The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-01-25
Bob 9rintiug
EUNICE FIELDING.
A Pheasant story of Putty and Love
BY CHARLES DICKENS.

the first few weeks OF my lie III TIC WIN
after left the seclusion OF the German MO
ravian school, where was educated. fee
a strano,. pity for myself, the tender lgno
rant. innocent school girl, freed from the
neacefnl shelter of the Moraviau settlement
and thrust suddenly into the centre OF :
sorrowful household.
AS turn to this first page there rises be
fore me, like the memory OF former lie,
picture Of the noiseess grass grown streets
of the settlement with the old-fashloned
dwellings, and the quiet and serene faces
looking out kindly upon the troop OF child
rem passing to the church. There Is the
home of the Single Sisters, with its shining
and spotless easements and close beside II
is the church where they and we worship
ned. with its broad central aisle always sep
aratinp the woman from the men. | can
see the girls in their picturesque caps. trim
med with scarlet, and the blue ribbons OF
the matrons and the pure white head gear
of the widows; the burial ground, where the
separation is still maintained, and where
the brethren and the sisters lie in undivided
graves; aud Tie kindly sinple-minded pas
tor, who was always touched with the feel
ing of our weakness see it all, as turn
over the pages Of my short journal, with
inst faint longing to return to the repose
and innocent ignorance which enclrcied me
while dwelt among them safely shut III
from the soIrows of the world
Nov Z At home once more after an ab-
sence of three years; but home is changed.
There used to he feeling of mothers pres
ence everywhere about the house, even II
she were III the remotrst room; but now
Susannah and Priscilla are wearing her APP
pare and as they go in aud out, and as |
catch a glimpse of the soft dove colored folds
of the dresses look up with start half
in hope OF seeing my mothers face again.
They are muc!i older than am, for Priscilla
was ten wears Of age when | was born, and
Susannah is three years Older than Priscilla.
They are very grave and serious, and 1t IL
well know u. even in Germany how religious
they are. | suppose by the time | am as
old as they are | shall be the same.
wonder if my father ever felt like a
child; he looks as if lie had lived for centu-
ries Last night could not venture to look
too closely in his face; but to-day can see a
very kind and peaceful expression underly-
ing all the wrinkles and lines of care. In
his soul there is a calm serene depth which
no tempest can touch. That is plain. He
is a good man, know, though his goodness
was not talked about at school, as was Su-
sannah's and Priscilla's. When the coach
set me down at the door, and he rau out
into the street bareheaded, and took me at
once into his arms, carrying me like child
iuto our home, all my sorrow upon leaving
my school fellows, vanished away in the
10y of b sing with him. God helping me
l. Ialr 70 do Il
will be comfort to my father
The house is very different to what it
was in my mothers time. The rooms look
gloomy, for the walls are damp and mil
dewed, and the carpets are worn threadbare.
1t seems as if my sisters had taken no pride
in household matters. To be sure Priscilla
is betrothed to one of the brethren, who
dwelIs in Woodbury., about ten miles from
here. She told me last night what a beau
tiful house he had, and how it was furnished
with more luxury and costliness than our
people often care for, in as much as we do
not seek worldly show. She also displayed
the fine linen she bad been preparing for
herself, with stores of dresses, both i'll silks
and stuffs They looked so grand, spread
out upon the poor furniture OF our chamber,
that | could not help but cast up in my own
mind what the cost would be, and in
uuired how my fathers business prospered,
at which Priscilla coIored; but Susannah ut
tered low, deep groan, which was answer
enough.
This morning unpacked my trunk, and
gave letter from the church tc each of my
sisters 1t was to make known 20 them
that Brother Schmidt, a missionary in the
West Indies, desired that a lifting wife
should be chosen for him by casting Of lots,
and sent out TO him. Several of the single
sisters in our settlement have given in their
names aud such is tue repute OF Susannah
and Priscilla that they are notified OF the
application that they may do likewise. OF
course Priscilla being aIreaty betrothed,
had no thought of doing so; but Susannah
hal been deep III meditation all day, and
now she is sitting opposite to me, pale and
solemn, her brow II hair i'll which eau de
tect a silver thread or two. braided closely
down her thin cheeks; hut as she writes, a
faint binsh steals over her face, as if she
was listening to Brother Schmidt whom
she had never seen, and whose voice she
never heard. She has written her name
| can read it, .Susannah Fieldiug'-in her
clear, round, steady hand. aud it will be
put into the lot with many others, from
among which one shall be drBwn out, and
the name written thereon will be that of
Brother Schmidts appointed wife
Nov 8. Only two days at home, but
what change there is i'll me. My brain is
all confusion. and 1t might be hundred
years since | left school This morning two
strangers came to the house, and demanded
to see my father. They were rough, hard
men. whose voices sounded into my father s
Office, where he was busy writing while
sat beside the fire engaged i'll household
sewing But he went out in an instant and
returning with the strangers, babe me go
to nv sisters found Susannah in the par
Ior. looking scared and bewildered, and
Priscilla in Mysteries. After much ado they
grew calmer aud when Priscilla was lying
quietly on the sofa, aud Susaunah had sat
down In mothers arm chair to mediate,
crept back to my fathers office, and rappiug
softly at the door, heard him say Come in, y
He was alone, and very sad.
Father | asked, what is the matter?
and seeing his dear, kind face, flew to him.
.Euuice, he whispered very tenderly, !
will tell you all
So then as knelt at his knee, with my
ewes fastened upon his, he told ne long
history of troubles, every word of which re
moved my schooldays further and further
from me, and made them seem like the
close of a finished life The end of all was
these men were sent by his creditors to take
possession of everything in our old home
where my mother had lived and died,
caught my breath at first, as if | should
90 into Mysteries like Priscilla, but thought
What good would that do for my father
So after a minute or TWO was able to lool
up again bravely into his eyes. He thel
said he had his books to examine, SO kiss
ed him, and came away.
In the parlor Priscilla was lying still wia
her eyeids closed, and Susannah was qultt
lost in meditation. Neither Of them notices
me entering or departing. l went into th
kitchen to consult Jane about my father
dinner She was rocking herself upon
~ ,,rr bsr avyas rad utitl, he