Litchfield enquirer., 1862-01-23
Alisfelia1,p.
THE TWO SISTERS. BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

THE TWO SISTERS.
 BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE. The following story, the simple ard domesti incidents of which may be deemed hardly wort relating after such lapse of time, awakened degree of interest hundred years ago, in a prir cipal seaport in the bay of Massachusetts. Tn rainy twilight of an autumn day, a parlor on tn second floor of house plainly furnished, as be seemed the circumstances of it's inhabitants, ye decorated with curiusities from beyond the ses and few specimens of Indian manufacture, thes are the only particulars to be presented in resar to the scenes and seasons Two young an comedy women sat together by the fireside, nurs ing their mutual and peculiar sorrows. The were the recent brides of two brothers. sailo and landsman, and two successive days hat brought tidings of the death of each, by tn, chances of a Canadian warfare and the tempest nous Atlantic. The universal sympathies exci ted by this bereavement drew numerous condol ing guests to the habi a:ion of the widowed sis ters /; several, among whom was the minister had remained until the verge of the evening when one by one whispering many comfortabl passages of Scripture, that were answered b, more abundant tears, they took their leave ant departed their own happier homes The mourn CTS, though not insensible to the kindness O their friends, had yearned 10 be left alone. Uni ted as they had been by relationship of the living 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 oth CT. They joined their hearts, and wept together silently. But after an hour of such indulgence one of the sisters, all of whose emotions were in fuenced by her mild, quiet, yet not feeble char acter, began to recollect the precepts of resigna tion and endurance which pity had taught her when she did not think to heed them Her mis fortune, besides, as earliest known, should earli est cease to interfere with her regular course ol duties; accordingly, having placed the table be. fore the fire, and arranged frugal meal, she took the hand of her companion.
 Come, dearest sister, you have not eaten g morsel to-day" she said. Arise, I pray you and let us ask blessing on that which is pro vided for us."
 ;. Her sister was of lively and irritable temper ament, and the first bangs of her sorrow haC been expressed by shrieks and passionate lamen tations. She now shrunk from Mary's word. like wounded sufferer from the hand that re wives the throb.
 "There is no blessing for me, neither will ask it. Would that it were His will that might never taste food more," cried Margaret with fresh burst of tears.
 Yet she trembled at these rebelous express ions almost as soon as they were uttered, anG by degrees, Mary succeeded in bringing her sis ters mind nearer to the situation of her own- Time rolled on, and tie usual hour of repose ar rived. The brothers and their brides had enter ed the married state with no more than the slen der means which then sanctioned such step and contederated themselves into one household with equal rights to the parlor, and claiming ex fu tp r1o ous to it. 1hither the widowed ones retired af ter heaplng ashes upon the dying embers of the lire, and placing lighted lamp on the hearth.-- The doors of both chambers were left open, SC that part of the interior or each, and rhe= Deds with their unclosed curtains, were reciprocally visible. Sleep did not steal upon the sisters at one and the same time. Mary experienced the effect often consequent upon grief quietly borne ard soon sunk into temporary forgetfulness while Margaret became more disturbed and fe verish in proportion as the night advanced witt its deepest and stillest hours. She lay listening to the drops of rain that came down in monoto nous succession, unswayed by the breath of wind and nervous impulse continually causing her te lift her head from the pillow, and gazing into Mary's chamber. and the immediate apartment The cold light of the lamp, threw the shadow of the furniture against the wall, stamping then immovably there, except when they were shaker by the sudden flicker of the flame.
 Two vacant arm chairs were in their old posi- tions on opposite sides of the hearth, where the brothers had been wont to sit in laughing digni ty, as heads of families two humber seats wert near them, the thrones of that little empire where Mary and herself had exercised in love, power that love had won. The cheerful radianc, of the fire had shone upon the happy circle, an' the dead glimmer of the lamp might have be fitted their re union now. While Margare groaned in bitterness she heard knock at tn street door.
 " How would my heart leap at that sound bu yesterday thought she, remembering the anxie ty with which she had so long awaited tiding from her husband. t. I care not for it now :; le them be gone for will not arise'
 But even while sort of childish fretfulnes made her thus resolve, she was breathing hu, riedIy and straning her eyes to catch repeti tion of the summons. It is difficult to be con vinced of the death of one whom we have deem ed another self. The knocking was now re newed in slow and regular strokes, apparent given with the soft end of doubled fist, an was heard through several thicknesses of tn wall Margaret looked to her sisters chamber and beheld her still lying in the depths of sleeE She slightly arrayed herself, trembling betwee ieSlT duu edHeTneSS do SIG uW so.
 Heaven help me-, sighed she, |" I have noth ing to fear, and methinks am ten times more coward than eyer."
 Seizing lamp from the hearth, she hastene to the window that overlooked the street dool It was lattice turning on hinges and havin it thrown back, she stretched her head a littl way into the moist atmosphere. A lantern wa reckoning the front of the house, and melting it light in the neighboring puddles, while delug of darkness overwhelmed the object. As th window grated on its hinges, a man with broa brimmed hat and blanket coat. stepped from UT der the projecting story. and looked upward, t discover whom his application had aroused.-
 Margaret knew him as friendly innkeeper c the town.
 What would you have, goodman Parker! cried the widow.
 Lack-a-day, is it you. mistress Margaret cried the innkeeper. "I was afraid it might b your sister Mary. for hate to see young W, man in trouble, when have not word of con fort to whisper to her."
 "For heavens sake, what news do you bring! asked Margaret.
 "There has been an express through the tow
 within this half hour," said the good man Parl CT, " travelling from the westward jurisdictio
 with letters from the Governor and Council
 He tarried at my house to refresh himself wit drop and morsel, and asked him what tidins
 on the frontiers. He told me we had the bett
 in the skirmish you wot of, and that thirtee
 men, reported slain, are we'll and sound, and yo'
 husband among them Besides, he is appointt
 one of the escort to bring the captivated Frenc
 CTS and Indians home to the province jail,
 Judged you wouldn't mind being broke of yo
 rest and 30 stepped over to tell you. Coo , 50 saying, the honest man departed; and tl lantern gieamed along the street, bringing