The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-15
"Have YOU had a happy life, Aunt Dc

OF people like Mrs, ObenrelSer-as you do
| Sadi.n
Il am glad OF it. thought myself tn
only girl that ever was silly enough t.
mind it."
IAN women mind it, 1t is vulga
cruelty that has driven many a Girl int
an unhappy marriage; but don't think 0
it. Go and cut the birthday cake. an,
above all things don't pity yourself. Re
member what YOU read to me about Cath
crime ll-she was too proud to be unhap
py.'
liam not unhappy!' said, with some
scOrn.
81 know you are not now, but it is ;
very fascinating habit 10 fall into" replieC
Aunt Desire.
After the cake had been cut and eaten
and all the children laid away Tor the
night, some thoughts came back to me
that always made me blush | did no
need Mrs. Obenreiser to suggest that il
was time for me to marry, if | meant tC
do so at all, only my own thought had MOI
taken precisely that form. | hungered an1
thirsted for love that should wholly be
mine-not shared with a dozen others
| had enough to do in my orphaned tam
ly 10 occupy all my best years, but the
sore spot, which Mrs Obenreiser was al
ways probing. was the fact that no one
ont OF my own kindred, had ever shown
the least sign of love to me.
Aunt Desires confession was my first
intimation that other girls suffered in the
same way. | had been so thoroughly
ashamed Of the feeling that thought il
must be something new under the sun
Continually said to myself at such times
81 don't want to marry, that isn't it al
all; | want somebody to say7l love you
AS il he meant it, Even our little foul
years old baby had her little nettle ready
to sting me.
"What is an old maid? - she asked one
day,
"A happy woman, said Aunt Desire
why" asked T.
"'Cause | heard Tom tell Mr. Justin
that Aunt Desire was an old maid, an,
you were going TO be. guess it's nice
will he one, too.0
"IIow long do people keep up that sort
of talk about Il. girl?' | said to Aunt De
sire
They kept it up with me till wa
about tortyn
"And am twenty six only fourteen
years"'
just the time that Jacob courted Ra-
chel, and it seemed to him but one day,
for the love that he bore her. | wonder
how long it seemed TO her? But you are
prcttier than | ever was You may count
at least five more
We had busy Spring that year; the
children seemed TO have outgrown all THEN
clothes in q body. They would not spare
me five minutes in the day wherein to be
disconsolate, if my heart had been SET upon
it ever 50 much went out for walk
the first warm day, and rs | entered the
motion about the house The front door
stood open. and the doctor was lust going
in, while the faces of nei@hbols appeared
at different windows.
"Oh! what is it? ?" | asked breathlessly
''lIe has had his hand torn on the wheel,
but it will not be fatal"
''Who? Who"
Your brother Tom. He went into the
factory and was careless; that is ALL
1t was enough, thought, as | rushed
up stairs. and saw Aunt Desire with Tom :
head in her lap, and the crushed hand held
upright to stop the bleeding. The doctor
was watching for the iaintncss 70 go of
before beginning work.
II shall need two to help me, " he said,
land the rest of YOU must 90 down stairs,
and keep the house perfectly quiet"
II was with hlm when ii happened, .
said Mr.. Justin, "will YOU take me?"
'You will do" said the doctor "Now
another" But the people had scattered at
the first word, leaving Aunt Desire and
me standing together
Il want Sali,' said Tom, ttintly.
'lou look delicate" sad the doctor
"It will need steady nerves
''.ohe amt delicate, retolted lum. "s1he
is rs strong aS a horse. ! wili not have
anybody else You can stand it, can't
You, Sadi ?"
YES, Tom
"Stand here, then, and hold the elbow
still rs death II the boy keeps up that
spirit he will live through this and a great
deal more"
"Steady > said the doctor, in a warning
tone.
"Looh straight at me, >" said Mr.. Justin
"lont look down"
We were both bending forward over the
hand met his eyes as they We're within
a few inches OF mine, and clutched them
SO to speak, Is If they were the anchor
that held me to consciousness. 1t may
have been hours, or only minutes, that
stood rigid in this way.
"Well done, Sad,' said the doctor a
last and only saw neat bundle of ban
dages at the end of Toms arm, lying OF
a cushion.
While Mr.. Justin was bathing Tom
head, | went into the next room, ant
leaned my face against the cool wall. 4
sudden rain Of tears blinded me, and hat
the same effect as a shower upon over
charged air In another minute shonl,
have been ready to 60 through the same
strain over again.
'You need not cry; he will do We'll,
said Mr. Justin, speaking very gently be
side me land you were Drawer than
thought a woman could be"
IL was not brave at all ! only strained
my Will and this is the way get over it
Women cry for great many reasons De
side grief
DO they? know very littI" of thri
ways
1 toui't i''I titth L S5't tiii'ut,' ~ '''' Nv
your help | thank You very much"
lie smiled and held out his hand, Civ
ing me a cordial shake, as if We're
man, somehow, to whom he had taken
| fancy.
! II will come back in the evening an
watch with Tom"
Then he went away, and am afraid
thought far ottener in the next hour OF tn
way that rare smile lighted up Mr.. Jus
tins plain face, than Of poor Toms tro1
BILE; tor Mr.. Justin's face was eXceedinGi
plain; at the first sight it seemed &ll o
one color-hair, skin, eyes and eyebrows
of a uniform yellowish gray a second looI
detected line between the Iialr and tn
forehead. peculiarly wellshaped monll
and teeth were the only Eedeeming trait
about it, The rarity OF his smile prove'
that he had no vanity
Toms hand had to be examined an
bandaged every day for many weeks. Nh
Justin assisted when he was in the house
which was very often but sometimes Ton
would have no one but myself. lie enact
| ed more attention than q baby.