Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-14
Ny Christmas Ball:

My Christmas Ball:
AS uNRAygLLED MYSTERY.
We are alone in the world, we two sisters
Patience Carr, the schoolmistrcss, and /,
Adelaide the governess. Ten years before
we had known the extreme Of luxury-a
house in fashionable quarter of New
York, horses, carriages, servants, French
dresses and diamonds for Patience, broad
sashes, worked muslins and velvet suits'for
me. That was when Antartic Mail was
selling at l30 and Richard Carr, our father,
was considered one of the most success.
ful Of Wall street spectators. Then one
bright day, Antartic Mail took downward
leap, and carried my fathers fortune with
it; his reason followed, and in the end his
life. So one morning a woman and 4 child
patience and | set forth into the world to
seek, not cur fortunes, but our daily bread.
There was difference Of twelve years be-
tween Patience and myself-years that
were expressed by neat row Of five little
graves with elegantly carved tomb stones
out at Greenwood, where our brothers and
sisters slept a calm slumber that no depre-
citation in Antartic Mail had power to dis
turb Our mother had died when | was
only two years old; she too had gone where
Wall street ceases from troubling and the
bulls and bears are at rest So Patience
took care of me for six long years, and
then |, being eighteen, went forth to win
my bread as a governess.
cannot say that the usual adventures
which novel-writers describe as befalling
every young woman, whether attractive or
otherwise, who goes out as a goyerness, ever
happened to me. No handsome youth, the
only son of the family in whica | taught
English, French, and the rudiments of Ger
man, music and drawing, ever fell at my
feet aud besought permission to remove me
to more congenial sphere. | found out
no dark and deadly mysteries no hidden
maniac or undiscovered crimes nor was |
ever subjected to series of petty sights
and injuries from narrow-mindei mereS de
| fqmiUe | was usually very well treated
..sa r4iliJ iaia, 1 novor had a chance Of
posing myself either as a victim or heroine
of romance. At the time of which | write
was indeed as pleasantly situated as it i:
possible for a governess 10 be. My en-
ployers were cultivated, kind-hearted peo.
pie, my eldest pupils intelligent, we'll
brought-up girls, and Of the rest of the
children not more unruly or torment
ing than healthy children, especially boys
are apt to be. So that particular Christ
mas Eve Of which | write found me
very much inclined to enjoy my holiday
and fully prepared to enter all the little
festivities Of the season which might fall tC
my share.
We are to have roast turkey for dinner
tomorrow" remarked Patience, after I
brief silence.
4" GoHmaHde, ra'"
And what do you say to a matinee as
pleasant method of passing the day.
" You know | love play above al
things. Where shall we go?-to Wal
lacks? Booths? the Fifth Avenue"
"Chooso for yourself, Addie you ar
company, you know. There is the news
paper on the table"
sat down to pore over the advertise
ments with as much eagerness and excite
ment as though my twenty-five years haj
been suddenly diminished by ten at tn
very least At last | looked up: "Pa
thence 20
"Well, dear ?"
"Don't you wish that something woul
happen to US, as so often happens in plays
that is, don't you wish that some un
known relative or rich old uncle woul
make his appearance, and shower untol
wealth upon US p
al am sure we are very comiortabl
= now. And what is the use Of wishing sue
things ?n
:" Not much use, only some amusemen
, Castles in the air are very easily erected
and cost nothing for bricks mortar or ID
, borers' hire"
Yes, but when they tumble down, o
they invariably do, you may chance to g
rap on the head from some of the hyin
timbers. Best stay on terra 6rma, Addie,
| laughed and bent again over my pape
But the momentous question Of the Chris
mas matinee once settled and the newspapC
thrown aside, my thoughts reverted to m
airy castles, and instiuctiyely began
rear them again. We were both silen
Patience leaned back, half asleep, in h
rocking chair, whilst sat on a low seat
her feet and gazed dreamily into the gloy
d ing Goals of the CRATE. | saw myself
!. lively, laughing child again, flying dow
i the broad staircase Of our Fifth AvenI
8 mansion in embroidered muslin and hoatlr
J. silk sash, en- route for some childish par'
c or other; aud then | remembered a certa
dinner party which my father had on
given, aud how |, peeping slyly throul
= the chink of the diningroom door, hi
\ thought privately that sister Patience
her mauve silk aud pearls was the prettle
/" lady there. Poor, dear Patience Il
! prettiness still remained, though the 81
y and the pearls were things Of the pas
y Suddenly a thought struck me- recolle
y tion Of an odd story told me in those fare
= days. | would wake Patience up, and 81
y should tell me all about it. So | forc
y round aud looked up into the fair, plae
\ face that showed so sweet and calm in q
" - ruddy 6re-glow.
"Patlonce, once and Tor all, you sh'
> > wake up and talk to me, or will go stralg
back to Mrs. Jamieson's tomorrow NOR
ing. You hurt my feelings by treating u
arrival so specifically
~ DO they feed you on minced dictlona
~ - at Mrs. Jamiosons?" queried my niue
y :. put-upon sister, opening her eyes in We
= languid manner. "You do use such We
IA n long words"
N 81 think you must have been going
several classical concerts lately. You 10
as though you had scarcely recovered ir'
n. a severe attack Of Opuses in \ minor"
on 81 was not asleep, child was OF
thinking"