Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-11-02
NO. $50.
Mistcllancous.
SEVEN SISTERS
AND Two BROTHERS VINO LIVED ToGETu-
ER TO ADVANCED AGE.

There has recently died in Chelmsford,
Mass , a lgdy past ninety, the last men,
Der of a large family we'll known in the
own of Bellerica. where the old home
5 eId. built more than a hundred wears
40. still remains upon the original farm.
some records of this family might be wov-
ti into a romance. There were thirteen
ehildren-nine girls and four boys. One
died early in youth, three were married
but seven sisters and two brothers lived
together 10 an advanced age. The farm
of a hundred acres girded with forests,
stretched far away from any habitation.
wild and beautiful is its lonlineSs OR
chard and meadow, green slope and fer
tile valley, with running brooks. make up
still a land goodly To look upon. Six
elmS. famous for their size. shade the
wide velvety lawn.
The house was never PAINTED The
front door. with its Hat stone step, E,ces
the south an end door opens ON the west,
while a long gable roof upon the north
the road Side-slopes down to the low
kitchen windows. Inside the bricks of
the big chimney stand exposed in the hail.
like The bones Of Il skeleton suddenly re-
voalcd
But the sitting room. with its low beam
and capaciouS corners, its fire place and
huge mantel nf oldeu times. its broad
hearth, suggestive of rolliching mrih IN
winter evenings, while the storm howled
outside. rocking and twisting these giant
branches, seven merry girls iillirg that
home with the freshness of their youth,
the charm of their middle life and the
peacetulnesS and contenlment of their
| serene old age.
Why didn't they marry? Tradition
| says that though many II Young man knew
that road through the woods, and many
an old-iashioncd chaisc rolled away in
latter years, these sisters and brothers
| preferred the even tenor of Il single life.
Two of them taught school in their dis
trict. The boys titled the rich acres. for
their property was valuable; the girls
wove and spun. and filled huge chests
with blankets. comiortcrs and patchwork
| quilts, knit white bed-spreads of curious
designs, marked hicroglyphic samples,
and kept up the name of spotless house,
keepers. The nephews and nieces. count
ed by the dozens, came here to find their
visit ''the best time they ever had" One
! by one the family died and were buried
in a row in the ancient graveyard. Only
| the Youngest sister-a woman of seventy
was left. The negro servant. who had
been brought up upon the place, and was
| devoted TO them, reached the end of man,
| and went the way of all the earth
| Tramps begant 10 wander by. Their cows
were sometimes driven away and MIXED
Gypsy bands would camp iearlessly be-
| hind the trees. Finally the surviving
member said TO q niece who had come to
live with her The time has arrived to
90. | will give you much to build me
house. Let me know when il is ready
| for use. Select some spot that YOU like.
but now il must he near other homes. |
will wait here and be the last thing left"
They carried out her plans; erected
pretty, convenient cottage, placed in il
her old fashioned furniture. took away all
the mementoes of brothers and sisters,
and then, one evening near sunset, leav-
ing the supper-table spread in the new
dining. room. and the tea-kettlc singing
on the new stove. they drove over after
her. She was standing by the dying en-
bers in the old fireplace, in the empty,
desoate room They had all been with
her. she said the brothers and sisters. as
youths and maidcns as middle-aged peo-
pie, as gray-haired and old. they had
waited for the final summons. As she
passed out she exclaimed Now. will
never come here again" and though she
never did ! remember her. n tall, dig
nified woman, in spotles4 cap and snowy
lace parted on her neck, with a precision
learned in the school-room. remarkable
for activity earnestness, cordiality and
hospitality. The mniste. at her funeral
made the remark. ''Sbe bore her sickness
with lady-lke patience" Not even the
| most intpusp sufferinp was allowod In die