Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-13
NO. e8.
THE REWARD OF KINDNESS.

-uto' NOiuAu put uOWu d IctIcT Suc uAu
been reading. and looking around the ta-
BILE at her blooming daughter and two
tall, handsome sons, she said in doleful
tone
Your Aunt Sabina is coming to Lon
don and has invited herself here without
ceremony"
when ?" asked Arabella, with an in.
tOnation of intense disgust.
"She will reach here this afternoon.
Wilbur, you will have to meet her."
"Sorry, ma, but l have promised TO
drive Miss Caldwell to the park. Fred
can 60"
Certainly, will CO." Fred said grave.
ly. though there was hot flush on his
forehead. II am very fond Of aunt"
Nonsense - said his mother, ''you have
not seen her for fourteen years. I never
went near the detestable old farm after
your father died.
Nevertheless, have vivid recollec-
ton of Aunt Sabina's kindness when we
were there
Dear me, Fred" drawled Lucilla.
''dont be sentimental; wish the old
thing would stay home. can't imagine
what she is coming here for ?''
"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 so 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 a source of great satisfaction TO
Mrs. Gorham that her children were all
like herself, 'true Greers, every one OF
them except Fred" she would say, con.
graduating 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 selfish.
ness. that Greer beauty was of cold, hard
type, that Greer disposition was tyranni-
cal and narrow minded. did not trouble
Mrs. Gorham. That the son. who was
"all Gorham," was proud to the core with
the true pride knows no false shame;
that he was noble in disposition. hand
some in a frank, manly type. generous
and self.sacrifcing, she could not appre-
ciate His hands and feet were MOT 70
small as darling Wilbur's, he had no fash
ionable affections, and no "Greer" look.
So his mother thought him rough and
coarse, and his sister declared that he had
no style at all. But outside of the home,
were great show of wealth was made by
many private economies, Fred was more
appreciated. ....
When he became a man, and knew that
his fathers estate, though sufficient to
give them every comfort, was not large
for the extravaganza his mother INDUCED
in. he fitted himself for business. and took
a position in a contingencies, thus be-
coming self-supporting. though his moth
er declared no Greer had ever been in
trade. That the money she lived on was
made in soap boiling, the fashionable lady
ignored entirely.
Darling Wilbur had studied law, but his
first client had not yet appeared, and Mrs.
Gorham supported him. trusting his fas-
cinations would touch the heart of some
moneyed belle. Miss Caldwell was the
present hope. She was her own mistress,
an orphan heiress. and very handsome.
That she was proud and rather cold In
manner. was only an additional charm to
Mrs. Gorham, and Lucilla, Arabella, and
Corrinne were enthusiastic in admiration
of "Cornelia Caldwell's queenly manner"
Nobody suspected that Fred, blunt.
straightforward Fred, hid one secret in his
heart, confessed to no living being And
that secret was love. pure and true, for
Cornelia Caldwell-a love that would shut
itself closely away from any suspicion OF
fortune-hunting-that only dropped and
mourned, thinking of the heiress.
At four o'clock, Fred was at the station
with 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 he 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 a quick grasping breath.
"You must be one Of Johns boys" she
said "How like you are to your. father !"
~ am Fred" he answered.
Dear heart! How you've grown! Is
your ma here?''
'.She is waiting for you at home"
The good old country women had never
had the least doubt Of warm welcome at
her brothers house, and Fred certainly
confirmed her expectations. He found
the old black leather trunk, the bandbox.
the great bulging cotton umbrella and put
them all in the carriage without one smile
OF ridicule. He made his Aunt 60 to the
restaurant and refresh herself before start
ing on the long drive home. He listened
with respectful interest to all the mishaps
of the long journey. and sypathized. with
the-"Ruination of every mortal stitch
I've got on, dear, in the dust and smoke. /"
And he chatted pleasantly Of his child
ish recollectons Of the tiny house and
wide farm where Sabrina lived.
"You see," she told him, II made up
my mind this year ! would come up TO
London once before died. I've tried to
before now, dear. but something or 'nuther
alters Kindred. Dear. dear! You're all
grown up, s'pose. and you was but lot
O babies last time poor John brought you
to see me-"
"Corinne is the youngest. and she Is
eighteen. Wilbur is the only one older
than am.
"Yes, remember. Well. dear. I'm
glad Johns wife brought up such = hne
family. I'm only an old maid. but do
love children and young folks"
| Rut a chill fell unon the kindly oli hear