Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-05-04

eldest six and twenty, the youngest four
teen years old-he had been widows
some thirteen years.
The shackles of matrimony had faller
from his rather light nature without per
manent regret. Not that his had bee,
an unhappy married life, but his wife haC
been-and no detriment to his manlness
either-the stronger viii of the two
Still he felt the yoke in ouiesccnt sorl
of way. and so when it Tell from of
him. unknown to himself, unacknOwl
edged III his heart, the relief was sensi-
blei
IL came. then, that at the age of thir-
teen. Gerty, his eldest daughter. took
upon herself. with premature womanli-
ness, the ordering OF the household. anu
had remained ever since, as her iaiher
said, prime minister born admirstra-
tor she was, and her father knew 1t.
Never from household disOrganlzalion,
had the rector been once tempted, these
thirteen wears of widowerhoOd, to cast a
thought on second wedlOck- and the very
possibility OF such thing had never en-
tered his daughters heads.
The sisters lived liz affection with each
other. and at peace with the neighbOrs.
The village watched Overss the rectOr's
daughters with vigilant interest, knew
their different dispositions and inclina-
tiOns, and priced them accordingly.
Mothers of young girls intended for
service eagerly sought to have them
trained by Miss Gerty. whose efficiency
in all domestic matters was well known
and respected but if any ole was sick
it was Miss Sophie who was in demand.
1t. however, sorer trouble than sick
ness fell OH h0usehold-not poverty,
but disgrace through some near member,
then it was Miss Nellie, her fathers pet,
who was appealed to. "A sign" said her
father with dry humOr, that your own
morals are rather lax, my girl" But
Nelly argued that this was IA disease, and
might be cured by medicine, not surgery
merely.
Again. if poverty visited a family,
Mary, the open-handed, soft, plying
Mary. was called to the rescue. That
money was needed was all that Mary
cared TO know; the why and the where
fore were after considerations. Her faith
er laughed, and called her proceeding
Irish. You give yOuf bread first he
said: ''you weigh it afterward." people
give more attentive ear 10 wisdom"
Nary would say, "whcn ted and clothed;
hunger dulls the sense OF morality"
But if Tipping Mead had backward
swain or c0quettish damsel, Miss En-
my was the one to appeal to. For one
short summer, when still in her teens,
Emmy lived her idyl of happy love. but
when harvest time had been and gone,
her lover was ON the wide sea, and had
bid her no farewell, so she had ever a
plaintive. pleading voice. that brought
together often, sundered lovers; a win
ming smile that had power with the
wavering swain. And lastly, when Hip
ping Mead would be enfete, Oracle was
in request. She it was who decked the
May Queen, presided at tea feas!s. Joined
heartiest in the rural games, and gave
the prizes.
The seventh daughter. Amy the last of
the flock, was an invalid-the tender and
special care of e ,ch of her loving sisters.
AMI her father also.
1t was the first week in October. and
Mr.. Martyr went to Harrington, a neigh
boring parish, TO indulge on friends
acres in some unclerical sport, and to
take Il Sundays duty.
As he was to be absent ten days, Gerty
inaugurated housekeeping. her usual
escape" for repressed energies. A week
Sidu ciiiScu Sinct Ills ucpdlluIts Tie dC-
tual cleaning process was over, but the
things had not been replaced in their re-
spective localities. orderly confusion
reigned supreme-even confusion was or
derby with Gerty.
The six sisters sat at the breakfast
table. Amy WAS OIL the sofa, the meal
was just over and Gerry was opening the
post bag. Its only contents that lnOrn-
Ing was letter from the rector addressed
TO 1.-The Miss Martyrs" Rather surprised
Gerty, as the eldest, opened the letter. 1t
was shOrt-nOt half a dozen lines. She
read it, and, as if she could not help it,
let it drop.
''Girls," she cried with faint voice. |
]'papa is married."
For second or two no one spoke /;
then Nelly. with white face, picked up
the letter and read it aloud. 1t was as
follows:
my DEAR DAUGHTERS This morn
ing married widow with six children.
She is good manager but the children
very unruly. hope to be home On Sat-
nrday night. Your loving father,
ELAN MARTIN"
The CONSERVATION at breakfast defies
description. A sob broke from Nellie;
IL was re-echoed at intervals by her six
sisters. They looked at other blankly,
then around the cosy room, taking a
prospective farewell. Over the sidebOard
hung full length portrait of the late
Mrs. Martyr. Gerty's eyes led the way
to its contemplation, the six other pairs
following. Gerty exclaimed:
my poor mother" In different KEYS
each voice repeated the lament.
s'Shall at once 60 out as lady-help,"
said Gerty, taking as the eldest the lead
in declaring her intentions.
"a ladY-help"'. echoed her sisters,
aghast.
YES; 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 nv
family. shall never sit around at this
board"
"Poor Gerty," sighed they all.
"And l." said Sophie, Il shall get
Cousin Tom to take me into st. Luke's
Hospital as a nurse. Luckily for me.
like Gerty, my family and the village
have trained me well for my vocation
but papa will miss me when he has the
govt, l khow." and that expectation
seemed to bring sudden consolation to
Sophie, and qualification to the others.
''Such nurse as you are! they all
cried. "Oh, it is shame?"
Then Nelly, her fathers tavorite,
wiping away her tears with an angry
gesture, cried:
"Papa used to call me little Mrs. Pry.
think he was just prOphesying, for I'll
apply to the Governor of st. Giles Prison
to'be made a female warden. Bill
Jones%Burly Bill, you know,-has ofteu
been there, and be saws the female war.