The Republican journal., 1874-06-25
Somerville and Son.

mother; but | promised father to come
down and give him my opinion of some
patterns for moulding that are to be sent
in to-day"
''As If the opinion Of 4 girl of your age
was of any value You need not hurry
back on my account. | do not want to
force you to remain at home can bear
the sorrow OF having 4 masculine tom-boy
of a girl. instead of Il gentle, refined com
panion. CO.
Nellie Somerville pressed a kiss upon
the tretful face pettishly turned away to
cvade the caress, and then went out very
gravcly. Her step, strong and elastic was
unusually slow, rs she walked toward the
factory where her father waited for her,
and for the hundredth time her face was
clouded as she debated in her own mind
the veNed question of her duty. Not her
inclinaton--that pointed steadily one way
but her duty.
From the time when, grasping her
fathers strong finger, the little girl tod
died by his side, Nellie Someryille had
been that fathers pride, and the cross of
her mother Child after child had been
taken from the home Of John Somerville
to fill a little grave in the church yard
the victims of an over-anXety to guard
them nom every breath of air; to fortity
their constitutions by incessant dosing: to
force health by combating imaginary
weakness.
When Nellie was born. the father assert
ed his authority, and the babe was brought
up almost in the open air, and found per-
feet health and strength in constant eN-
crcise, good food, and total deprivation
OF all cordials and narcotics. If she cried
she was not dosed on supposition of pain
but cOmtorted by ride on papa'S shoulder,
or a race in the garden.
When childhood was passed, school days
over, the girl came home from a seminary
in distant city, and shocked her mother
anew. A good scholar, q fine pianist and
promising linguist, she was aycrse to en-
broidery or worstcd- work, fond of riding
and walking and while essentially refined
in thought and action, had no at1ectations
on fine ladyisms, such as Mrs. Someryille
considered the crowning,charms Of woman
hood She entered into the details of
housekeeping with a hearty zest, though
her mother declared she beat eggs like a
ploughbov. and stirred cake like a milk
maid.
''lou see, papa, 1Srllic salu, c"~thrn-
TALLY. to her sympathizing parent. 81
can't half do anything, andmamma thinks
am awfully unfeminine, If eggs are to
be beaten, beat them, not dab at them as
if | was in decline do try to please
mamma. and sat all day yesterday morn
ing working upon horrible combination
of zephyr and canvas ior foot stool. But
mamma says stab the work and between
you and me, papa. l did wish the foot-stoo
was in a sufficiently advanced state to war
rant me in kicking it. | wish was boy ;
then | could be at the factory all the time
John Somerville could scarcely look at
the handsome, healthy face raised to hls
own, and wish it different in any way ye
the hidden grief of his life was that there
was no son to inherit the name upon the
factory sign for three generations. "Som-
erville & Som were known for miles
around the village where the great factory
was located, and their names were gooC
in many of the leading cities Of the coun
trv. John had inherited the business, from
father and grandfather, but his own sons
three dark-eyed boys, lay in the church
ward and Nellie alone remained of Sly
| children.
| More than once the thought had crossed
| his mind, elf she was only boy" a
Nellie followed him over the great build
| ing with the keenest interest in every de
partment there.
| The business was the manufacture Q
frames of every description and Nellie be
| came familiar with every detail, from the
| purchase of the lumber to the criticism o
| the finished work She had nicely 0
touch that detected the slightest inequali
| ties of surface even in polished wood, ant
her eye was at once quick and correct
| Little by little, almost unconsciously
| John Somerville trusted Nellie with mucl
of the decision in purchases, and the book
keeping was often in her care for week
| together, when there was pressure 0
work Mrs Somerville whined and fret
ted over the strangely masculine tastes 0
her child, but her father became more ant
more averse to parting with her in busi
| ness hours
Two years after Nellie returned from
school, and Just after her twenty-trs
birthday, she started one morning, as seel
in the opening of my story, to look a
some patterns to be sent for decision
Such matters were often entrusted entire
|
prised to find her father had gone out
leaving the decision to her But after sh'
| had given the order, had ansWereda a lot o
letters lying upon the desk, had wandered
all over the building and returned agar
to the Office, she was surprised at he
fathers long absence.
One of the foremen, in the finishing de
partment, coming to the office for som,
last orders about the shipment of some
goods, said Mr. Somerville had appointed
to meet him there at noon, and the propri
etor of Somervlle & SONS frame factor,
was a man of rigid punctuality.
Ten, fifteen, twenty minutes Stephel
Holton waited in the Office, watching
Nellie's busy hand as she folded, sealed
and directed lot OF circulars, and think
ing that never had he seen face so fair
or heard a voice so clear and musical a
| Nellie Somerville's. But as the clock strucl
the halfhour, Nellie looked UP with =;
startled face.
Something has happened, Stephen,
she said "my father is never half an hou
behind time. Send some one to look fo
him."
The men are all at dinner, Miss Mel
lie. | will go myself"
But, even as he spoke, a messenger
hurriedly entered the office, saying:
''AIr. Somerville was thrown from hi
horse while on his way here from thu
village, and is badly injured"
"Where?" broke from Nellies whit
lips.
ave took him home, and he asked mt
to come here for you"
Even in her horror and grief Nellie re
tanned some presence of mind. Looking
into Stephen Holton's grave, sympathizins
face, she said:
You will take charge here until yo4
hear from my father. l will be responsi
BILE"
s.Thank Won. " he said deeply moved b,