Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-03-05
Stlteteo storn:
Women's Wnes.

The Grandins were an exceedingly
nice family A father with q plenty
of money. and liberal, free-and-easy
nature a mother, tender, but not
timid and three boys, all bright and
jolly and afiectionate. These parents
were not after the stiff-backed Puritan
sort. whose grand principle was to
preserve their own dignity always,
though love and sympathy, and eyed
happiness, went TO the wall. They
never concerted measures TO keen
their children at distance, to check
boyisb outbursts, TO establish strict,
soul-crushing ceremonial law. Theirs
was an intensely genuine and synpa-
thetic family, thoroughly free to en-
joy itself; and every boy did it accord
ing to the methods that suited tie
changing years.
At last the old home broke up.
Tom, the oldest. married and moved
TO Broomfeld, Frank got well started
in the law in Boston, and then did like
wise. Fred, the subject Of our special
attention, and the youngest, went to
the war then, after couple OF years,
to Germany on business, where he had
remained till the condition of affairs
allowed him to think of satisfying his
longing TO see his dear old brothers,
and then he fastened home.
Fred Grandin was handsome fell
low enough at least. young women al
ways glanced at him appreciatively.
He was thirty years old, and amiable,
and intelligent, too, but had never
looked on the fair sex with favor. He
had had numberless excellent chances,
as chances 90, but never was at all
disposed to try his luck.
( His brother Tom, whose home in
Broomfield Fred was approaching as
fast as his stout legs could carry him.
had married lice woman. and was
perfectly devoted to her and her two
little children. For eight years he
had hardly thought of anything else,
and had grown into the habit of re-
garding the rest of the great world
simply in its attitude toward his fami-
ly. So that when Fred came in with
his heart full of dear old memories and
joyful expectancy, Tom did not fee
equally delighted. He tried to feel so
but he could not. His life and hear
were full. All the little heart-string:
if there be such things,-which O
old clung to his brother had been tax
en- up by his blooming little wife, wht
had been with him ever since, ant
there seemed actually no place 70
poor lonely Fred. Tom even caugh
himself fearful lest the new arriva
should bore him,-should discOmpOs
some of his dear little family arrange
: ments. But Tom tried 10 be hearty
and put out his hand cordially, bu
Fred was going to throw his arm
around his neck. He introduced hin
TO his wife, and they talked goo'
deal about the children, aud the house
and the village.
But Fred saw that things were nc
as he had hoped; he discovered tina
that ruddy-faced, portly man, with
child on each knee, and his mouth ful
of common places, was not the brothe
he crossed the ocean to see. SO, afte
1 few days spent in getting used t
his disappointment, resisting the polit
urgings of his new brother and sistel
r he started for Boston. Frank wa
perhaps as much absorbed in his fam
t ly IS Tom, but being prepared for tn
worst, Fred found an agreeable su
prise in store for him. This sister-ll
law was so amiable and cordial, an
their house 80 comfortable, that whe
9 Frank begged him to live with then
be accepted with pleasure.