The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1882-09-21
A Small Beginning.

/ WAY u CuctI Jul uOOIS Tic law
gray Of spring thaw; on the win
dOw-seat two girls crouched to-
gether, and looking out with faces
as disconsOlate as the weather.
Such was the picture presented at
No. 13 Farewell street, three years
ago last March.
Farewell street was so named be-
cause OF its being the customary
route of exit from the old cemetery;
the point where mOurners were sup
posed to turn for last look st the
gates which had just shut in the
newly buried friend; and this as
sociation, as well as the glimpse Of
the tall cemetery fence, topped with
mOurnful ogergreens which bounded
the view, did not tend to make the
sad outlook any the less sad on that
dismal day. For it was only fort
night since Della and Hetty Willett,
1.-THE girls on the window-seat had
left within those gates the kind old
grandmother, who for years had
stood to them in the stead of father
and mother both.
THE Willetts,' as the neighbors
called them, using the collective
phrase always, were twins, and just
Gig hteen years old. Bearing to each
other even a stronger personal like
ness than twins custOmarily possess,
they were in other points curiOusIy
unlike Della was soft and cling
ing, Hetty, vigorous and self-reliant
Della loved to be guided, Hetty to
guide; the former. had a few indie
pendent views and opinions, the
latter was brimfuI of ideas and fan
cies, plans and purposes, some crude,
some foolish, but all her own. Yet,
oddly enough, it was Della, very
often, who gave the casting vote in
their decisions, for Hetty's love for
her slender twin was n sentiment so
deep and intense that she often
yielded against her own better sense
and judgement, simply for the pleas
ure of yielding to what Della wished.
Della in return adored her sister,
waited on her, petted, consOled, ex-
actly as if she were Hetty's wife. |
Aunt Polly said, ''and the worst was
they suited each other so well that !
no one else would ever suit either of
them, and they were bound to die /
old maids in consequence
But eighteen can laugh at such /
auguries, and there was no thought /
or question before marriage in the
minds of the sisters, as they
crouched that afternoon close to-
gether on the old window seat.
A very different question alb
sorbed them, and q perplexing one;
how they were to live, and to keep
together while doing so, which
meant pretty much the same thing
to them both. Grandmother's death
had left them with so very, very
little-her annuity died with her.
There was the old house, the plain, :
worn furniture to which they had
been accustomed all their lives, and
about a hundred dollars q year.
What could they do with that?
If one of US only happened to be
clever" sighed Della. IF 1 could J
paint pictures, or you had a talent 5
for writing, how easy it would be-"
Il don't know as to that" re-
sponded Hetty. Seems to me I've .
heard of people who did those
things, and vet didn't find it so
easy to get along. Some l
body's got to buy the pictures after
they're painted, and read the books,
and pay for them" She spoke in 1
an absent tone, and her brow was
knitted into the little frown which |
Della knew betOkened that her twin
was puzzling hard over something.
Don't scowl, it'll spoil your fore
head" she said, smoothing out the
Objectionable frown with her fingers.
''Was 1 scowling? Well, never
mind, I'm trying to think, DEFY
You can't paint, and L can't write.
The question is what can we doY'
THAT is the question" said a
voice at the door. 1t was Aunt
Polly's voice. She managed on
most days to drop in and give a
look to them, the lonely little crea-
lures" as she would have expressed
it.
you're consultin', l See" she
said, taking in the situation at a
glance; the dismal room, the de
pressed and fearful cheeks of the
two girls, the lack of comfort and
cheer. She twitched open the's stove
door as she passed, threw in stick
of wood, twirled the damper, and
gave brisk, ranting shake to the
ashes-all with a turn Of the hand
as it were-attentions to which the
stove presently responded with a
brisk roar. ''Well it's time You did.
l was planning to have a talk with
you before long, for you ought te
settle to something. Pull the blind
down, DEFY, and Hetty, you light
the lamp, and come to the fire both
of YOU, and let's see what we can
make of it. It's a tangled skein
enough, don't deny it; but most
skeins are that, and there's always
n right end somewhere, if the Lord II
give US sense enough to get hold of
it and keep on pulling out and wind
ing up"
Presently the girls were seated
close to Aunt Polly's rocking chair.
The room looked more cheerful now,
with the lamp-light and the yellow
glow from the stove, and both were
conscious of a sense of hopefulness.
'.NOw-what can you doT de
manded Aunt Polly, whirling round
in her chair to face them.
I've hadn't got so far as that
when you came il" replied Hetty;
Il suppose we must do what other
people do in the same circum-
stances.
whats thaty'
Teach something, or sew, l sup .
pose"
Servings slow starvation in my &.
opinion, unless you've got ma
chine, which you haven't, and not
much better then. What do you !
know that you can teachF" I
Not much,' replied Hetty, hum
bly,, while Della added, hesitatingly: '
I'VE could teach children their let {