be left alone. United as they had been, by
relationship of the living. and now more close
" so By that of the dead, each felt as if what
ever consolation her grief admitted, was to be
found in the bosom of the other. They join
ed their hearts, and wept together silently
But after an hour of such indulgence, one
Il. III ,f ,-T, in
fiuenccd by her mild, quiet, yet not feeble
character, began to recOllect the precepts
of resignation and endurance which her piety
had taught her, when size did not think to
heed them Her misfortune, besides, as earli-
est known, should earliest cease to interfere
with her regular. course of duties according
", having placed the table before the fire and
arranged frugal meal, she took the hand Of
her companion.
Come, dearest sister, you have not eaten
a morsel to-day" she said. Arise, pray
you, and let US ask blessing on that which is
provided for US"
Her sister was of lively and irritable tenn
permanent, and the first pangs of her sorrows
had been expressed by sErieks and passionate
lamentations. She now shrunk frcm Mary 5
words like wounded sufferer from the hand
that revived the throb.
There is no blessing for me, neither will l
ask it" cried Margaret with fresh burst OF
tears. Would that it were Lis will that l
might never taste food"
Yet she trembled at these rebeliods expires
sions, almost as soon as they were uttered,
and by degrees, Mary succeeded in bringing
20, tl,o - Of bnr
own Time rolled or, and the usual hour OF
rcpose arrived. The brothers and their brides
entered the married state with no more than
tile slender means which then sanctioned such
a step, aud coniederated themselves in one
household, with equal rights to the parlor, and
claiming exclusive privileges to two sleeping
roous continguous to it. Thither the widow
cd encs retired, after heaping ashes upon the
dying ernbers of the fire, and placing lighted
lamp on The hearth. The doors Of both cham
bers were left open, so that a part of the inte-
rior of each, and the beds with their unclosed
curtains, were reciprocaliy visible. Sleep did
not stcai upon the sisters at Cne and the same
! time Mary experienced the effect often con
sequent upon grief quietly borne, and soon
suuk into temporary forgetiulness, while Mar
earet became more disturbed aud feverish il
proportion as the night advanced with itS
deepest and stiIlest hours. She lay listening
to the drops of rain that came down in mo
notonous succession, unswayed by breath o
wind, and 4 nervous Impulse continually caus
ling her 10 lit her head from the pillow ant
gaze into Masys chamber aud the intermedl
ale apartment. The cold light of the lamp
threw the shadows of the furniture up against
the wall, stamping them imnfOvably there, ex
eept when they were shaken by a sudden flick
4 er of the fame Two vacant arm-chairs wert
in their old position on opposite sides o
the hearth where the brothers had been won
to sit in laughing dignity as heads of families
two humber seats were near them, the throne
of that little empire, where Mary and hersel
had exercised in love power that love hat
won. The cheerful radiance of the fire ha'
shonc upon the happy cireieo and the dea'
! uliu,fGer Of the lamp might have benefttet
/ their reunion now. While Margaret groane'
Lin bitterness, she heard knock at the stree
door.
:. How would my heart have leapt at tha
sound but yesterday" thought she, remember
ing the anxiety with which she had so oni
awaited tidings from her husband. car
not for it now let them begone; for wi
not arise"
But even while sort of childish fretfu
ness made her thus resolve, she was breathin
} hurriedly and straining her ears TO catch
reBetition of the summons. 1t is difficult
be convinced of the death of one whom W
! have deemed another self. The knocking wa
now renewed in slow and regular strokes, al
t parenlly given with the soft end of doubl
, fist, and was heard through several thicknes;
es of the walt Margaret looked to her si
+; ter's chamber, and beheld her still lying in Il
depths of sleep. She slightly arrayed hersel
] trembling between fear and eagerHesS as 81
! did so.
D Seizing the lamp from the hearth, she ha
t tened to the window that overlooked the stree
:. door. It was lattice turning upon hinges
e and having thrown it back, she stretched b.
head little way into the moist atmosphere
: A lantern was reddening the front OF Il
: house, and melting its light in neighborir
a puddIes while q dele4e of darkness ovepwhe
V med the object. As the window grated on
; hinges, man in a broad brimmed hat, al
Y blanket coat, stepped from under the she
/, ter of the projecting story, and looked upwar
s to discover whom his application had arouse
o Margaret knew him as a friendly innkeeper
= the town.
2, "What would you have, good-men Parker
Is cried the widow.
" " Lack-a-day, is it you, mistress Margaret
y cried the inn-keeper. " l was afraid it mig
It be your sister Mary, for hate to see a you
er woman in trouble when have not word
d. comfort to whisper to her"
IN For heavens sake, what news do y
+ bring?" screamed Margaret.
IN There has been an express through
IT town within this halfhour," said the good-m