The true northerner., 1876-12-01
AFTER THE FIRE.
BY ANNA SHIELDS.

The fire, from which we date In the
family, it being the great event therein
for years, seemed at the time it occurred
the climax of series of misfortunes that
had been falling for five years upon our
devoted heads.
First, we lost dear father, who left
the family already mentioned, namely,
mamma, Meta, Freddie and myself.
Meta was but IA when father died, 1 IL,
and Freddie but years Of age. There
was no money for us after the business
was closed, and mamma thankfully ac-
cepted an offer of her Uncle Gordon's to
be his housekeeper, and 80 secure home
for all of us.
Such home! Uncle Gordon Orofts
was man nearly 20, strong and vigor-
GUS, with most ungovernable temper,
miserly and suspicious, who had lived
alone for about forty years. What sud-
den spasm of generosity made him open
the doors of his wretched, tumble-down
old house to us, we never knew; but GER
tainly he repented the arrangement as
soon as his proposal was accepted.
Not one meal passed our lips that we
were not reminded of its cost; not an
article of our poor clothing was renewed
without deep groans over our extrava-
gance, and we were put out at once
Meta end mysef-to learn trades, be-
ing apprenticed to milliner, Meta to a
bookbinder.
/ know now that scant as our wages
were they really covered the expense Of
our poor food and worse lodging but
in those days we were too young and
inexperienced to venture to dispute our
uncle's oft-repeated assertion that we
were "eating him out of house and
home." AS for poor mamma, with all
the housework, sewing, washing and
cooking upon her hands, surely she
earned the little she spent.
But in spite of our poverty and hard
work, Meta blossomed from thin,
gawky girl into maiden beautiful,
modest and tender, sweet flower amidst
our thorns. was never even pretty,
and 1 fairly worshiped Meta's golden
curls, soft, brown eyes, and clear COM
plexion. She was slender, not very tall,
but graceful in every gentle movement.
When Brent Ellis discovered Meta's
attractions she was 18, and still working
at her trade in the bindery, which
Brent's father owned. Another trouble
followed quickly upon this little ro-
nance, for old John Ellis, after storm
ing and raging like a maniac at the pre-
sumption of one of the "hands" in
daring to be sufficiently attractive to
win the love of the son and heir of his
magnifcence, dismissed Meta at an
hours notice.
As he owned the only -bindery
establishment in the town, and Meta
knew no other trade, affairs looked black
enough for US.
Brent himself was as true as steel, and
wanted Meta to marry him at once,
promising every devotion of which true
love is capable. But, in spite of her
gentleness, Meta had some pride, and
with quiet dignity refused to enter any
family where she was unwelcome.
Mother, too, at this crisis, informed
Brent that his visits had better cease,
and Meta did not speak one word oi
dissent.
I stormed, of course. always dc
storm when L am angry, but nobody
ever came round to my opinion, no mat
ter how raved, and John Ellis certainly
did not. To be sure, he did not hear
me, or that might have made some diff
ference.
Midwinter found us in this strait.
Meta out of employment, helping
mother about the house, and patiently
bearing Uncle Gordon's sneers at her
idleness and fine-lady airs; I trimming
hats and meekly handing over my wages
to our uncle; Freddie still at the town
school, but with an apprenticeship
looming in the spring.
In January Uncle Gordon was taken
i'll, the first serious sickness of his life.
He would have no doctor till absolutely
forced to call one in, by increasing pain
and weakness, and, when the long de-
layed examination was over, il proved to
have been made too late.
In Just one month after his first pain
our uncle died, leaving brief will con-
ferring all his property, the house In
cluded, upon our mother, his "well-
loved niece, Sarah Morton"
But where was the property1 Not a
dollar was deposited in the bank, not an
inch of real estate was held in his name,