The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1883-08-08
MEG'S ADVICE.

1t was the day after the party, and
can any day be more utterly wretched !?
mean, of course, to the people who
have given the party especially when,
like my uncle and aunt, they are of
quiet-going habits and moderate means,
and must let their guests dance in the
dining-room and have supper in the
biggest bedroom.
1t was the day after the party, and
every individual in the house was mis-
cradle. The days before the party had
not been remarkable for comfort, but
they at least had Eeen tinged with the
radiance of hope and bright antici pa
tion, while now nothing remained hut
"dregs and bitterness" and to clear
away and to get the house in order
again. This would have seemed rather
dreary task in any circumstances, l
dare say; but it was greatly aggra-
waited by the fact that we were all in
very low spirits, or to put it honestly,
in dreadfully bad tempers, having each
and all special grievance of our own
My uncle's household consisted of
himself and my aunt, Mr.. and Mrs.
Gilbee, their two sons, Christopher and
Peter, their two daughters, Lottie and
Sophy, and myself, Meg Mert1u, the
orphan daughter of my aunts only
sister. My mother had died when /
was eight years old, and my father,
whose habits were by no means of a
domestic kind, sent me to school, and
allowed me to spend all my holidays at
my aunt's, and when he died and my
schooldays were over, my temporary
home became a permanent one. This
came to pass quite naturally, and was
taken as a matter of course by my
kindhearted cousins and Aunt Char
lotte, who had always regarded me as
one of her own children, never seemed
to suppose that she was comforting any
particular favor upon me by giving
me happy home among them all. But
appreciated it, and endeavored to
prove my gratitude in every way pos
sible. l was older than Lottie and
Sophy and left school before they did,
and / became very useful in the house.
Aunt Charlotte was of nervous,
timid nature, and as 1 happened to be
self-possessed and cool and decided
she soon came to rely entirely on my
Judgment and energy, and in a year or
two | was housekeeper-in-chie and
my advice was asked and pretty gen.
orally taken on matters both small and
great; indeed, "Megs advice" became
proverbial in the household. Naturally
grew a little dictatorial, for / often
wondered what they could have done
without me. Chris was the only one
l could not manage.
"Bully the others as much as you
like" he would say, "but you shall
never bully me-" and somehow or
other l never felt inclined to try.
cliffs" occurred among us now and
then; but, on the whole, we were a
happy family until the day after the
party, when, as have said, we were
each and all miserable My uncle was
confined to his room with bilious at
tack. My aunt looked very haggard
when she first came down in the morn
ing, and said her head ached badly;
and her appearance did not brighten as
she and l Investigated the state OF
the crockery.
Il shall never give party again,
she said, quietly, but it was the quiet
ness of despair. "Nine glasses broken
and three of the best china plates, and
great stain on the drawing-room car
pet We might have been entertaining
a set of barbarians %
Christopher and Peter, usually the
most affectionate of brothers, were
now not on speaking terms with each
other as my aunt and l discovered al
breakfast-time and, instead of going
TO business together, Peter fingered
until Chris had gone, and then started
about five minutes afterward. This
unfriendliness arose, as l well knew
because of a stylish disagreeable city
belle, whom some friends of ours had
brought with them to the party, anC
who had hirted desperately but will
maddening impartiality, with both my
deluded cousins. Hence their GOODNESS
toward each other this morning. As
for Lottie and Sophy, / wished, before
the day was out, that they were not Of