News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1883-09-13
Ny INVALID SISTER.
A STORY OF DOMESTIC LIFE.

Ny sister Margaret had been a sad
sufferer for many years. All that broth
erly love could do to restore her shat
tered health and spirits was faithfully
and cheerfully done. For the last eight
eel months Margaret had been my only
care, for my wife and child had died in
one week, leaving me dependent on this
| truly Christian sister for the sympathy
and consolation which her own SORROWS
taught her so we'll how to bestow.
We both Ionged for quiet and repose,
for neither could mingle with the gave
ties of the town, and Nargaret's health
imperatively pointed to the country. To
the country, therefore, we went and had
the good fortune TO get settled in pretty
and well-fUrnished cottage, near a rail
way station south Of the Thames.
We liked the pretty, quiet cottage:
and as it had been newly furnished the
year before, we had nothing to DO but
literally walk in and take possession.
and soon we felt as much at home rs
they Who had lost the poetry oI life
s,,,,lAI ~, s,z1,cctca TO fc,l- 70 NIstvgorct,
it was my duty, as well as my privilege,
to supply the place of other relatives;
and from her I received all the kind Off
ces which the enfeebled state of her
health permitted her to bestow upon me.
II was delightful to watch her improve
ment. She did not regain her youthful
appearance, for the roses were gone for
ever; but she grew stronger and better,
from the sense of the delightful freedom
which neither Of US ever knew before.
We were very peaceful. Happiness
was out of the question-at least, happi-
ness in the most comprehensive mean
ing of the word. The mourning for the
departed had not yet gone from our
hearts. alth ugh time had softened and
meIIowedit down to pensiye melancholy,
rs sweet as it was sad.
Iretumed one evening earlier than
was my wont, and found all things await
ing my comfort as usual; but Margaret
was weeping over a newspaper in the
parlor, away from her accustomed seat.
I knew OF no intelligence that could
affect her in that way. Our relations
with the outer world were very limited,
and they who claimed relationship with
us were already removed by death, or by
almost immeasurable distance; and Of
these last we had lost nearly all traces.
Margaret, " I said, ''what is it? What
,,,, q, Gr,.t Won tb71S %
She pointed to a paragraph in the
newspaper, and covered her pale face
with her hand. [ followed the direction
Of her finger, and read, with an emotion
/ of pain, the death of Albert Thornton,
a dearly beloved schoolmate of my own,
and who had once touched and inter
ested the sensitive heart of Margaret,
but that was long, long ago; and after
many struggles with her affection, Mar
garet had given him up, from the con
viction that her life was SO precarious
that she ha no right to throw its fraii
burden on one who was just starting il
the battle with the world.
I now learned that this feeble child
| had lived for him-she had lived; but
what a life 1t was like shutting out
every ray of sunlight from her heart
when she gave him up. And Albert
with his bright, glad face, bcaming al
over with health and animation, and Civ
ing promise of a long life, had gone
down to the grave, and this poor gid,
struggling with weakness and pain, wa
left.
l was frightened that night at the in
tensity of her grief. She was so veal
that I feared that any additional troubl,
would soon deprive her Of reason
Gradually soothed her by talking o
him. and leading her to relate her re
newell connection with him. She tol,
me that although she had refused t,
marry him, she had yielded to his ear
nest wish of corresponding with him
and that she had thus kept up that cor
respoHdence through the many year
that separated them. There was linger
ing hope III his heart flat they wOulc
vet see brighter days; but in her, never
until this summer had 50 jnvigorate,
her in health and spirits. Albert ha,
eagerly noticed this, AMI in the Iette
which she had last received, had De
clared his intention Of coming to see MS
''Why did You not tell me?" [ asked
almost reproachiulIy
because I knew that, although yo
/ yvO1II have disauisa1 y-CT1r F.oIi,o
for my sake you would have dreade
the separation; and, beside, | could II,
have The heart to anticipate any happ
ness for myself when you were so dies,
late "
''Dear sister" exclaimed, struck
her self-sacrifcing spirit, 'Tt would hay