The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1891-03-21
THE CABINETS SECRET,

had been mending linen all the morn
ing for those four great, romping
precious boys, until my head ached vic
lently, and my heart beat very impatient
ly. | had hoped to secure time for a
least fifteen minutes practice on Beet
hovens lovely moonlight Sonata" tina
morning, and now the hands of the littl
ormolu clock pointed to two O'Clock, tn
children were just home from school, ant
the last button sewn on. No music TO
me that day! My assistance would b,
urgently needed in the afternoon will
lessons, and other mending, and mus
forget my desires for reading and prac
Using. Oh, dear!
Don't think, gentle reader, that | wa.
an impatient, Querulous mother, repinins
ut those legitimate duties which ever,
maternal heart loves to perform. wa.
only an aunt, just nineteen, with the
cares and res possibilities of woman OF
thirty. When sister Bessie died her hus-
band would a, ow none but myself t.
act as her substitute. understood the
children, and dear Bessie's disciplinary
methods, he said, better than any of his
family. So, young as was, | cheerfully
undertook the charge, simply because
loved Bessie so much.
The circumstances of that morning had
been peculiarly trying; and completely
discouraged, felt anything but patient
and gentle. The cares of q wife and
mother come SO gradually that a woman
is fully prepared to meet them, and can
bear submissively the troubles which her
own offspring bring. But when these
same heavy burdens fall upon the shout
ders of young girl, whose education is
still unfinished, and whose mind and
heart need much moulding. it is more
than she can carry uncompiainingly.
Father and mother died when I was
quite young, leaving me to Bessie's faith
full keeping. So when God took her, |
was left alone, indeed, in this strange
world. And at the time of Bessie's
death, / lost one whom had thought to
call my best earthly friend ALWAYS.
Philip Darlington and l had grown up
together with that peculiar love which,
commencing at infancy, 1 might say,
grows and strengthens with the wears.
until it has twined itself so tightly
around the natures of its victims, that to
root it out seems like swapping the ten
drills of the heart. The histories of our
lives were singularly similar, with this
one exception, that while his father.
rich banker, left his family abundantly
provided for, mine, a poor clergyman,
left scarcely enough to clothe me.
Mr.. Darlington died when Philip was
only year old, leaving six children and
4 very delicate wife, who survived him
only year. A maiden sister of Mr..
darlington then undertook The charge of
his family, bringing the children up
wretchediy and spelling them all but
Philip, who was too noble to be influ- I!
,nced by her proud, mercenary ideas. As
tather had labored very assiduously in |
seasons of affection in the Darlington !
amily. doing all in his power to relieve
md help them when they were too sor-
'owful to think for themselves, Mrs. i
Esther, the aristocratic spinster, deemed it .
Ter Christian duty to call upon us once .
year. She would sail in upon us with
majestic dignity, talk to us as though we
we're servants, and advise lis with a
tartling authority. Her visit lasted.
happily for s,about ten minutes. When.
the ex eeding greatness of her
modest charity. she would rise ostenta.
louslv, hand fivc-pound note 10 me, as
little pin money, poor dear; don't
peak OF it to any one. and leave. Even
fter rich George ThurstOn" married
Jessie, she continued the annual call and
Onation, much to my humiliation and
isgust. She would allow none of the
iris to visit us. THE children of poor
lergymen, my dears, are unsuitable
ompanions for David CarrIngton's
aughters, she used to say: but, after
essic became Mrs. Thur>tor. she so far
'rgot our degradation as to permit
lei- calling on us occasionally. With
er nephew Philip she could do nothing.
0, finally dismissing him from her :
loughts, rs democratic and migrate ,
H." ,hc never mentioned our name.
keep: in scorn. ,
What deplorable crime this poverty ,
! Phi p loved Bessie dearly, and
zen, aughingly, told George that it ,
as nothing but his Georges are
hich secured her for him. for Bessie ;
a, ten years older than Philip and she l
I'd been an invalid for two or three
srs but was seriously i'll only three I
ecks. Every day Philips card was sent 7
, with choice iruit-, exquisite flowers. t
a refreshing de!icacics of all descrip- c
)nS. Dear sister. knew from the first ,
ne she was getting ready for lie New $
= uSalem, and yet no one else could t,
e the ''ange.s' wings" George. 80 r
m ?le;ely blinded by the physician {.