Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-10-23
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE REWARD or KINDNESS.

'Your Aunt Sabna is coming to London and
has invited herself here without ceremony"
"When :" asked Arabells, with an intonation
OF intense disgust.
"she will reach here this afternoon. Wilbur,
you will have to meet her."
'Sorry, ma, but have promised to drive Miss
Caldwell to the park. Fred can CO.
"Certainly, will go" Fred said gravely,
though there WAS Il hot flush on his forehead.
~ am very fond of Aunt"
"Nonsense :" said his mother, ''you have not
seen her for fourteen years. never went near
the detestabe old farm after your father died. -
Nevertheless, | have vivid recollection Of
Aunt Sabina's kindness when we we're there"
"Dear me, Fred" drawled Lucila, "dont be
sentimental | wish the old thing would stay
home. | can't imagine what she is coming here
for2"
"She is our fathers sister," said Fred, land
cannot find anything surprising in her looking
for welcome amongst her brothers. children" "
Mrs. Gorham shrugged her shoulders. II she
had spoken her thoughts it would have been
"Fred is 70 odd just like his father" But she
only said-'I may depend upon you then, to
meet your aunt, Fred will see about her
room."
1t was source OF great satisfaction to Mrs.
Gorham that her children were all like herself
'Greers every one except Fred, she would say,
congratulating herself that the plebeian blood
of :" Gorham pere was not transmitted in
the features Of her elder son Wilbur, or any OF
the three girls.
That Greer pride meant intense, seliishness,
that Greer beauty was of cold, hard type, that
Greerdisposition was tyrannical and narrow mind
3D. did not trouble Mrs. Gorham. That the son,
who was "all Gorham, was proud to the core
with the true pride that knows no false shame
that he was noble in disposition, handsome in a
frank, manly type, generous, and self-sacritic-
ing, she could not appreciate. His hands and
feet were not 80 small as darling Wllburs, he
had no fashionable afiectations, and no "Greer"
look. so his mother thought him rough and
coarse, and his sisters declared that he had no
style at all. But outside the home, whore
great show of wealth was made by many private
economies, Fred WAS more appreciated.
When he became man, and knew that his
fathers estate, though sufficient to give every
comfort, was not large enough for the ertrava-
gance his mother ndulged in, lie fitted himself for
business, and took position in q counting house,
thus becoming self-supportlng, though his moth
er declared no Greer had ever been in trade.
That the money she lived on was made III soap
boiling the fashionable lady ignored entirely.
Darling Wilbur had studied law, but his trst
client had not yet appeared, and Mrs. Gorham
supported him, trusting his Vaccinations would
touch the heart Of some moneyed belle. Miss
Caldwell was the present hope She was her own
That she was proud and rather cold in manner,
was only an additional charm to Mrs. Gorham,
and Iucilla, Arabella and Coriune 'were enthu-
sastic i'll their admiration OF " Cornea Cald-
wells queeHly manner
Nobody suspected that Fred blunt, straight
forward Fred, hid one secret in his heart con-
fessed to no living beng. And that secret was
a love, pure and true, for Cornea Caldwel-a
love that would shut itself closely away from
any suspicion of fortune-hunting-tha only
L ~ I.Asr
By four o'clock, Fred was at the station with
a carriage, waiting for Aunt .Sabina. What
little old fashioned figure she WAS, in her quaint
black bonnet and large figured shawl. But
Fred,knew her kindly old face at once, though
lie had not seen it since he was twelve years old.
"You are Aunt, he said, going quickly to
meet her
She looked at the handsome face, and Caught
4 quick gasping breath.
You must be one of Johns boys, she said.
" How like you are to your father !"
&C | am Ered,H he answered.
Dear heart How you've grown Is'your
ma here y
"She is waiting for you at home"
The good old country woman had never bad
the least doubt of "a warm welcome at her broth
er's house, and Fred certainly confirmed her ex-
pectations. He foundkthe old black leather
trunk, the bag the bandbox, the great bulging
cotton umbrella, and put them all in the carriage
without one smile of ridicue. He made his
Aunt go to the restaurant and refresh herself
before starting on the long drive home He lis
tened with respectful interest to all tho mlshaps
of tue long journey, and sympathized with the
-" Ruination of every mortal stitch I've got on,
dear, in the dust and smoke"
Aud he chatted pleasantly Of his childish
recollections of tho tiny house and wide farm
whore Sabina lived.
"You see," she told him, 81 made up my
mind this year would come to London once
more before died. I've tried to before now,
dear, but something or nuther alters hindered.
Dear, dear You're all grown up, l spose,
and you was but lot o babies last time poor
John brought you to see me-
60 Corinne il the youngest, and shells eigh-
teen. Wilbur is the only one older than | am.
"Yes, l remember. Well, dear, I'm glad
that Johns wife brought up such.a fine family.
I'm only an old maid, but do love children and
young folks
But chill fell upon the kindly old heart
when home was reached at last, and four fash
ionably- y-dressed ladies' gave her strictly court
eous greeting But for the warm clasp of Fred's
hand. think she would have returned to the
station in the same carriage she came, 30 wound
cd and sore she felt.
g Not one kiss" she thought, " and Fred
kissed mo at the train, right before. all the
folks.
Fred slipped silver coin into the hands OF
the servant girl who was to await upon his Aunt,
promising another if she was very attentive, and
himself escorted the old lady to her room. 1t
was not often the young mans indignation
found voice, though it grew hot over many
ehams and acts of hard seltishness.in the house
of his mother. but he said some words on that
day that called blush to the cheeks Of tho
worldly woman.
1t was not a very busy season, and finding Sa-
bina was likely to have sorry time if left to the
other members of. the family, Fred asked for a
holiday, and appointed himself the old ladys es-
cort. He was too proud to care for the fact that
tho quaint little figure on his arm attracted many
an amused glance, but gravely stood by while a
new dress for Dolly the dairy maid, and a city
necktie for Bob the ploughman, were purchased.
lie gave undivided attention to the more I'M
portant selection of new black silk for aunty
herself and pleasantly accepted blue silk
scarf, with large red spots. that was presented
to him, appreciating the loye that prompted the
gift, and mentally resolving to wear 1t when lie
paid promised visit to the farm. He drove
Aunt Sabina to tho Park. Hetook her to see al
the sights.
Once or twice, meeting somo of his gentlemen
friends, they had thought " the queer old party
is some rich relation, Gorham is 80 very atten-
tive and had delighted Sabina by their defer
ential attentions.
Once-Fred had not counted on that-n q
picture gallery, Cornelia Caldwell sauntered il
alone. She had heard of Sabina, through the
iisgusted comments of Lucilla, and knew she
lad no property but a miserable farm, but She
greeted Fred with smile far more cordial thar
She gave her admirers. little lump came in
Frcd's throat. Then he gravely introduced the
stately beauty in her rustling silk to the little
old fashioned figure on his arm.
'AIy aunt, Miss Gorham Miss Caldwell.
They admire1 their pictlres together, and the