The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1874-11-28
Select Storg.
sOMERvILLE AND SON.

Going to that dreadful factory again
said Mrs. Somervillc, looking up as her
daughter entered the sitting-room, dressed
for walking. III declare, Nellie, you
might as well be boy as girl, for any
pleasure have in your society. Every
day you are to the factory, leaving me
alone"
al will come back soon if you want me
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 girl of your age
was of any value, You need not hurry
back on my account. | do not want to
force you to remain ut home. ! can bear
the sorrow of having masculine tom-boy
of girl, instead Of gentle, refined COM
panion. Co."
Nellie Somereillc pressed kiss upon
the freiful face pcttishly turned away to
eyade the caress, and then went out very
gnyely Her step, strong and elastic,
was unusually slow, as 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 vcxcd question of her duty. Not
her inclination-tha pointed steadily one
way--but her duty.
From the time when, grasping her faith
ers strong finger, the little girl toddled by
his side, Nellie Someryille had boen that
fathers pride, and the cross of her mother.
Child after child had been taken from the
home of John Somerville to fill little
grave in the church yard-the victims Of
an over-anxiety to guard them from every
breath of air; to fortify their constitutions
by incessant dosing to force health by
combating imaginary weakness.
When Nellie was born, the father asser
ted his authority, aud the babe was brought
up almost in the open air, and found per-
feet health and strength in constant exer-
else, good food, and total deprivation Of
all cordinals and narcotic. If she cried
she was not dosed on supposition of pain,
but comforted by a ride on papa's shoulder,
or 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, fine
pianist aud promising linguist, she was
ayerse to embroidery or worsted work,
fond Of riding and walking, and while es-
sentially refined in thought and action,
had no aifectations or fine ladyisms, such
as Mrs. Somersille considered the crown
ing charms Of womanhond She entered
into the details Of housekeeping with n
hearty zcst, though her mother declared
she beat eggs like plonghboy, and stirred
cake like milkmaid.
You see, papa Nellie said, con6den-
tally, 10 her sympathizing parent ''I cant
half do anything, and mamma thinks l
am awfally unieminine. 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
morning working upon horrible combi-
nation Of zephyr and canvas for foot
stool. But mamma says ! stab the work;
and between you and me, papa, | did wish
the foot stool was in a sufficiently advanced
state TO warrant me in kicking it. Iwish
was a boy; then could be at the factory
all the time. .
John Somerville could scarcely look at
the handsome, healthy face raised to his
own, and wish il different in any way; yet
the hidden grief Of his life was that there
was no sou to inherit the name upon the
iactory sign for three generations. "Som-
-eryillc Il Son" were known for miles
around the village where the great factory
was located, and their names were good in
many Of the leading cities Of the country.
John had inherited the business from
father and grandfather, but his own sons,
three dark-eyed boys, lay in the church.
yard, and Nellie alone remained Of six
children.
More than once the thought had crossed