The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-25

"You are wicked, unprincipled boy!''
returned, defiantly, springing behind the
| door to avoid his second attack In his
| fury he jerked the door with such force as
to throw himself against table that stood
near His howl of pain brought his mother
| to the scene of conflict.
"That young viper flew at me like
| tiger and hammered my face into jelly"
| screamed he, wiping the blood from the
| slight wound.
| tried to explain, but Aunt Phllis would
| not listen to me. Grasplng me by the arm,
| she shook me roughly, and then, after box
| ing my ears, showed me toward the stair
case, declaring, that as a punishment for
my ungrateful conduct, would not be per-
mitted to speak for month, except when
answering questions.
| l crept upstairs as fast as my suffering
and binding tears would permit, and
| throwing myself upon my bed, gave way to
an outburst of grief. The pain inflicted by
| the cruel blows l had received was nothing
| to the excruciating torture of soul l was
| compelled to endure.
| What sad, sad Christmas it had been to
me. Only fortnight before l had, in
| dumb agony, listened to the clods rafting
| upon the cOflin-lid of my dear father, who
| all my life had shielded me from hardships.
| The dear old parsonage with its vine-clad
| porch, rose up before me, and in its shad-
! ow | beheld my silver-haired father, doz-
ing in his easy chair, the golden rays of q
summer sunset touching his sainted face as
with the pencil of ap angel. Again, his
| gentle voice thrilled my soul as in days
gone by and, in fancy, his loving fingers
were upon my head as we l1nelt side by side
| in prayer.
| No doubt he intended to prepare me for
! the shock that had almost crushed me, but
the summons came suddenly, and while |
| slept the angels carried him into Abrahams
! bosom.
How long 1 would have wept over my
shattered life can not tell, had not Aunt
| Phillis' shrill voice called me back to duty.
''Take 'em W lite dimity curtains down
from the window, Elsie. Like as not the
master will spatter 'em with terbacker
| juice. Them college chaps is a wool
| gatherin' set at best" she said, with en-
! phasis.
l obeyed her promptly, but my heart
ached for Master MELVILLE, who expected
to find the comforts of his refined home in
this diminutive apartment that was devoid
| alike of ornament or convenience. What a
! different welcome was my dear old father
wont to give the stranger within his gate
| That same evening, as | was gathering
linding for the morning fire, John came
| suddenly upon me, and renewed his attack
of the morning.
$50, Miss Stuck-up, you are to be the
| lady, and | the servant he began. "Real-
! ly, feel proud of my smart cousin. How
fortunate to have your highness counted as
one of the family"
''Shamc on you, boy, to thus torment a
| girl smaller than yourself
1t was Master Newville's voice that
startled the young coward, causing him to
sneak around the kitchen out of sight
| After speaking a few kind words to me
my champion went into the house and up
the narrow stairs to his cherries room.
Johns taunt concerning my kinship
nerved me to action, and from that moment
| set my face fixedly towards gaining a
point from which he would feel honored in
claiming me as one of the family. This