Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1872-11-14
THE CLOSET GHOST.

Once when | was very poor | sud
denly became heiress to forty thouSan,
dollars. Let me tell you how it hap
! pened.
| was only thirteen years of ag
when my father became bankrupt ant
died, leaving my mother without sup
port, and with five young children OF
her hands. was the eldest daughter
then there were three little boys and {
baby girl. Under the circumstances
what were we to do?
1t was a terrible hard time. Mothe
had no accomplishments that could be
TUNED to account, and | had studie,
hard, but was not old enough to b,
trusted with even an infant school.
heard it prophesicd that my mother
being but thirty years old, and still
beautiful, would marry again-word,
which filed me with anger and grief
How dared they say such things ofmy
mother? had the heart to move
mountains in our aid, but not tn,
strength to sweep carpet. | showed
mother my delicate hands and slender
wrists, and cried, when we were talking
over our affairs.
"Nevcr mind, Nory. You can hell
me in one way, if not in another" said
mother. "You can tend baby, anC
look after the boys. We must all keer
together. | think | shall open a lodg
ing-house-a very nice, commodious
clearinghouse"
At that moment | had not the remot-
est idea of what she meant. But
soon discovered. Mother hired house
in the upper part Of the old town where
we had lived 50 long ignorant of the
shifts Of poverty, and furnished all the
chambers, with Il view to letting them
separately.
One after another, applicants came,
and the rooms were finally filed 1t
was an old, though an exceedingly
well-built house. The rooms were
wainscotcd; the doors of red oak
their handles Of brass and the wind
ows all had curious inside shutters.
But mother fitted up one little room
for us children very pleasantly. 1t was
an east room, and pretty high up, so
that the windows overlooked the neigh
boring roofs, and commanded a view
Of the harbor, with its gIittering wat
er, flags, and shipping. She curtained
and carpeted it warmly, and put in a
bed for baby and me, a crib for Neddy,
and trundle for the two other little
boys. We called it The Nest. Here
| spent most Of my time. Here moth
er, soon looking weary and careworn,
came to rest at times. | kept baby
warm and happy, sewed, and wore a
cheerful face while thought sad
thoughts about mother. She kept no
servant, but took care Of those innum-
cradle chambers herself, and it was
cold, hard work.
| never heard her clear, soft voice
singing old tunes now; her white hands
had grown hardened and roughened.
My heart ached when l fondled moth
er's hands, but | never dared burden
her with my compassion.
| saw, by her pale, harassed face,
that she had all she could bear, and as
it seemed to be her only comfort to find
The Nest comfortable, | did my duty
there unfailingly, and said little. But
il kept me pretty busy, mending for
the little boys, who tore their clothes
at school; amusing Neddy, who was
sickly, and tending the baby. Baby
was our delight and our darling-she
was so pretty and winsome.
The Nest was warm, crimson cur
tainS, and a carpet Of crimson and
black We had fathers picture and
mothers books, Opposite the door
that opened into the hall was another
door-the entrance to a large closet,
which was never opened, as it contain
ed nothing but some rag-bags and bar
rels, and some old blinds which stood
against the wall. Arthur and Frank
used to play put Neddy in, when he
was naughty, and threw over their
games. 1t was not a very cheerful
place.
When we had lived in this way six
months, had not become quite used
to it. AS sat by the table, mending
little stockings, and makinglittle aprons.
of an evening, it was so strange to
hear great-booted men go pounding
over the stairs, and locking themselves
in their rooms. Sometimes / could
hear Mrs. Mackenzie scolding her maid.
Mrs. Mackenzies rooms were next
The Nest They were very good rooms
and she was very important person,
and kept maid-a sulky girl, who
seemed always in a state of revolt.
Her mistress said she was silly, but |
never discovered that she was any sill
lier than any girl who had pretty
checks, and likes to put new bonnet
over them, and walk in the park.
Mrs. Mackenzie herself was very
good-looking Her features, though a