Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-04
My Brothers Wife.


bh NoiAiN ihtO hCd iiOAu hlo OllNSy phC NfO-
ming late in the fall.
Yes, Belle she came this afternoon
and went Immediately to Mrs. Perry's
where l had engaged board previously.
But am a little doubtful about her fill.
ing the situation as competently as Miss
Parker has done. She is so small
childish, even, thought. She isn't near
as large as you, Belle, and seems quite
delicate and slender. I'm afraid she does
not know what she undertakes, for she
said this was her first school and nv
heart misgives me as to the result Of her
first experience
why don't you tell her so, then, bro
ther,' asked, If she is such little thing,
and you do not think she will be able to
govern the larger pupils who will attend
the winter term? The school is certain
ly none of the easiest, and have often
wondered how Miss Parker got on so
smoothly; but then she was regular
out and out school marm,' with twenty
years or more experience Of the unruly
Juveniles
Yes, and It's unfortunate that she sho'd
fall i'll just now, for it is next to impossi-
BILE to obtain an experienced teacher at
this season. But Miss Vernon comes
well recommended from Mr.. Medbury
of Medbury Institute, where she gradu-
ated last year, believe, and to whom I
applied, thinking be might furnish me a
teacher from his seminary. But really /
canoot say much for his choiceF said
brother Oliver, with a grave and doubt
fol shake of the head, as he seated him
self at the tea table, where had drawn
up his chair while he had been removing
his overcoat, for the night was chill and
frosty without.
An hour later we had finished tea, and
the servant girl had taken away the tray.
| was comfortably installed with my Gro
cbet work near the CRATE, while Oliver,
having drawn from his overcoat pocket a
book of poems late from the press, was
reading aloud to me, as he often did OF
an evening.
We were very happy, my brother and
I, leading our quiet life in our old com
Portable home. There were only we two
left of family of six children he the
eldest. and the youngest. Our parents
had died long since, and we were all in
all to each other, and to his maturer
judgment and experienced years looked
up almost as a child does to parents
Being the only lawyer in the place, and
consequently the chief man, he filled
many an important situation in town af-
fairs, that of school committee being one
which he had occupied for several years;
and now the severe illness of the teacher
had created a vacancy which he had at
length succeeded in filling, but not to his
entire satisfaction, as / could see.
As we sat thus costly and happily, /
looked up every now and then from my
work to let my eyes rest upon divers
fine intellectual face, listening TO his well
modulated, clear voice as he read, and no.
ting the sparkle of his blue eyes as be
came to some particularly fine passage, !
felt thrill of happy pride in thinking l
possessed such noble, manly brother.
The sharp peal of the door bell broke
in upon US, disturbing our quiet, and in a
moment Jane showed in a caller in the
person of my intimate friend, Ellen Per-
ry, young lady of my own age, whose
bright black eyes, raven tresses, and
cherry lips | had often fancied had made
an impression upon the bachelor heart Of
my lawyer brother. OF course the read
ing and the crochet work were laid aside
at her entrance, aud she and were soon
chatting together as glibly as usual when
we met.
oh, you should see the new school
teacher, Belle = exclaimed Nellie, in a
little while-'such hhle thing and she
can't be more than eighteen! Why,
am perfectly astonished, Mr.. Oliver
turning to my brother-'that you should
engage so young and undignified per-
son, and for the winter term, too, when
all the great boys will attend. She GER
tainly never will be able to manage them
in the world, and wonder at her making
the attempt. told her so to night while
at tea, and thought ] frightened her
little, though she only smiled, asking if it
was such a Uery hard school to manage,
and saying, lit certainly was not very
inviting picture gave her, and that Mr.
Horton, the committee, bad told her a
similar tale.
'She has decided courage TO undertake |
it, and deserves success, said Oliver,
somewhat warmly. There are not many