Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-06-28
ONLY MAGGIE.
But She Was the Gem of the
Household.

a sort of by-word in the Clements fam
lily, where the young lady rejoicing in
the baptismal appellation of Margaret
was considered somewhat inferior in
all respects to the three elder sisters.
Miss Nora Clements was artistic.
Miss Georgina Clements was musical,
and her hours were spent executing in
tricacies upon the piano. Miss Cordeia
Clements was beauty.
Maggie, the youngest, was simply a
cheerful, good-tempered, industrious
girl, who aimed at no special display Of
either beauty or talent, but was quite
content to be handnaiden for the
others.
Howard, the only brother, and the
eldest of the family, was a physician
and the head of the household, the
4 father and mother being dead There
was wealth enough to make pleasant
home when the separate incomes were
combined, and Howard would have
/ been most unwilling to see his sisters
leave him for any but home and hus-
baud of their own.
I'VE can all live comfortably to-
gether," he would say, but you have
not enough to live upon without work
ii you leave the house we own among
us"
AT first the two older girls were quite
anxious to figure as a great artist and
musician, but finally they allowed their
brother 10 have his own way
The young doctor was very proud of
his sisters and their various attractions,
and when his warm friend and fellow
student, Paul Goddard, appeared to
make him short visit, he lead him from
the Office into the house adjoining it,
delighted at the prospect of showing
off the girls to a city gentleman.
A tour of inspection in the drawing
room preceded the actual introduction.
Thus:
This scene upon the Catsliill noun
tains was painted by my eldest sister
Paul. We spent the summer there for
the express purpose of allowing Nora
TO make sketches"
Very fne," murmured Paul, trying
his best to admire the mountains.
And the music is Georgina's.
Georgina is Sig. Skwallinnfs best
pupil"
"A great talent" Paul mur.nurcd
again.
And this" continued Howard. OPEN
ing the photograph album, is Cor
della"
He added no more, aud truly the
face was sufficiently beautiful to need
no comment Paul spoke cordially:
"What beautiful facet Who is this
opposite your sister, Howard2"
THAT is Maggie She is my young
est sister
And does she paint or sing?"
''Ot, no. Maggie has no talent and
no beauty. She is good little thing.
But come to your room Dinner will
be ready at six.
80 Maggie is housekeeper," thought
Paul, as he looked around the tasteful
apartment assigned t. him. II think
Miss Maggie certainly has something
Of her sisters artistic eye. How ex-
quisitely those flowers are arranged
and how cool and fresh it IS here, after
a hot, dusty ride. /"
Seeking the drawing-room again, Paul
found the artistic sister contemplating
the scene from the back windows with
rapt enthusiasm.
to meet him.
Paul made the necessary speech of
qualification, wondering if it was the
brown Of the Catslill mountains that
was daubed so extensively upon the
skirt of Miss Nora's blue dress, and if il
was artistic meditation that had made
her pin her collar crooked. and forget
her cuffs altogether. She launched at
once into a bewildering sea of techni-
calities, and called upon Paul to admire
effects of cloud and shadow. light an
foliage, from the back window, till he
felt like a reprieved prisoner upon the
entrance of another sister, who was in
troduced as my sister Cordelia.
The beauty was superb. Every curl
of her glossy brown hair was arranged
for effect Her creamy complexion was
heightened by a dress of soft white
muslin, with tiny green leaves scattered
over it. She bowed with languid
grace, but sat as if actually afraid to
move, for fear of disarranging any fold
of her faultless costume. Georgina APP
peared as the bell rang and Georgina |
spoke but little. 1t made her hoarse to /
be always talking.
Paul was inwardly resolving to cut |
his visit very short, when Howard |
opened the door of the dining-room
and introduced:
"My sister, Maggie"
She was not pretty; she was not arts
tic nor musical; but she was charming. |
to Pauls eyes, in FIVE minutes. Her
dress fitted her graceful little figure /
perfectly; her collar and cuffs were
white and smooth; her hair was dressed /
carefully and becomingly; she was ex-
quisitely neat.
Not fearing for her voice. she chatted
gayly and pleasantly; not being anxious
about her dress. she moved gracefully
and freely; and having no specially of /
talent, she could talk sensibly about !;