Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-10-05
HIS SISTERS SISTER.

'tBad newsl Who from, I'd like to
know You're alwuz expectin somethin
gloomy"
"Waal, there's good deal that's gloomy
In this world. You know that's well as
do"
Eyes, Hannah, n there's a good deal
that amt too.' He seldom spoke with 30
much vigor and decision when differing
with his sister.
You'd better open it n read it to me.
don't feel as ef could, somehow"
Daniel Marstin sat down in the old
rocker by the west window. 1t was early
August and almost sunset. Beautiful
shafts Of red light threw themselves over
his thin, small figure and his head, with its
scanty gray hair
He tore open the envelope with his fin
ger but the letter would not come out.
.I'm afraid / shall tear it all to pieces,
Hannah"
sWaal, let mo take it, I'll try n see
what can do. I'm dreadful afraid some
body's dead
s'I s'pose somebody is somewhere" said
Daniel with quick, short lived twinkle
lightning up his pale blue eyes.
GOOD land, Who do you think wants
to como n see us, Dannelt"
''COuSln AHRleDcIte! bdu oouiCA Ill q
low, timid interrogative.
NOW, how come you to be thinkin o
her?' asked his sister, with considerable
asperity of manner. You amt been
readin right through the letter, like some
O. them folks up in the city tho papers tell
about, have your
Il came across little picter yesterday
in the green chist up in the garnet that
she sent me good many years ago, jest
aforc she got married. 1 guess she was
kind o. in my mind. She used to be the
chippercst girl It ever SEQ in my life, n
she had such pretty curly hair"
"'Twas rcd," said Hannah.
"Waal, twan't real red, kind O. pink"
"Were too old to be clipper now, any
Of us. / don't see how can have her, no
way Dannel. We amt seen her this 10
year"
Wouldn't she kind O. livcn us up9"
asked Daniel timidly. 'We don't see
many folks, you know"
WAL, eff you're tired O. havin your
pore old sister round, spose can write
N have stranger come N take my place.
Hannah's voice trembled, and her eye
lids grew red, one tear gathering force
enough to trickle slowly down her cheek
like a slender rill which has no great
source behind it.
II guess l wouldn't think anything
about it thcn-perhaps she might make
you some work. I didn't know but she
could help along with the quiltin. She
used to be a master hand at SEWN. could
tackle up N go to the deepo for her as well
as not now I'm through with the haydn. p"
"You'll have to write the letter, Damned.
don't seem to feel like it; my stomach's
SO weak Is'pose shall be sorry had her
como; / don't want her meddlin with my
ouokiu.'
That day week tho three cousins were
seated n the best room, which led out OF
tie litchon. 1t was a mere box Of a room
and mad u musty odor, 1t was SO seldom
opened. Two large old naples shaded the
windows and grew so near that they
seemed like grim sentinels forbidding the
entrance of heavens light and breath.
II don't sees you look much older n
you did 10 or 10 years ago, Angienette, "
said Daniel as he crossed one leg over the
other, and tried to make himself station
airy in the slippery horsehair chair, with its
hard, unyielding seat.
"Waal, / don't knows feel old. I've
got good health N seven nice childrenl
There amt nothin they don't try to do for
IS next month. That's older n you, Han
nah, by three years
''Ihain't never he'd sech health as you We
he'd" said Hannah as she left the low
chair and took scat in one the back Of
which was tall and straight and stiff
Her figure was 1.-THE and firm, and her
complexion, though colorless, had the hue
of health.
'Why, you never was sick but once,
Hannah said her brother, N that was
morc'n 90 year ago"
''Well, 1 amt been real sick, but don't
seem to feel so strong as l was. l git
dreadful tired washin N ironin the same
day"
~ sh'd think you would" said her
cousin. what makes you do it?"
GOOD landl alwus did. You don't
s'pose I'm goin to have 1t round two days,
do you, for Jest Dannel N me n Hiram.
want to set down Tuesdays. I'm piecin
calico to make some quilts I'd ought to
mako three this fall eff cam
"I'll take holt N help eff you want me
TO. Hannah-ef l shan't be in tho way. I
like to sew. u
''Air your eyes goodS"
Eyes good? Why, yes, Of course, they
be- What's to henderf l don't never use
glasses nuthcr. Twas always sort O. near
sighted you know. Some say them kind
Of eyes is stronger'n others; l don't know.
Why, you amt feelin like an old woman
yet, are your
'.Trouble makes folks feel old, Angie
nette We lost cow in the spring, n our
chickens amt done well this summer.
Five died or more. We'd ought to hev
so Of thew d done WE'LL
''We've got some beauties left" said
Daniel, '''n the man that keeps the hotel
up by the lake says he'll take all we can
spare n Civ cent pound more'n anybody
else will The moneys all Hannah's,
though. don't want none Of 1t. She
works hard enough runnin after 'em."
He did not say that good share Of the
running after was done by himself save on
the few occasions when he CHANGED to be
from home.
The second week in September had
come, and Cousin Angienette's visit was
almost over. She was to leave the next
day but one.
II wish you'd ride up to the lake with
me tomorrow mornin, -" said Daniel. I'm
goin 10 see about q shoat Sim Perkins