The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-09-04
The First Marriage in the Family


nHomer' How that little word strikes
upon the heart-strings, awakening all
the sweet memories that had slept in
memory's chamber Our home was a
sspearl of price, among homes; not for
its architectural elegance-for it was
only a four-gabled, brown, country
house, shaded by two antedeluvian oak
trees; nor was its interior crowded with
luxuries that charm every sense ana
come from every cline. Its furniture
had grown old with us, for we remem-
bered no other; and though polished as
highly as furniture could be- by dally
srTubbinr. was somewhat the worse for
wear, il must be confessed.
But neither the house nor IFS furnish
ing makes the home: and the charm Of
ours Law in the sympathy that linked
the nine that called it "hOme" TO one
another. Father, mother, and seven
children-five of them gay-hearted glrls,
and two boys, petted just enough TO be
spoiled-not one link had ever dropped
from the chain of love or one corroding
drop fallen upon its brightness.
zone star differeth from another in
plory.U even in the armament of home.
Thus-though we could not have told q
stranger which brother or sister was
dearest-from our gentlest 'eldest," an
invalid herself but the comforter and
counsellor Of all beside, to the curly
haired boy, who rOmped and rejoiced in
the appellation Of "baby,n given five
years before-still an observing eye
would soon have singled out Sister Ellen
as the sunbeam of our Heaven, the
"mGrning starr OF our constellation.
She was the second i'm age, but the first
in the Inheritance Of that load of respOn-
sibility, which i'm such a household falls
naturally upon the eldest daughter.
Eliza, as / have said, was i'll from early
girlhoOd; and Ellen had shouldered all
her burden of care and kindness, with a
light heart and lighter step. Up stairs
stairs and down cellar, in the parlor
nursery or kitchen-at the piano or the
wash-tub-with pen, pencil, needle ol
ladle-Sister Ellen was always busy
always with q smile on her cheek and ;
waTble on her lip.
Quietly, happily, the months ant
years went by. We never realized tina
change was to come over our band. II,
be sure, when mother would look il
upon Us, seated together with our books
paintings, and needle-wOrk, and say, il
her gentle way, with only half a sigh
"Ah, girls, you are living your happies
daysn We would glance into each other
eyes and wonder who would 90 first
But il was a wonder that passed ava
with the hour, and ruliled not even In
surface of our sisterly hearts. IL cOul
not be always sO-and the change cam
atlasti
Sister Ellen was TO be married!
1t was like the crash of thunderbo
on clear summer sky! Sister Ellen
the fairy of the hearthstone, the darliT
OF every heart-which of us could spa
her? Who had been so presumption
AS 10 find out her worth ? For the fir
moment, his question burst forth fro
each surprised, half angry sister of Il
Dlushing, fearful Ellen 1t was on
for = moment; for our hearts told
that nobody could help loving her, wi
had looked through her loving bll
eyes, into the clear well-spring of Il
heart beneath. So we threw our arm
around her and sObbed without a wort
We knew very well that the yOur
clergyman, whose Sunday sermons an
gentle admOnitions had won all heart
had been for months weekly visitor
our fireside circle. With baby GeOrg
on his knee, and Georgie's brothers an
sisters clustered about him, he had s.
through many an evening, charmin
the hours away, until the clock startie
us with its unwelcOme nine-O'clOc
warning; and the softy-spOken remind
eT, "Girls, it is bedtime ~ woke MOI
than one stifled sigh of regret The
Sister Ellen must always 20 with US :
lay George in his little bed to hea
him and Annette repeat the evenin
prayer and hymn her lips had taugl
them; 10 comb out the long brow
braids OF Emily's head; to rob Artht
Of the story book, over which he wOul
have squandered the midnight oil;
and 10 breathe IA kiss and a blessin
over the pillow of each other sister, f;
she tucked the warm blankets tenderl
about them.
We do not know how often of late 81
had stolen down again, from these 81
terly duties, after our senses were locke
in sleep; or if our eyes and ears ha
ever been open To the fact, we cou
never have suspected the minister to
guilty of such a plot against our peac,
The name was associated, in our mind
with all that was superhuman. II
gray-haired pastor who had gone to Il
grave SIX months previous, had sat
frequently on that same oaken arr
chair, and talked with us. We n
loved him as a friend, and had aImC
EIllDnUl
all attainable goodness. And when y
Neville came among us, with his hig
pale forehead, and soul -kindled eve,
had thought his face also ''the face
an ancein-toO glorious for the print
mortal passion Especially, after
answer TO an urgent call from the p
pie among whom he was laboring,
had frankly told them that his purp'
was not to remain among them, or al
where on his native shore; that he OF
waited the guidance of Providence e
home in a foreign cline. After q
much -bewailed disclosure Of his pla
We placed our favorite preacher Oh
higher pinnacle of saintship!
But Sister Ellen was to be married
and married to Mr.. Neville. And th
oh, sister, you are not going away
India ?' burst from our lips, with
fresh gush Of sobs.
was the first to look up into Eilei
troubled face. II was heaving wi
emotions that rutlled IFS calmness.
the lide- waves rutfle the sea. Her Ii
were iirmly compressed; her eves W,
fixed on some distant dream cIass
with two tears, that stood still in m,
chalices, forbidden TO fall. I aim,
trembled as ! caught her glance.
"Sisteri Agnes-Emily ~ she Z
claimed, in husky whisper. Illus
be calm Don't break my heart
/ love home less than"
The effort was too much; the wo
died on her lips. We lifted her to b
frightened into forgetfulness Of her o.
Grief We soOthed her until she, {
went freely and passionately, and,
weeping, grew strong for the sacrifice
which She had pledged her heart.
we never spoke another word OF