Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-05-22

cheering in the aspect of the outer world, and
I turned with sigh to join those who were
drawn to the cheerful, blazing fire.
1t had been long day to us-aunt Patsy,
Nellie and myself We had been expecting
John and his wife since the morning, and still
thew did not come. AS I drew near the fire,
aunt Patsy said
"You may depend upon it, children, some
thing has happened"
II thought you knew that, aunty," said
Nellie ''then there has been an accidentY
"No, ma am, not exactly. The something
to which I refer is the fact, that after long
and patient waiting on our part, hoping each
year that Matte would act like sensible wo-
man, now at this late day, there has been a
wedding in the family"
II must say, Nellie" said I, 'you speak OF
Johns marriage very much as if it were ca
lamity, instead of blessing, as trust in God
it may prove 1t is we'll I did not act the
part of sensible woman, if you regard matri-
mony in this light"
II am very glad to find no accident has oc-
cured" said aunt Patsy with sigh Of relief,
and adding: "Nellie, you will have to give
up this childish behavior when Johns wife
comes, and must learn to be more digniied =
and having finished this, for her, long speech,
the old lady prepared herself for her evening
nap.
Nellies remark about my acting as SEN
sible woman had set me thinking and so busy
was 1 with my past, that forgot all about
the momentous future. We had remained 81
lent some time, when Nellie looked up with
an annoyed expression Of countenance and
said
II wish John and his wife would come. l
am so tired of hearing of her, and imagining
how she looks, that when she does come, am
afraid the first impression Of her dear sister
Nellie will not be an agreeable one."
ut will be your own fault if it is not, Mel
lie," said +; and then taking the fair young
face in my hands, I bent over it and whisper,
ed "She has no mother, and for the sake OF
the one we have lost, darling, we must be
kind to her."
'It would be impossible for you to be un-
kind to any one, Matte; but it is different
with me. I cannot bear to think of stran.
ger coming here and taking your place as
mistress of the house; and if were you, l
would not submit to it. 1t is as much our
house as it is Johns"
"Hush, Nellie! Icannot let you talk in this
way-'as much our house. Why child-but
will not tell you now, for wish you to wear
your brightest and happiest look, when we
meet our new sister"
"And how do yoat intend lookings Miss
Matte Leslie?'
Gas always do, which, as aunty says, is
sorry enough but you know | never was
much for looks"
"You are not pretty, Matte, that is fact ;
but every one loves you just as much as if
you were."
"And as that is all I care for, it makes
little difference to me if my sister Nellie is the
beauty of the family. But 60 up stairs, now,
and smooth your hair, and perhaps when you
return they will be here"
Nellie rose, and throwing her arms around
me, said
"Don't let her come between you and me,
Matte there will be war to the knife if you
do"
"No danger of that, my darling" said I, re-
turning her embrace.
1t was trying position, though had spo'
ken of it so calmly. John and were the two
elder members of large family of children,
all of whom had died in infancy. Nellie was
our step.sister. Soon after her birth, my
mother had met with great sorrow, and af'
ter pining away gradually, died, leaving Mel
lie in my charge, with the earnest prayer that
her young life might not be blighted by the
knowledge of that sorrow which had caused
her mothers death.
Most faithfully had fulfilled her wishes
but now when stranger was to be. brought
into our family circle, l felt that perhaps it
was my duty to act differently. Like most
persons having disagreeable task to perform,
put it off for a "more convenient season, and
thus it was that Nellie had not been told.
Johns marriage had taken us all by sur
prise he was generally so averse to the soci-
ETY. of young ladies, that we had come to re-,
gard him as a confirmed old bachelor.
Having occasion, however, to visit an old
friend of my mothers, he there made the &C.
quantance of Mary Worthington. Her home
was not happy-ber father having married
again-and her stepmother and herself not
being congenial. Everything seemed to favor
John in his suit, and after a short engagement
of six weeks, he was married. Both Nellie
and myself we're prevented from attending
the wedding, and we were now to see, for the
first time, our new sister.
Aunt Patsy was sleeping, and the fire al
most burnt out, when I heard voices in the
hall. I arose Immediately, but had taken
only few steps, when the door opened. A
slight, girlish figure came forward, and before
1 could speak, pair Of loving arms were
around me, and I heard Johns voice, say
ing
"This is your sister Matte, darling"
pressed my lips to the soft, blooming cheek, l
vowed, then and there, to be always kind and
loving to Johns wife.