The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-09-12
BRUNE'S OBJECT.

Little Bruno Middleton, a pretty
girl with trim waist, bright dark
gray eyes, brown complexion and
still browner hair, mouth and brow
that showed a thoughtful character,
stood leaning against large oak tree
on the summit of one OF the many
hills encircling her fathers home.
Bruno had been reading strong
minded woman's opinion of "Aimless
Lives" and now, as she gazed down
upon the winding river, the undulating
hills, and grove-embosomed house, she
was filed with self-reproach that she
was merely living, and enjoying it too,
without knowing why or doing any
sppreciable good to any one. 1t had
been made very clear to her that she
had been put here for some use-but
for what? To eat. drink and be mer-
TYP Oh, no, that wasn't enough; that
was only for self.
The tears rose to her eyes and she
bitterly exclaimed: I'm nothing but
q cumberer of Gods busy earth" 1t
must be admitted that Brune's range
of thought was rather circumscribed,
for, save through books and papers,
she knew nothing of the great world
outside her own hill-surrounded coun-
try home. Professor Middleton, an
distracted though kind hearted man
and devoted geologist, in following the
aim of his swn life had broken through
many an outer crust and looked deeply
into the inner nature Of Mother Earth,
but it had never once occurred to him
that there was more in the character
of his children than was shown upon
the surface, and he knew absolutely
nothing of them beyond their names
and their faces. Mrs. Middleton some
times wondered by what intuition he
knew that much. AS to Brune, in
whom he might have found a study
worthy Of himself, he regarded her as
perfect child, and absently remarked
to his wife one day" How large Bruno
grows"
Eyes" cried Mrs. Middleton, hasten
ing to speak while his mind was off his
rocks and pebbles. eyes, indeed; she
is well-grown and pretty, and wish
very much she might see more of So
ciety. Mademoiselle will have no more
of her in the school-room, and there is
absolutely nothing here to employ her
time as it should be-"
But the hint fell upon unheeding
ears; the professors thoughts were in
the fourth stratum already, mamma s
were called to the nursery, and mean
while eighteen-year-old Bruno stood
holding out empty, longing hands to-
ward "an object to live for" She
possessed far too much of her fathers
talent and her mothers energetic
spirit not to have already felt distressed
at her forced inaction. This appeal
from the strong-minded woman had
aroused her whole nature. so now she
stood clasping the mighty body of her
favorite tree and wishing that itmight
develop the faculty of speech like the
stalking oak" or at least with waving
branches point out the spot where her
mission lay. Finally she resolved to
60 to her father, though she inwardly
dreaded the amazed look with which
he would greet her questions. How
ever, the desire for action was greater
than the fear of being misunderstood,
and gathering up her dress she turned
about to descend the hill, when acurly
poll appeared from behind a great
mossy rock, and with dancing eyes and
laughing face her little sister Berenice
ran to meet her.
"0h, sister Bruno, where have you
been and what is the matter with
you?' she cried. "Have you been to
the moon, or are you only moon
struck ?"
"No, Beny, 1 haven't" gravely re-
piled Bruno, still impressed with the
subject Of her meditations. 81 have
been trying to think what is the object
of my lifa. Tell me what is, dear, -
she added, laughingly, as Beny'smysti-
fed look struck her as irresistibly
comical.
"Haye mercy, Brune; isn't it
enough to be obliged to furnish objects
for my VERBS" retorted the ready
Witted child. "And do come along.
Mamma sent me to find you because
papa has brought home a visitor, only
think, and that's so extraordinary that
don't know what will happen next.
wish something would for for my
part. | don't believe every place can
be as stupid as this, and perhaps papa
might leave the valley if real awful
tragedy should occur" and Beny's eyes
sparkled, while her shoulders Were
drawn up in a eomical afectation of a
shiver of dread.
Bruno laughed again and reminded
Beny of her distress a few days before
when their father brought home q