Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-01-15
THE CABINETS SECRET.

had been mcnding linen all the morn
ing for those four great, romping,
precious BOYS, until my head ached VIC.
lently, and my heart beat very impatient
". | had hoped to secure time for at
least fifteen minutes practice on Beet
hoven's lovely Moonlight Sonata" that
morning, and now the hands of the little
ormolu clock pointed to two O'Clock, the
children were just home from school, and
the last button sewn on. No music Tor
me that dayl My assistance would be
urgently needed in the afternoon with
lessons, and other mendiug, and | must
forget my desires for reading and prac-
tising. Oh, dear!
Don't think, gentle reader, that was
an impatient, querulous mother repning
at those legitimate duties which every
maternal heart loves to perform. | was
only an aunt, Just nineteen, with the
cares and responsibilities of woman of
thirty. When sister Bessie died her hus-
band would allow none but myself to
act as her substitute. | understood the
children, and dear Besse's disciplinary
methods he said, better than any of his
family. So, young as | was, l 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 submissiyely the troubles which her
own offspring bring But when these
same heavy burdens fall upon the shout
ders of a young girl, whose education is
Still unfinished, and whose mind and
heart need much moulding, it is more
than she can carry uncomplainiugly
Father and mother died when | was
quite young, leaving me to Bessies faith
full keeping. So when God took her,
was left alone, indeed, in this strange
world. And at the time of Bessies
death, lost one whom had thought to
call my best earthly friend always.
Philip Darlington and | had grown up
together with that peculiar love which,
commencing at infancy, might say,
grows and strengthens with the years,
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
ono exception, that while his father, n
rich banker, left his family abundantly
provided for, mine, poor clergyman,
left scarcely enough to clothe me.
Mr.. Darlington died when Philip was
only year old, leaving six children and
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
wretchcdly, and spelling them all but
Philip, who was too noble to be inhu-
enced by her proud, mercenary ideas. As
father had labored very assiduously in
seasons of aiiiiction in the Darlington
family, doing all in his power to relieve
and help them when they were too sor-
rowful to think for themselves, Mrs.
Esther, the aristocratic spinster, deemed it
her Christian duty to call upon us once
year. She would sail in upon us with
majestic dignity, talk to us as though we
were servants, and advise US with a
startling authority. Her visit lasted,
happily for us, about ten minutes. When,
realizing the exceeding greatness of her
modest charity, she would rise ostenta,
tiously, hand Il five-pound note to me. as
"iittle pin money poor dear; don't
speak of it to any one" and leave. Even
after erich George Thurstonn married
Bessie she continued the annual call and
donation, much to my humiliation and
disgust. She would allow none of the
girls to visit us. "The children of poor
clergymen, my dears, are unsuitable
companions for David Carnngton's
daughters" she used to say; but, after
Bessie became Mrs ThurstoD, she so far
forgot our degradation as to permit
their calling on US occasionally. With
her nephew Philip she could do nothing.
So, finally dismissing him from her
thoughts, as democratic and migrate
full, she never mentioned our name.
except in scorn.
What deplorable crime this poverty
IS! Philip loved Bessie dearly, and
often, laughingly, told George that it
was nothing but his (Georgesl age
which secured her for him, for Bessie
was ten years older than Philip and she
had been an invalid for two OF three
years, but was seriously i'll only three
weeks. Every day Philips card was sent
up with choice fruits, exquisite flowers
and refreshing delicacics of all descrip-
tions. Dear sister! knew from the first
time she was getting ready for the "Ncv
Jerusalem, and yet no one else could
see the 'ange.s' wings" George, so
completely blinded by the physician
words OF comfort, confidently expected
That she would be well in q week or two
But Bessie and knew. And she was
only waiting till the angels opened wide
the mystic gate.
But how mysteriously Philip and
were separated. So it is, our lows AMI
sorrows come to MS in Lightning flashes
stunning Us so suddenly that Il seems
when we arouse ourselves, like a wonder.
full dream. She, sister, died on the 9Th
OF November, Philips twenty first birth
day an occasion anticipated with much
expectation by him, as giving him posses
sion Oh DIS handsome property and his
liberty. Only mouth ago Bessie and |
had hoped to assist at this celebration
And now she was lying cold and still
At such times no human sympathy mt
even the dearest, can give us consola-
tion. was sitting, with the big, old.
fashioned Bible in my lap, reading tn,
fifteenth chapter of Corinthians, when
heard through the open door of my room
the voice of Philip in the hall below.
He was asking Jane "if Miss Ruth would
see him." had given orders not to be
disturbed, for | felt that could not hea,
the sight OF strange face; and hardly
expected him to call, on that day n,
least. But at the sound of his voice
almost resolved to change my resolution
and yet, somGhow, l could not let evcl