The Democratic advocate., 1879-06-07
Selrrt Storp.
THE BROTHERS. CHOICE.


There was deep gloom hanging like a
cloud over the old farm house at Willow
Grove, The old mirrors were turned with
their bright faces toward the wall. The
chairs stood stiiiiy against the wainscot.
Every bright thing, every article of virtu,
aud they were not many, was enshrouded
in mist of drapery; yet more than all, the
human hearts in the old mansion were
aching with hopeless grief, for the head
Of the family, old Henry Duncan, was
| dead.
He had been widowcr twelve years.
After the death of his wife, he had con.
cluded it better to remain single for many
reasons. The introduction Of step.
mother to his children might also be the
introduction of discord into n family which
had been all harmony, Then his farm
was poor, so very poor that it taxed all his
energies Of brain and muscle to wiring from
it plain subsistence. why did he not
improve it? In an evil hour, several year.
before the death Of his wife, he had been
induced to enter on an official bond for a
relative, nephew of his wife The young
man had failed and died pcnniless, and
Henry Duncan was compelled either to sell
his farm, or TO borrow money to meet the
claims against this nephew. lie had chos-
en- the latter alternative, and to keep up
the interest, and gradually to extiuguish h
the debt had so crippled his resources that
improvements were out Of the question.
But he had managed by rigid econom,
to repay the borrowed money, and had lefl
| Willow Grove unencumbercd. True, hi.
only daughter, the little Helen; was onl,
four years old, and greatly needed the care
which no one could bestow but mother;
the old negro nurse, Eliza, could, however
fill the place better than stranger, and
he did not think il prudent to increase
his family and his expenses by second
marriage.
lie had made no will; simply saying t.
William Howard, an old friend aud neigh
Dor, who was with him in his last brieI
illness, that the law would properly diyid,
his estate, and just as he should wish it L
be divided 81 only desire said he,
"that you should be appointed guardian to
George and Helen, aud care for them
Walter, you know, is of age
In few days the old farmer, respected
for his probity, aud esteemed for his vir
tues, was laid beneath the sod beside hi
wife, under a spreading willow, planted By
his own hands years before, in the ole
churchyard near the farm.
How chilling and droary to the return
ing mourncrs is house made thus desc
late Yet how benefcent the order o
that Providence which SO controls human
life that the most poignant grief mus
yield to the petty details essential to its
continuance. We must cat and drink anC
work, and in eating, drinking, and work,
ing we learn to forget our sorrows.
Helen, now a robust girl Of sixteen
thoroughly versed in all the minutie o
domestic economy, and aided by the ripeI
experience Of her gray haired nurse and
foster mother, Eliza, assumed the manage.
ment of the household; and in the care o
the kitchen, the dairy and poultry -yarC
soon lost the first keenness of her bereave
ment.
Walter, being of age and the oldest o
the children, was entitled in law to the ad
ministration; and also to elect to take the
farm by paying to the Others the value O.
the share belonging to each respectively
George, who was only nineteen, entertained
no kind of doubt that his brother woulC
claim his prerogative and take the farm
The old house, structure framed o.
oak, set upon solid basement of brick
over a commodious and dry cellar, stood
upon hill, at the base Of which ran
public road. On the side of the road,
natural spring Of pure, soft water bubblet
up out Of the yellow sand and smooth peb
bles and found its devious way over
green sward into pond, below whicl
stood an old embrowned and weather beat
en- mill The pond found its outlet at tn
mill into creek through which il poureC
into the beautiful Chesapeake.
The farm was upon both sides of tn,
public road, which wound along through
dense mass of pine aud other trees nearl
its whole length. The soil being light
with subsoil Of sand and gravel, thi
growth Of trees was encouraged 10 preven
the hill sides from washing.
Here by this old spring George Dunca
sat rejecting upon the situation. If Wal
ter should elect to take the farm, of whic
he had not the shadow Of doubt, wha
should he do2 Hire TO his brother to Ia
bor daily in the fields with the farm hands
He was not afraid Of work, but The asso
citation was extremely dlstastefu No
would il be modified It ho should seek EN-
ployment among the neighboring farmer
Then, too, his brothers disposition, h
knew, was none too genial; was, 10 fac
impcrious, and what he termed "higf
strung.
lie thought if he c9uld only rent lit,l
farm and get stock and provisions to stal
he would be sure Of success, but he conl
not expect to receive dollar Of the amour
which would be due him from the cstat
for two years certainly, and possibly for
longer time. 81 love the farm, he solill
ouised, sand Walter does not Yes,
love this old homestead, every foot Of j
aud must leave all these grand ol
cherry trees, these inurmuring pines, an
this dear old spring from which | have 5
often drank and the hot tears cam
coursing down his checks.
The current Of his thoughts was sud