San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-05-25


partitions, became a large plain meet,
ing-room. The second floor was re.
served for the PASTORS dwelling. There
was much scrubbing and whitewashing,
new paint and plaster; blinds were re-
hung, lettering chimney rebricked,
the fences mended. Last of all arrived
q cart-load of benches, another of furni-
ture, and Pastor Lubke and his family.
The neighbors, watching, saw them go
in; first the grave old pastor leading a
little boy, then long file of girls OF
graduated heights, all clad in black,
worn, it was whispered, in memory of
their mother, who had died few months
before. The beds, chairs and tables
seemed scanty plenishing for so many,
and the lookers-on wondered how they
managed; but nobody found out, for the
Lubkcs were quiet and reserved, saying
little or nothing of their affairs, but
simply taking things as they were, and
settling into the new home without dis
cussion or words.
All these things to watch did seriously
incline Mr.. Erasmus Stockholm young
man who, for his misfortune, had little
to do just then except look out of the
window. His lodging next door COM
manded view of the long south side of
the "Wesson house," as the neighbors
| 1oI nf ha h1
and having, as said, little to do except
look out of window, while waiting the
report of the Patent office on his sim.
proved air brake" he naturally looked
out great deal. Idleness is the root of
curiosity as well as of mischief. 1t is
astonishing how persistently he watch
ed the Lubkes and their doings, and
how much entertainment he found in
doing so, all the time persuading him
self that he was studying entity on Spe-
cial 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 goings next
door.
Heavens! what a lot of 'girls!" was
his first reflection as he saw the sable
clad procession defle up the walk.
"And how much alike they are!" was
his second. They were strangely alike.
The four elder all seemed of the same
age. They were of the same slender
build, with clouds of flaXen hair flying
over their shoulders, the same pale blue
eyes, the same colorless skins. For long
time Erasmus could fix on no point of
difference by which to distinguish them,
but after while he learned to classify
the four as "Sister," "The Twins"
and Hilda." The twins were always
together, inseparable 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 or hinder in her many household
tasks, from washing windows and hang
ing out clothes to sweeping the door
steps 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-fashion-
ed spinnlng-wheel, which an antiquari
an might have coveted for its quaint
ness, but which l." Sister" valued for its
use. 1t was she who took the lead in
reforming the garden, where disorder
and neglect were giving place to thrift .
and neatness, groundsel and pursley to
peas and beets, and where pot-herbs,
pinks, and multitudinous cabbages jost-
led 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 in
FAINT 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 better days of the old house
round which they grew.
Hilda was the prettiest of the sister,
hood, Her blue eyes had the advantage
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 in
to a lovely pink. People in general
might not have called her very pretty,
but Erasmus learned to think her So
and in fact a girl must be plain indeed
not to look pretty in the picturesque
framework of an old garde,:, ivy-hung
and hnskv. with olints of sunshine and