The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-07-27


wants bustling here and there, purpose
less and terrified, and her father living
upon the bed in the hands of surgeon
and two gentlemen who had assisted in
bringing him home.
There was plenty to do. In less time
than would seem possible, the servants
were in their proper places, Mrs. Som
erville quieted, and Nellie, white as q
sheet, but perfectly tranquil, actively
engaged in waiting upon the surgeon.
The weary hours that followed taxed
every nerve Of the girls frame, but she
bore the strain bravely; and when the
surgeon led her to the drawing-room,
he felt deep respect for the girl who
had so nobly crushed back all selfish
sorrow TO aid her father in his agony.
Giving her glass of water, and maxi
ing her rest quietly for few minutes.
he watched her face till the drawn rig
idity of every feature relaxed, and the
strained eyes looked piteously into his
own.
"That is BETTER" he said kindly;
"you may cry now"
Nellie's lips quivered.
"You have something to tell me!"
Eyes. Are Won strong enough TO
hear it?"
"That he will die? Oh, say he will
not die!"
"The injuries are not fatal. Your
father may live for years"
Nellie's tears fell fast now.
"But," the doctor continued, che will
never be able to walk again. The iniu-
rry to the spine will keep him cripple
for life"
Never walk againl While Nellie
sobbed out her anguish in the drawing
room, John Somerville, unconscious of
the dread fiat that had gone forth, slept
under the influence of n powerful OPT
ate.
For many days the two women who
loved him had no thought for anything
but the strong man stricken down in the
prime of his life, needing care like
little child. Under the influence. of a
real sorrow, the crust of selfishness
melted from the wife's heart, and she
became devoted nurse, forgetting the
ailments she had nursed for
years in ministering to her husband, as
he lay helpless and suffering.
But there came day when John
Somerville was told, kindly and eau
tiously, of the doom before him. 1t
took all the Christian strength of the
mans nature to endure the shock. Bet
ter death, he thought, than life at such
a price. The first agony over, he
thought Of the factory, the bread winner
for wife and child-the business of his
life. Must the old firm dio at last, and
tho flourishing business be sold for want
of masters care? Involuntarily he
turned to Nellie, and talked long and
earnestly.
1t was surprise to him, in spite of
what he had seen, when she replied
IL knew the factory would be your
first anxiety, father, and Stephen has
been here every evening to report to
me, bringing me all the mail matter.
To-day, went down myself. Every
thing Is going OH we'll. The orders for
this month are all filed, and the new
ones under way. have put In some
new material. Do you feel able to look
over what l have done?"
Clearly she explained every detail of
the business in the four weeks that had
passed since the accident, and modestly
showed him the memorandum she had
kept Of every business transaction.
"Nellie," he said, when she finished,
off Heaven denied me a son, it has Civ
en- me good daughter. With YOU to
assist me, l can still carry on my facto-
ry, though lie crippled here"
There was buzz of comment in the
village when Miss Nellie Somerville as
sumed the charge of the frame factory
her father had owned so long. Some
of the workmen refused TO be "ordered
about" by a girl, and were promptly
discharged; but the majority worked
better under the stimulus of Nellie's
judicious praise. People who sneered
at masculine women were forced to
confess that Nellie was as womanly, If
not as helpless, as the finest lady of them
all. Patrons of the factory, who proph-
esied its utter ruin, were forced to con-
fess that their orders were filled as
promptly and as well as ever before.
And yet, in the counting-house only q
woman controlled the entire business,
kept the books, answered the letters,
and guided every detail of the vast es-
tablishment.
Three years had passed since Nellie
became the head Of the business, when
Stephen Holton wooed her for his wife.
He had saved from his salary sufficient
to make a pleasant home, and Nellie
knew he loved her faithfully, as she had
long loved him. So with her happy
consent he sought her father to ask for
his child.
"From all the world" John Somer-
vile said, 81 could not have chosen
man to whom l would so gladly give
my Nellie. II will comfort me, In the
years that may be left of my life, to
know that my brave girl will have
protector when am gone. But, Steph-
en-, there is one wish very near my
heart that you can gratify"
"Name 1t, SIR"
81 shall, on your marriage day, deed
TO you the factory and business, subject
only to moderate life income for my
self and wife. But would like to keep
the old name there. An act of the leg
lslature will give you the right to be
Stephen Somerville, and Somerville Il
Son may still live in the old firms
place."
So when Nellie married, some months
later, she became the wife of Stephen
Holton Somerville. Gradually she
found her duties In her new home draw
ing her little by little from an active place
ia the factory; and, proud of her hus-
band, she gladly resigned her authority
TO him, finding scope for her energies In
the duties around her, till one sunny
morning, walking over to her fathers,
she put into his arms tiny, Growing
babe, and said, with glad tears:-
"My business cares are over, papa.
Henceforth resign in favor of "Somer-
vile & Son."
Remedy for Insect Bites.