Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-09-30
g Capital Story.
rrRoM THE LONDON coRSniLL MAGAZINE.
Mrs. Merridew's Fortune.


which illustrate so curiously two phases OF
life, that everybody on the Green, as well as
myself has been led into the habit of clas
ing them together. The first reason of this
of course is, that they stand together; the
second, that they are as unlike in every way
as it is possible to conceive. They are about
the same size, with the same aspect, the
same green circle of garden surrounding
them; and yet as dissimilar as if they had
been brought out of two different worlds.
They are not on the Green, though they are
undeniably part of Dinglefield, but stand
on the Mercot Road, broad country road
with verdant border Of turf and fine trees
shadowing over the hedgerows. The Merri-
dews live in the one, and in the other are
Mrs. Spencer and Lady Isabella. The house
of the two ladies is as perfect in all its ar
rangements as if it were palace; silent,
soft, fragrant, dainty place, surrounded by
lawns like velvet; full of flowers in perfect
bloom, the finest kinds, succeeding each
other as the seasons change. Even in au-
tumn, when the winds are blowing, you
never see fallen leaf about, or the least
symptom of untidiness. They have enough
servants for everything that wanted land the
servants are as perfect as the flowers
less maids and soft-voiced men. Everything
goes like machinery, with an infallble reg
ularity; but like machinery oiled and dead
ened, which emits no creak nor groan. This
is one of the things upon which Mrs. Spen-
Ger specially prided herself The two ladies
of the house are not related they are united
only by that closest bond of friendship
which often, in despite of all popular falla-
cies, binds two women. Mrs. Spencer is
very well off; Lady Isabella not so rich.
They never make any great demonstration
of their attachment for each other, but are
as sisters in their house. Yet, perhaps, not
precisely as sisters; rather-if the readers
would not laugh-like husband and wife.
And just across two green luxurant
hedges, over lawn which is not like vel
vet you come to the Merridews's. 1t is
possible, if you passed it on u summer day,
that, notwithstanding the amazing superior
ity of the other, you would pause longer,
and be more amused with a glance into the
enclosure of the latter house. The lawn is
not the least like velvet; probably it has
not been mown for three weeks at least,
and the daisies are irrepressible. But there,
tumbed down In the midst of it, are a
bunch of little children in pinafores,-" all
the little ones," as Janet Merridew, the
eldest daughter, expresses herself, with
certain soft evaporation. l would rather
not undertake to number them or RECORD
their names, but there they are. knot o.
rosy, round-limbed, bright-eyed, living
things, some dark and some fair, with an
amazing impartiality but all chattering ai
best they can in nursery language, will
rings of baby laughter, and baby quarrels
and musings of infinite solcmnity. Ono,
tumbled ont here, where no hahn can come
to them, nobody takes any notice of tbs
little ones. Nurse, sitting by screnely unde
a tiee, works all the morning through, ant
there is SO much going on indoors to occupy
the rest
J Mr.. and Mrs. Merridew, need not add
had large family,-so large that thci
house ovcrflowed, and when the big boy
were at hons from school, was scarcel.
habitable. Janet, indeed did not hesitate t.
express her sentiments very plainly on tn
subject. She was just sixteen, and goo
child, but full of the restless longing 70
something, she did not know what, and Wis
with har eurrOunninus
which is not uncommon at her age. She had
@ way of paying me visits, especially durln
b the holidays, and speaking more frankly o
c domestic subjects than was at all eXpedien'
n She would come in, in summer, with tn
on the glass which always startled mt
through the open window, and sink dow
:, on SOFA aud utter a long sigh of relief. So
, Mrs. Musgrave!" she would say, "what
good thing you never had any children
,r taking oil, as she spoke, the large hat whic
it was one of her grievances TO be compelle
: to wear.
u "Is that because you have too many
>. homer" said.
r go yes, far too many fancy, ten WI
O. should poor papa be burdcned with ten
lc us, and so little money to keep us all or
And then a house gets SO untidy with
r, many about Mamma does all she can, ar
| do all can but how is it possible to ke'
ID il in order When look across the hcdg
rs to Mrs. Spencer and Lady Isabclla's, and 5
~ everything so nice and so neat, could d
Of envy. And you are always so shady, nj
bt so cool, and so pleasant here"
SIT is easy to be neat and nice when the
is nobody TO put things out oforder," said
o' sbut when you are as old as l am, Jau,
se you will get to think that one may buy on
r., neatness too dear"
80, delight in it y cried the girl.
49, should like to have everything nice, Ii
,is you; all the books and papers just wht
M one wants them, and paper-knives
every table, and ink in the ink bott
gs and no dust anywhere. You are not
H. dre,,lfully particular as Mrs Spencer a
Lady Isabella. think should like to s
mi some litter on the carpet or on the lawn M
th and then for change. But 0, if you co,
U.s. only see our house! And then our thin
dr. are so shabby the drawing room carpet
!. all faded with the sun, and mamma "
" never have the blinds properly pulled dow
is. And Selma, the housemaid, has so much
bis do. When l scold her, mamma alw,
stops me, and bids me rccollect we can't
an. as nice as other people, were we to try e.
lch so much. There is so much to do in {
oe- house. And then those dreadful big boys
"My dear, said l, ring the bell, a
In we will have some tea; and you can
eai cal Jane to bring you some of that strawbe
Jam you are so fond of-and forget
boys"
and "As if one could" said Janet, " wi
inc inc they are all over the place-into ones "
the room, if one did not mind their boots
49,, ways either dusty or muddy, and o,
noise they make! Mamma won't mi
them dress in the evenings, as am sure
g should. How are they ever to learn to
D. have like Christians, Mrs. Musgraye, if 4