Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1875-03-25
cessive emotion, scarcely knew what to say to

outbreak, violent as it was, had done her good
but she felt humbled and ashamed at the
anger she had first displayed, and resolved t
make amends for it in the best way she could
So when they went back into the house, she
advanced directly toward Charley, who, with
his hands in his pockets, was staring some
what sullenly out Of the window, and said II
a low tone, but without any reluctance OF
hesitation
81 am very sorry got so angry with you
and beg your pardon L won't DO so any
more"
"Oh that's all right" said Charley, awk'
wardly, and coloring as he spoke with min
gled sheepishness and surprise. lie had very
little notion of how to accept an apology
gracefully, which, indeed, is oftentimes harder
than to make one. 1t made him more ashamed
of himself than he would otherwise have been
but it touched him nevertheless, and gave him
kindly feeling toward Alice, whom he in
wardly resolved never to plague again-if he
could possibly help it.
Alice quickly decided upon Garry as hel
favorite among her cousins. She was good
humored and pretty, and very considerate
usually exerting herself to keep peace among
the juniors, and seldom appearing ruffied
even when their insubordination was at its
height and her mothers temper at its warmest
Rosa and Fanny were terrible romps, quite
as bad as their brothers, and quite as formid
able to the shy newcomer, who shrank from
their boisterous mirth. Then came Frank
Susy and the baby, all more or less spoilt and
selfwilled, thoug h not really bad or ill-tem
pered children, only needing little judlclous
management which their mother could not
find time to give them. Mrs. Fielding was
always in hurry, and accomplished wonders
in the way of domestic labors and housewifery
but the real guidance of the children lay in
their fathers hands, and thoug his sway was
of the gentlest, they yielded to it more readily
than to their mothers sudden and uncertain
assaults, which were more likely to provoke
resistance than incite them to obedience.
All but the four younger children attended
a school some two miles distant, and Alice
was to 90 with them as soon as she should be
suitably equipped. In the meantime she re-
NAMED in the house, trying to get familiar
with her new surroundings, and employing
herselfin unpacking her trunk and arranging
her simple possessions in order, in the little
chamber which was allotted to her in common
with Garry and little Susy, who was chiefly
under her sisters care. Her aunt hunted up
an old black dress of her own, which she said
could be altered for her to wear in common,
until proper wardrobe could be provided for
her; and Alice grew in her favor when she
discovered that she was quite an adept at her
needle, an accomplishment in which even her
eldest girl was decidedly deficient So the
dress was cut out and Alice sat down patient.
ly to work at it, satisfied to have some occu-
patton which was sort of safeguard from the
romping attacks of her little cousins, though
her tears fell silently on it from time to time
as the recollection came into her mind tor
what purpose it was being made. With quick
perception she had discovered from the first
that her arrival was not welcome to Mrs.
Fielding; and painful as the discovery was, it
melted her to win as far as lay in her power,
by her good conduct, at least portion of that
lady's favor and regard. She succeeded so
we'll, that when her uncle came in to lunch,
his wife informed him that she seemed very
well-behaved child, and gave no trouble so far,
and she thought she could be handy about
the house. Mr.. Fielding was grati6ed at the
report of Alice's behavior, but would have
preferred seeing her engaged in game of
play, or outdoor exercise with the other
children. However, he knew his wife's dispo-
sition too we'll to irritate her by any untimely
suggestions, and held his peace for the pres
ent, only resolving inwardly to keep an eye to
his little niece's interests and not allow her to
be imposed upon.
At lunch, which was made regular meal
on account of the children's unfailing appe-
tites, Alice became acquainted with member
of the family whom she had not before seen.
This was no less personaget than uncle Brain
erd, who was seated in his armchair, in the
chimney corner, when she entered the room.
"Is that the child p he asked his niece, who
answered in the affirmative.
"Come here, child" he said, addressing
Alice, who somewhat timidly obeyed, for she
did not like his sharp voice and abrupt man.
ner, and advancing slowly toward him, she
stood with down cast eyes in front of his chair.
"Well p he said, in the same quick way,
"can't you look up"
Reluctantly, Alice raised her eyes, and en-.
countered a keen, but not unkind gaze from a
pair of restless, twinkling little black orbs,
that peered at her from beneath shaggy, grey
brows.
$50 your name is Alice, isit? Pretty name,
too. How old are you ?"
"Nne and half, sir."
"Nine and half, eh? You don't look it.
I suppose Up you don't know who l am DO
your"
"No, sir"
"Im uncle Brainerd. You're no kin to me
that 1 know of, but I'm uncle for all the rest,
so you may as we'll call me 80, too-if you
choose, that is" :,
Alice thought, secretly, that she would
much rather not, but, Of course, she said
nothing.
"That will do," said the old man, nodding
his head at her, and she took her place at the
table, glad enough to be released from his
questions and scrutiny. She did not know
then, that before long, she would discover
uncle Brainerd to be one of her best friends
she only saw in him now crabbed-looklng
little old gentleman, whose manner was even
more sharp and disagreeable than her aunt's.
After lunch Mr.. Fielding quietly bid Alice
to get her bonnet and come out with him in
the field. The other children clamored to 60
too and so the whole noisy troop set out, ex.
cept the baby, who stayed at home and
tumbed about over the kitchen floor, laying
its hands on everything within its reach and
getting in everybody's way, until picked up
and tied in high chair by his mother, where
he sat and kicked and cried until he fell
asleep. Mrs. Fielding was not in an amiable
mood. Sta rather resented her husbands TAX
ing summary possession of Alice, whom she
had expected to stay at home and sew, or at
least put away her work before she did any.
thing else, and she bundled up the "litter,'