Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1878-04-19

she could not help it, let it drop.
Girls" she cried with faint voice,
"papa is married"
For a second or two no one spoke
then Nelly, with white face picked up
the letter and read it aloud it was as
follows:
"MY DEAR DAUGHTERS:
"This morning married a widow with six
children. She is a good manager hut the
children are very unruly hope TO be home
on Saturday night,
"Your loving father,
"ELAM MARTYN."
The CONSERVATION at the breakfast
table battles description, A sob broke
from Nelly, it was re-echocd at intervals
by her six sisters. They looked at each
other blankly, then round the large and
cosey room, taking prospective fare
we'll Over the sideboard hung full
length portrait of the late Mrs. Martyr.
uertys eyes led the way to its contem-
plation, the six other pairs followed.
Gerty exclaimed
my poor motherp' in different keys
each voice repeated the lament.
81 shall at once 90 out as lady
help" said Gerty, taking, as the eldest
the lead in declaring her intentions.
"a lady help?" echoed her sisters,
aghast.
eyes; I am qualified for nothing
higher in the labor mart" she said Bit
terly. my education ceased when she, -
pointing to the deceased Mrs. Martyr,
"died. Since then my only studies have
been the bodily needs of my family. l
shall ever sit round at this board"
Poor Gerty," sighed they all.
"And /" said Sophie, II shall get
Cousin Tom to take me into St. Luke's
Hospital rs nurse. Luckily for me, like
Gerty, my family aud the village have
trained.me well for my vocation; but
papa will miss me when he has the govt,
| know" and the expectation seemed to
bring sudden consolation to Sophie, and
qualification of the others.
"Such a nurse as you are p they all
cried. ooh, its a shame v'
Then Nellie, her fathers favorite, wip.
ing away her tears with an angry ges.
ture. cried:
Papa used to call me little Mrs. Fry
| think he was just prophosying, for III
apply to the governor Of St. Giles prison
to be made a female warden. Billy
Jones-Burly Bill, you know-has Otter
been there, and he says the female war
dens are quite ladies, and live by them
selves"
ooh, Nelly!" they all exclaimed, al
is such an ugly dress. Your hairs al
cut short and you have to wear big key
at your side y
II shall at any rate be useful" said
Nelly, loftily. 'and not in anybody'i
way" and she relapsed into tears.
In a soft, deprecatory tone, Emm,
took up her burden,
at is a world full of pain" she sigh
ed. Whatever our special vocation
may be, mans universal aim seems T.
be crushing woman's best affections
shall go as companion to old Miss Trim
iger she has often asked me Papi
shall have a quiet Preside"
Miss Triniger = they all cried, hor
riGed. ooh, not Miss Triniger; sh,
never sees soul, and she is so grabbed
so selfish. Oh, not her, Emmy"
81 am patient" said Emmy with thu
air OF cxpectant martyrdom.
With decidedly more cheerful voice,
quavcring between a smile and tear
Mary the governess-the tender hearted
Mary-announced her intentions.
II shall marry Cousin Tom" she
said. Il didn't like to be the first tc
break our happy circle, but he wanted
me to marry him months ago, so I'll dc
it now"
"Oh, Mary" they exclaimed, one az
ter the other "Oh, Mary dear, we are
so glad F." And they all wept together
In little time they dried their eyes, and
looked at Gracey who made no sign Of
delivering her resolution
And you. Gracey," they said, "wbat
will you do ?"
Sisters" she replied very quietly, 81
shall stay here"
"Ilere!" they echoed in different keys
of astonishment and resentment.
eyes, here" she repeated az para
will not need me, Amy will. You for
get Amy"
Amy said each in a shamed wills
per. And then they all rose together,
all but Graccy, and gave the fragile iu-
valid on the sofa a pardon asking kiss.
"Gracey is right" they said. zone
Of us must stay 10 take care of Amy"
And they wished in their secret hear,s
that in their pride and anger, their
wounded affections, their self-assertion
and impulsiyc rcprisals. they had not
forgotten poor little feeble Amy.
Saturday night came and round the
tea-tablc the six sisters, Amy on the
couch as before, awaited the arrival OF
their father.
The seat at the bead Of the board was
empty IN ominous expectancy. Through
out the house a careless desolation reign
ed.
Tho furniture deposcd for cleaning
had not boon reinstatcd the two SER
wants moved about like mutes. their
voices sepulchral, and tboir demeanor
solemnly grave The tca-table. usually
80 brightly inviting. was chill aud for
mal-looking no hot cakes or delicate
preserves. Plenty there was, but the
plenty Of right, not Of mindful love