Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-10-12
HIS SISTERS SISTER.

L main . nGu lGJGSF Cdll Jcl Ulle Jllllo
when. I'm Almost afraid to open it, Dan
mel. Mebbo It's got bad news"
"Bad 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 we'll as
do"
Eyes, Hannah, n there's a good deal
that amt too" He seldom spoke with SO
much vigor and decision when differing
with his sister.
you'd better open 1t n read it to me.
l don't feel as eff 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 como out.
Pm afraid shall tear it all to pieces,
Hannah"
"Waal, let mo take it. I'll try n see
what can do. I'm dreadful afraid some
body's dead"
IT s'poso somebody Is somewhere" said
Daniel, with quick, short lived twinkle
lightning up his pale blue eyes
Good landl Who do you think wants
to como n see us, Dannel"
cousin Angienette" said Daniel in
low, timid interrogative.
NOW, how come you to DO thinkln O.
herr" asked his sister, with considerable
asperity of manner. "You amt been
readin right through tho letter, like some
O. them folks up in the city the papers tell
about, have your
II came across a little picter yesterday
in tho green chist up in the garrett that
she sent me good many years ago, jest
afore she got married. I guess she was
kind O. in my mind. She used to be the
chipperest girl It ever see in my life, N
she had such pretty curly hair"
"'Twas red, said Hannah.
"Waal, 'twan't real red, kind o. pink"
"We're 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. liven us upH"
asked Daniel timidly. 1--WE don't see
many folks, you know"
WAL, eff you're tired O. havin your
pore old sister round, s'pose 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 O slender rill which has no great
source behind it.
II guess 1 wouldn't think anything
about it thcn-perhaps she might make
I,,+ Il,
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"
"You'll have to write the letter, Dannel.
1 don't seem to feel like it; my stomach's
so weak. dispose 1 shall be sorry had her
come; don't want her meddlin with my
cookin."
That day week the three cousins were
seated in the best room, which led out Of
the kitchen. 1t was mere box of "a room
and had a musty odor, it 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 Is 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 it's
hard, unyielding seat.
"Waal, 1 don't knows feel old. I've
got good health N seven nice children!
There amt nothin they don't try to do for
me sence their poor father died. But Pm
55 next month. That's older'n you, Han
nah, by three years. 3"
"Ihain't never he'd sech health as you've
he'd, said Hannah as she left tho low
chair and took a seat 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, an that was
more'n 20 year ago."
"Well, amt been real sick, but don't
seem to feel so strong as was. git
dreadful tired washin n ironin the same
day."
1T 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 it round two days,
do you, for jest Dannel N me n Hiram. l
want to set down Tuesdays. I'm pieoin
calico to make some quilts. I'd ought to
make three this fall eff can"
"I'll take holt n help Of you want me
to, Hannah-ef shan't be in the way. /
like to sew"
Air your eyes goodP"
Eyes goodH Why, yes, Of course, they
be- WHAT'S to henderH I don't never uso
glasses nuther. Twas always sort o. near
sighted, you know. Some say them kind
of eyes is stronger'n Others 1 don't know.
Why, you amt feelin like an old woman
yet, are your"
"Trouble makes folks feel old, Angle
nette. We lost a COW In the spring, N our
chickens amt done well this summer.
Five died or more. We'd ought to hey
90 eff they'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. l don't want none Of it. 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
Children Cry for