The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-05-24

We were-my young nieces and L
sitting closely round the big white Ger.
man stove; for the Thermometer
marked forty degrees Of frost, and q
Hamburg winter Is for GOODNESS a thing
TO remember and exc to talk of in the
days to come. 1t was getting late in
the evening, and the three girls, the
eldest OF whom was nearing sixteen.
had just seen their father-my we'll.
beloved brother John-and their vounp
step-mother, who loved gayety and
dancing as fair creatures of her are are
apt TO do, take their departure in the
freezing January air-which had al
ready, since the frost set in, nipped the
life out OF two coachmen on their boxes
and three sentries at their posts-in
search OF such gayety as is to be found
at the Ponderous entertainments got
up regardless of expense by the mer.
chant-princes of the Free Town.
Since their dear mothers death-s
SAD event which, as it happened six
years before, time had mercifully soft.
ened to US ALL being an cid maid.
and more than willing to make myself
generally useful, had taken up nv
abode with John, and endeavored. To
the best Of my ability, to supply the
place of her whom they had lost
They were good children. affectionata
and compliant. Perhaps that which
was said OF me might be true, namely,
that over-indulged them as little ones
and showed lack of judgment as thew
grew Older; but, arguing from results.
ne great harm was done. John was
satisfied, and both before and after his
second marriage everything went on
Peaceably in ais household a state Of
things which he, poor, dear fellow. be-.
ing OF an incident turn of mind. was
quite capable of approaching at its full
The reasons for our being at Ham.
burg during the bitter winter of IS6-
were partly business ones. Johns Srs,
VIE had been half a Dane; and some rich
relations living at Altoona beingdesirous
OF making acquaintance with their de-
ceased kinswoman's children, il was
decided seeing that q certain wealthy
Old bachelor uncle was falling fast) that
no time should b lost In complvine
With his wishes. @May'-we all called
the young stepmother by her Christian
name. for she was young and GOOD.
no objections: had she
done so. John would have Welded AZ
once. So we SCI of, a large partv-v;s
Hull. for our home was in the north of
the cold but hoepitab!e
North German city.
A good many years before, when the
girls were tiny trots-indeed. Lottie.
The youngest, had not vet made her an.
pearance on LIES stage-I had &C.
my brother and his family
IN three months visit to the place in
which we had now, in pleasant apart.
nents on the Jungfernstieg, installed
for the winter. Twelve wears
md more mad slipped away since Ia
comparatively young woman then.
passed a gay Hamburg winter, making
many acquaintances, and cementing nv
intimacy with one whom | then thou ehta
1aluable friend among the rich inhab.
tants OF the old Hanse town. 1t was
this aforementioned lady. AZ
o whose character and merits | have
ong ago discovered that had made a
'ery decided mistake, that was about
after some entreaty from the girls, TO
vhom had once promised a astorvn
propos OF Hamburg society-aswef four
at round the well-heated stove, to omen
he budget of my memory. Perhans
was wrong and unwise in doiny a.
hey were so young, SO ignorant of evil.
daybe, however, it was as well that the
knowledge which is required to make
women wise should come by degrees.
md accompanied by the " precep. upon
'recept" which may help to neutralize
Is III effects; and so, believing in this
l began my tale a. follows:
prettier or more winning crea.
ure than Gertrude Ruckmann il would
lave been hard-twelve wears ago
mind, darlings-to find. You will
'robably soon be able to Judge for
ourselves whether she has kept the
'romise of her youth for your father
aid yesterday that the Ruckmanns ,
mo have been spending some time in ,
intend shortly 70 return here
or the remainder of the winter. To
o back, however, to my story. Ger. ,
rude's mother was an Englishwoman.
mo about two months before our de. /
arturo we had made her acquaintance ,
{ home, and for we had become !
that girls call friends-greatly looked j
onward to meeting her again in her ,
wn country. She was very CAV, fond !
admiration, and decidedly, in her
'ay, clever; and a. she and 1 kept up. ,
y mutual consent, the intimacy which
ad been begun at home, il followed I
nat Gerry, whe certainly felt No .hv. ,