Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-06-27
The Two Sisters.
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

The following story, the simple an'
domestic incidents Of which may b,
deemed hardly worth relating after sucl
lapse Of time, awakened a degree o
interest hundred ye'rs ago in The prin
cipal seaport in the Bay of Massachu
sets. The rainy twilight of an autumn
day, a parlor on the second floor of {
house plainly furnished, as beseemed the
circumstances Of lis Inhabitants, yet de
corated with curiosi,i's from beyond III,
sea, and few specimen of Indian man.
ufacture, these are the ong particulars tC
be presented in regard to scenes and sea.
sons. Two young and omely women
sat together by the ireside nursing their
mutual and peculiar sorrow. They were
the recent brides of two bothers, sal.
lor and landsman, and two succeeding
days had brought tidings ol the death oi
each, by the chances of Canadian war
fare and the tempestuous Atlantic. The
universal sympathy excited by this be-
reavement drew numerous condolng
guests TO the habitation of tho widowed
sisters. Several, among whom was the
minister, had remained until the verge
Of the evening, when one by one, whis-
| pering many comforting passages Of
Scripture, that were answered 10y more
abundant tears, they took their leave. and
departed TO their own happier homes.
The mourners, though not insensibe to
the kindness of their friends, had yearn-
ed to be left alone. United as they had
been by relationship, and now more
closely so by that Of the dead, each felt
as if whatever consolation her grief ad-
mitted was TO be found in the bosom Of
the other. They joined their hearts, and
wept together silently. But after an
hour OF such indulgence, one of the sis
ters, all Of whose emotions were inhuen-
ced by her mild, quiet, yet not feeble
character, began to rrcoIect the precepts
Of resignation and endurance which her
piety had taught her when she did not
think to heed them. Her misfortune, as
earliest known, should cease 10 interfere
with her regular duties accordingly,
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 morsel to-day, she said. Arise,
| pray you, and let US ask a blessing on
that which is provided for US
Her sister was Of lively and irrita-
bic temperament, and the first pangs of
her sorrow had been expressed by shrieks
and passionate lamentations. She shrunk
from Mary's words like wounded sui
ferer from the hand that revived the
throb.
There is no blessing for me, neither
will | ask it, cried Margaret with a
burst of tears. Would that it were his
will that l might never taste food more
Yet she trembled at these rebellious
expressions almost as soon as they were
uttered, and by degrees Mary succeeded
in bringing her sisters mind nearer to
the situation of her own. Time rolled
on, and the usual hour of repose arrived.
The brothers and their brides entered
the married state with no more than the
slender means which then sanctioned
such step, and coniederated themselves
into one household, with equal rights to
the parlor, and claiming exclusive prlyi-
leges in two sleeping rooms contiguous
to it. Thther the widowed ones retired
after heaping embers on the fire, and
placed lighted lamp on the hearth
The doors to both chambers were left
open, so that a part of the interior Of
each, and the beds WIFI their unclOsed
curtains, were reciprocally visible. Sleep
did not steal on the sisters at one and
the same time. Mary experienced the
effect upon grief quietly borne, and soon
sank into temporary forgetfulness, while
Margaret became more disturbed and fe-
verish in proportion as the night advanc
I'd with its deepest and stillest bours.-
she lay listening to the drops of rain that
came down in monotonOus succession, UNI
;wayed by a breath of wind, and a ner- ,
rous impulse continually causing her to
ift her head from the pillow, and gaze
nto Mary's chamber and the intermedi-
,te apartment. The cold light of the
amp threw the shadows of the furniture
lpon the wall, stamping them immovably [.
here, except when they were shaken by /
he sudden flicker Of the fame. The |
wo vacant arm-chairs were in their old .
positions on opposite sides of the room,
where the brothers had been wont to sit
n laughing dignity, as heads of families