The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1878-06-27

side of the 'Wesson house,, as the
neighbors still called it, and of the
whole garden, and having, as l said,
little to do except look out of the
window, while waiting the report of
the patent office on his improved air
brake he naturally looked out a great
deal. I6leness is the root of curios-
ity as well as of mischief. 1t is aston
ishing how persistentlv he watched
the Lubkes and their doings, and how
much entertainment he found in doing
so, all the time persuading himself
that he was studying 'Chitty on Spec
ial Pleas, which lively work he held
in his hand, to be sure, but over the
top of which his eyes were forever
straying to note the comings and go
ings next door.
Heavens what lot of girls 7 was
his first reflection as he saw the sable
clad procession file up the walk
Aud how much alike they arer was
his second. They were of The same
slender build, with clouds of faxen
hair flying over their shoulders, the
same pale blue eyes, the came color
less skins. For q long time Erasmus
could fix on no point of difference by
which to distinguish them, but after a
while he learned to classify them, the
four as Sisters The Twins and
GHil,lo Tho mine xuoro oluovs to
gether, inseparabie as Castor and Pol
lux. Sister was the central star of
the little ones. They were forever
clinging to her skirts and following to
help hinder in her many household
tasks, from washing windows and
hanging out clothes, to sweeping the
doOrsteps in the early morning. Hour
after hour Erasmus heard the hum of
her wheel. He had seen it carried in
with the other things-a genuine old
fashioned spinning wheel, which an
antiquarian might have coveted for its
quaintness, but which Sister valued
tor its use. 1t was she who took the
lead in reforming the garden, where
disorder and neglect were given place
to thrift and neatness, groundsel and
pursley topeas and beats, and where
pOt-herbs, piDks, and multitudinous
cabbages jostled each other in true
German fashion. Sister took the
lead, but every one helped. Even the
little ones could weed and dibble holes
for the insertion of infant roots, and
in the cool of the day, the sedate old
pastor himself would descend from
his study, knife IN hand, to prune, not
in the most skillful manner, the fruit
trees whose best days had gone by
with the best days of the old house
round which they grew.
Hilda was the prettiest of the sister
hood. Her blue eyes had the advan-
tage of a fringe Of long golden lashes ;
her hair waved naturally through all
its pale length; there was tinge OF
color in her fairness which deepened
at times into q lovely pink. People
in general might not have called her
very pretty, but Erasmus learned 10
think her so-and in fact a girl must
be plain indeed not 10 look pretty in
the picturesque frame work of an old
gardener, ivy-hung and bosky, with
slints of sunshine and dusks of shad.
ow. Erasmus watched her fit in and
out and TO and fro, her veil of faxen
hair blown by the wind, her plant
figure in its plain black frock looking
slender as a fairy's, and presently, to
his surprise, he found himself in love
with Hilda. He had not meant it,
but how could 1t be helped A young
mans fancy is easily caught, and mos1
easily of all when, as in this case, he
is lying on his oars for q while, and
has not much to do.
Had Hilda noticed him? He could
not tell. She had never given a look
so far as he could detect, nor had hel
sisters. But good deal can be seen
without looking, and it is so little il
the course of human nature that sew
en- girls, with fourteen eyes between
them, should not see q young man
who sits at a window and gazes out
at them all day, with only fence be.
tween, that I am inclined to think
they did.
Meanwhile, though he knew theil
names and was familiar with theil
habits, Erasmus had never exchanged
word with his new neighbors. Il
was not from want of inclination
but he was modest fellow, and truly
he did know how to begin. Pastor
Lubke was Strict father. BE So
ber, be vigilant,' was his motto. He
had no sympathy with the frivolities
it was rumored, young men were con-
spicuously included. Erasmus stud
led his stearn, placid face from behind
the blind, aud saw nothing 10 encour
age him there. And so, while thus
his shopes belied his fears, his fear,
his hopes belied,' the days went Oh
He made no progress, and might have
made none for much longer time
had not Fate taken pity and sent hel
messenger to assist matters. Tha
messenger was-a monkey!
The monkey appertained to hand
organ-and the monkey also, it il tt
be feared-sent him in to levy the Gus
tomary black mail on the Lubke sis
tiers, who, sitting on the doorstep. il
the pear tree shade, were knitting
stockings of the blue yarn spun b!
Sisters wheel. The sudden appari
ton of the 'diminutive messenger, i,
his red coat aud cooked hat, startled
the simple family, whose lives hereto
fore had included few monkeys. The.
inn, I'd nv, H;lIo