The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-05-28
THE YOUNG MISTRESS.

Little BERTHE and Angie Whipple were
visiting their aunt i'll the country, who,
when her work was done up in the at
ternoon, entertained them by relating
the following story:
g Both of You children have seen the
big house on the hill, with its observa-
tory. French windows and broad piazza (;
well. there the Rushtons lived, when l
was young, and my home was i'll the lit
tie buff house near by, and my father
carried on the Rushton farm, my
mother attending to the dairy.
"They had one child, Elsie, three
months younger than myself, and among
my earliest recollections she figures
largely. As she was n frail child, and
not disposed to play much out of doors
unless | was with her, her mother en-
couraged my frequent visits to her
house, although she early taught me to
think l was not her daughters equal.
She was a very naughty woman, and L
always dreaded 20 encounter her, but to
sne the pleasure of Elsie's company
atoned for any amount of disagreeable-
ness on her mothers part, and, IN / did
not have to see her every time l went to
the big house, l got along very well.
"Miss Barton, the gOverness, was the
one | had the most to do with, and she
was always very pleasant to me. Under
her tuition Elsie and | learned to read
together, aud afterward pursued all our
studies under her guidance i'll the pretty
school-rOom, which, to this day, seems
TO me the loveliest spot | ever was in.
4 # hA
house: the large bay window was con-
stantly filled with tropical plants, which
it seemed to me were never out of
bloom then the sun came streaming in
the whole day through, for the doctor
said this was better than drugs for little
Elsie; the canary and mocking birds
sang from their silver cages, and the
gold fish and their happy companions
hoated around in the crystal globe sus-
pended from the ceiling, distracting our
attention, of course, and somewhat re-
tarding the progress of our studies but
for one like Elsie everything around
must be made to assume the most cheer
ful aspect. And even l was allowed to
be there for the same reason that the
birds and the aquarium were, to add
another feature pleasing to the eyes
and heart of the child of fortune, for she
would neither study nor play in my alb
~ence.
You have two little girls stran-
gers would say who came to the villa, as
1t was called.
Ono, the tow-headed one is not
anime, Mrs. Rushton would reply; she
is only my Elsie's little maid, i'll pros
ptctive. OF course, they play and study
together now
This she would say with naughty
toss # her head, and us often rs other
wise the one addressed would add /:
wei, she is II pretty child.
"Once, on hearing her mother speak
so. | said to Elsie: Your mamma
SAYS | ana to he your maid, but | don t
care much, for then 1 can always be
with you.
You need not he my maid, replied
Elsie; you shall he my little sister,
Lucy.
Then | repeated to my mother what
Mrs. Rushton said and she kept me
away from the big house two or three
days but Elsie fretted and pinned SO for
then she took us both out riding in the
grand carriage, talking very pleasantly
to me, and bought me II nice new doll.
After this there was no parting Elsie
and |, and we grew up together, my adj
vantages for an education being not a
whit less than hers. But that we were
mot socially equal was a fact that i'm
pressed me more and more forcibly year
by year. Mrs. Rushton's prophecy was
becoming true. As ny affection for
Elsie increased, which it seemed to
every day of my life, and she was very
fragile and helpless, l naturally took to
waiting upon her until / unconsciously
drifted into kind of attendant. When
we We're going to ride, / took charge of
her shawl and bundles, / carried her
books when we went to the piano to
practice L arranged her hair, adjusted
ner dress, i'll short acted the part of a
subordinate Mt all times And, VIXEN we
we're grown up, although / had been
given the same advantages for an edu-
cation, and compared in looks and APP
,pearance with Elsie, | was in no sense
ON an equality with her. But, when by
ourselves, our fondness for each other
@as so great that we felt like sisters
and, if we were parted for day, il
seemed as if either could hardly survive
the separation. Thus, to crafty Elsie
in her affection for me, Mrs. Rushton
wished me to remain with them, and
furnished me clothes and money to my
hearts content so, Notwithstanding the
Sights I had to endure, had not, in
view of my great love for Elsie, any real
excuse for leaving them.
"Elsie was given great party on hei
18th birthday, making me n little cast
down, as my own birthday of that age
had three months previously passed
without particular notice from anyone,
except present of a new silk dress from
Elsie. This dress, L afterward learned
from the donor, was to be worn mt hel
party, at which she said must be pres