The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-26

that lost head-mark ranked; 'but Rachael was
called up"
How was that, Rachael said the father.
sharply. Poor girl! deep in the mysteries OF
''long division" she did not answer.
Rachael ne repeated, what were you
called up for in school todayl"
| She glanced up reproachfully at Tom Il was
| reading in the Pilgrims Progress just little,
| father. It's not a story. it's -"
''Never mird what it is" interrupted the
| father. II send you to school to study your
| school books, and don't want to hear OF your
| touching any Others"
| MAY bring it homer faltered the child.
| Bring il home, indeed! No. ma'am. guess
| you can find enough to do at home. Not word
now" as he saw her about to speak, "or you
stay at home for good"
| The child bent over her slate but her tears
would fall, and at last sob burst forth in spite
| of her.
] ''Cear out to bed this minute, Rachel" said
| her father, II want no snivel1ng here
/ Upstairs in the cold dark room, what bitter
thoughts surged through the childish brain.
! Mr. Stillman loved his wife and children. al
though you may not think so. He wanted them
to be happy, hut in his way. He must choose
their pleasures. If they could not find pleasure
| in the things that pleased him it was not his
| fault. 1t was their perverseness And as no
two souls are alike, the attempt to fit num-
| Der OF them by the same pattern neces-
sarily caused good deal OF pain to the
L
| Stillman's sensitive organization was completely
crushed, her eldest daughters nearly 90. Martha.
| the second daughter, refusing to be shaped, had
escaped by marrying clever young hired man
who pitied and then loved the pretty daughter
| OF his employer. and persuaded her that by
| clipping with him she would be more happily sit
uated at all events than she was at home. The
mesalliance angered Mr.. Stillman greatly, and
since the marriage. which had taken place year
| ago, all intercourse with the diSobedlent daugh-
| ter had been forbidden.
| Margaret the third daughter, as we have seen,
also rebelled at the fitting, and having goodly
| portion of her fathers determination it was evil
| dent he would have some trouble in completing
it. So far Rachel had given him trouble.
| She and Susan were only babies in his opinion,
| and as he ordered them about he no more
thought OF their feelings than he did of those of
| the horses he worked
| With the boys it was different. They would
| be men some day. They must be treated with
more consideration. AT an early age john two
| years older than Elizabeth, was given share in
| the stock and land to cultivate for himself, so
that when at the age of twenty four he married
| the daughter of neighboring farmer he had
| fright good start" in life
But his sister toiled early and late washing,
ironing, milking, churning, baking, nursing the
| younger children in short, sharing as far as she
| could ner mothers labors for her board and
| scanty grudgingly given wardrobe. She was
| twenty-four now, and had never in her life
known what it was to possess s. bill. There
1
| IL the son had right to wages had not the
| daughters l leave the question with you.
| Poor Rachel carried heavy heart to school
next morning The Tinkers wonderful allie
CORY to her vivid imagination was very real
| And now to leave her hero in that awful dun
| geon, never to know how he escaped, was al
| most more than she could bear.
Here, Rachel, said the teacher when the
time for recess came, here is your book" He
held it toward her, but she did not take it.
Father" she said, then sobs choked her utter
| ance. The young man looked at her silently
f, moment then he said, Il am so interested in
Christian, Rachel, that will read aloud if you
| will listen"
| In all her life Rachel never forgot their read
1 ings at recesses and noons which lasted not
only until Christian reached Celestial City, but
| until Christiana and her children joined him.
| And her gratitude to her young teacher would
have surely awakened love if she had been a few
| years older. When in March the term closed.
| not even the prize as best speller-a beautiful
copy of the Pilgrims Progress-consoled her.
AS for the teacher he was only glad the win
furnish means for the pursuit of his profession,
| was over. He liked some of his scholars very
much, Rachel especially, she was so intelligent,
so grateful. and when, with blue eyes swimming
| in tears, she said goodbye. he did for second
| feel sorry to leave her. and told her So
| 'You ought to have seen Rache an Susy cryin'
| when old Grey bid us good bye," said Tom at
home the evening Of that last day of school
Guess not. Tn glad schools out. Hope Til
not have to go next winter" said Tom.
Il guess you won't" answered Margaret.
| You're smart enough now, bub.' She always
But oldSirey. as you call him. will make his
| mark in the world. see if he doesn't"
The entrance of Mr. Stilman closed the con-
versatiOn, and Tom went out banging the door
| after him. No wonder Margaret getting ill
natured. The winter was long, dull season in
| the Stillman home. Even her enjoyment at the
few social gatherings she was allowed to attend
in the neighborhood was married by the knowl
| edge that she could not entertain her young
| friends in turn. Once or twice she had attempt
ed to fix up the spare room and have fire there
| for company but her father mad forbidden it.
I'D like to know" he said. why the settin'
room amt good enough If your company can't
sit with the family they can stay away, miss"
| And they" stayed away, generally, after one
| visit. Mr. Stillman was not a success as q host,
| especially for young people.
| And young minister who came home from
meeting one Sunday with Elizabeth. was so COM
| pletely abashed by the cool reception he received
| that not even the daughters pleading eyes could
| induce him to remain in tho fathers presence
| A few weeks afterwards Elizabeth heard of his
| departure for a distant part of the State, and
| her face become sadder than ever.
| Jim Lansing, the son of widow neighbour,
| who managed good sized farm and two grown
sons with equal skill, was more successful
He generally brought his mother along on his
Visits. and while she, with ready w.t. entertained
| Mr. Stillman, Jim. the girls and the carpetrags
| escaped into the kitchen.
But spring was near. and, thought Margaret,
| "Ee can't keep US out of the spare room in warm
weather. and, besides. we will have all out-of-
| DOORS"
June came with her blue skies, her singing
| birds, her wealth of beauty. But there was no
time at Stillmans to enjoy it. larger crop than
usual had been putin and extra hands employed.
| Not in the house. Why, there were five women,
counting ten-year-old Susy and the poor. delicate
| mother. What extra help could they need, al
though washing and cooking must be done for
| all the meng You see, hands" could be got for
| low wages, if the farmer boarded them and had
their washing done; and what else had the
women to dot True, mother was not as strong
| She was only more shadowy and quiet than ever;
] and Mr. Stillman told his daughters 70 .stirn