Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1876-03-23

were recognized as of the first order by those
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his trusty staff; and truly no one could have
occupied more 6tly than herself the position
in life she had been called upon to ell.
The two elder children were girls-Lilly
and Edith by name. The former, at the time
my story commences, was not quite seventeen
years of age; the latter eighteen months her
junior. They were pretty pair, very much
alike in appearance aud disposition. Lilly
was the fairest; Edith had the most regular
features. Beyond this, neither possessed any
noticeable personal advantage over the other.
Like their mother, they were amiable, affec-
tionate and unsel6sh. Indeed, under her
training, they could scarcely have turned out
otherwise than we'll. The same might be
said of the younger children, whose charac-
ters, however, could not be considered form.
ed. Alfred was fourteen, Edgar twelve, and
little Daisy, who was still regarded as the
baby, not yet eight-all happy, healthy,
blooming, merry-hearted juveniles, with fair
share of intelligence and good looks, and
forming altogether group Of which any pa
rents might be pardonably proud. Lily was
most with her father, as an elder daughter is
apt to be-. She kept his study in order, and
sometimes copied his sermons for him when
he was pushed for time. Edith was fond of
housekeeping, and was notable in the pastry
line i az fact which gained her favor in her
brothers. eyes, these young gentlemen being
exceedingly partial to a good dessert. She
was full Of energy and activity, fond Of being
sent on errands, and almost as intimate as
her mother with the rheumatic old women
and infrm old men of the parish, who thought
Miss Edith one of the incest and prettiest
young ladies that ever stepped. Perhaps, Of
the two girls, she had the most character.
Lily was almost too soft and yielding; less
apt to hold her own against trial and temp
tation. But Of these, indeed, neither of them
had yet had any experience. Their lives had
flowed onward in tranquil current from in
fancy, unruhled by single adverse breath.
Of Captain Lyndon, the rector's brother,
retired army officer in failing health, there
is little to be said. He was fond of solitude,
and consequently kept much in his own
room, which had been fitted up with every
convenience and comfort which the care and
thoughtfulness of his sister-in-law could sug-
gest. He read most of the time, never saw
visitors, and seldom went out except for ten
minutes walk in the most secluded part OF
the grounds. His nephews and nieces were
not intimate with him but he was entirely
inofensive, and if he did not contribute par
ticularly to the cheerfulness of the household,
edid notin any way detract from it. He
regularly borrowed his brothers sermons, and
carried them off to read in private, as he
could not 60 to church; but Alfred reported
that on one occasion, having been sent on
some errand to his room, he discovered him
fast asleep over one of the said manuscripts,
and after that the young people were apt to
smile when they saw Uncle George going, on
Mondays, to the study, and would wonder,
somewhat irreverently, whether papa's SER
mon of yesterday would do him any good.
A more peaceful life than that at the par
sonage could scarcely be imagined. No echo
of the turmoil Of the outer world ever entered
there. The aims, the hopes, the pleasures Of
its inmates were centered in their own quiet
circle; their simple plans and pursuits en-
crossed all their thoughts. It was, perhaps,
a narrow sort of existence /; but, after all, our
happiness depends less upon our actual condi-
ton than upon the light in which we regard it,
and contentment as every one must allow, is
one of Heavens choicest gifts. Possessing
this, what could the Lyndons desire more?
This uneventful calm, however, was des-