The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1888-01-05
THE YOUNGEST SISTER,
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

Kate Blessington, "but in our family
things always happen cross grained"
"What's the matter now2" said
Georgia, the eldest sister, who, with
blue apron of checked domestic ging-
ham tied around her waist, and her
luxuriant naxcn hair confined in red
bandanna pocket handkerchief, was
cooking tomatoes for kctchup.
"Why, here havo the Morcields
come to spcnd the day, and mamma has
just taken to her sofa with an attack of
neuralgia, and there's nobody on earth
to go to the train to meet the city board
CT. You couldn't 60, George, sup
posca'--- faint CLEAN of hope.
Georgia glanced up at the clock, aad
shook her head.
"Couldn'tpossibly," said she. "Tbcrc
isn't time to get ready. Why don't you
send Pctcr3'
'Peter, indccdl lIc's cleaning the
cistcrn out. Such figure as he is"
"Thcn Pm surc," observed Georgia,
'1don't sec what you arc going to do"
Couldn't I go, Kate3' pleaded a
small, sweet voice.
And the second Miss Blessington be-
came conscious of some ono pulling
gently at her sleeve. Sho turned
sharply around. A tall, rosy girl stood
there-a girl just arrived at the age
whcro "brook and river meet" half
child, halfwoman, but infinitely pretty
in both her personalities. Sunburncd,
dark-eyed, clad in an outgrown calico
frock, and with her hair braided into
one long, gola-gl leaning queue behind,
she stood there, with an imploring
"a good idea!' said Georgia, ia "r
of the bubhling scarlet mass in the
tie, and adding trifc more red pc
"Let Chri3sy go"
'But Chrissy can't drive"
ooh, yes, can" urged Christine, the
youngest and least presentable of all the
Blessingtons. B II drove old jerks up
from the farm yesterday with load of
pumpkins. I've often driven him when
you didn't know it, George"
ooh, you horrid tom-boy" said
Georgia, half-laughing.
But Kate gave little Chrissy a sound
box on the car. Her black eyes flashed
wrathfully,
"Christinc," said she, "Tm ashamed
of you! You're disgrace to the family.
Don't howl now" Gas Chrissy rubbing
her empurpled car, broke into an indig-
nant waiD. "Thc Morefelds will hear
you. Go quick--get on your hat; and
mind you don't show yourself at the tea
table. Your new frock isn't finished,
and your old one isn't half decent; and
besides, you'll be needed in the kitchen
to wash dishes"
The tears dried on Chrissy's cyelashes
at the prospect of driving old jerks to
the depot all by herself.
She made haste to pull a white
worsted polo cap over her rebellious
hair, and to scramble into the rather
dilapidatod buggy that was waiting at
the door.
"Get up, Jenks!' she cried, brandish-
ing the whip with glecful countenance.
'pcte, Pm going to drive to the
depot"
GAN right, MISS" said Peter, who,
fresh from the depths of the nowly-
emptied cistern, was holding old jerks,
as if there was any danger Of that
ancient steed running away. "Drivc
keerful past Bowcry Lane he arays
wants to turn in thcre--and mind you
keep a tight grip O the rcins, if yo.
meet load o barrels or one O then
janglin' tin-pcddlcr's wagons"
Away clattered the venerable buggy,
old jerks falling into stiff trot like
an automaton horse, :, and Chrissy
fairly radiant with delight.
"But Kate oughtn't to have boxet
my cars" she pondered, as the first ella
ton subsidcd. ''Thcre was nothing
wrong in driving the load of pumpk in!
home came by the back road, and
nobody saw me- 1 don't love Kate
nor Georgia neither. They're Away
laughing at me and making fun of me
just because grow SO fast. They won't
let me come into the room when they'v
got company, because Pm only a child
and they scold me for running race
with the dog, because Pm woman.
wondcrif they call that consistency
Never mind, I'll pay 'en of yet, see if
don't"
BY dint of extraordinary efforts on tn
part of Old jerks, and liberal applica
tion of the whip on that of bis mistress
they contrived to reach one side Of tn
depot building just as the train stcame'
away from the other.
Christine looked up and down tn
platform. Most of the passengers ha'
already started forth in different direc
tions, but one man stood there, glanc
ing up and down the road, with wallis
in his hand, folded newspaper protrud
ing from his coat-pocket.
Chrissy hesitated what to do; the
! she rose to the emergency.