Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-03
THE UNITED FAMILY.
BY MARGARET f. SANGSTER.

lCOpyT1ght, l9U0, by Joseph Is bONlesl
'The Birches are such a united family!
They seem to have a good time among
themselves, and to depend very little on
the outside world" The remark was de-
scrlptive of a family which had so large
connection that 1t might also be called
clan. You know how it is in some locali-
ties Many years ago the traditional three
brothers came sailing over the great ocean
and established themselves on Long Island
or in Otsego county or drfted out in prairie
schooners to the west or encamped in the
south. Hence there is in one place great
settlement of Browns, in another of Whites,
in another of Grays. Up hill and down in
adjacent parishes the cousinhood resides,
and the outbranching of the family to
moter regions starts from that point, so
that when there are family rallyings old
and young, distant and near, converge to
the old ground and the old homestead. The
tie of blood is always strong. but there are
tribes of David and of Jonathan, where the
tribal instinct Is relatively more vigorous
than in tribes. let us say, of Benjamin and
of Theodore, who have the nomadic drop
more deeply COloring their lives.
When we come TO a united household, we
mean by IL one where affection is deep and
true, where ii is a joy TO make concessions
end sacrifices. and where one stands stead
lastly beside the other through thick ana
thin. There are such homes. In them broth
ers and sisters love one another with devo-
ton that lasts to the latest hour of life
If one in the family is weak or erring, the
others close around him like wall and de-
fend him from adverse criticism, shield him
if they can from the consequences of his
misdemcanors and count no self-denial too
great If they can uplift him and help him
over his hard place.
4&
1t is not unusual in united family for
the burden 10 press too heavily on some
one whose ideal of the home is so lofty
that he cannot bear TO have any one be-
longing TO 1t suffer moments ,uneasiness
one brother perhaps forges ahead, gets on
in the world and is what is called success
full He makes his mark. He becomes con-
spicuous in finance, in politics, in some
walk of life which he is fitted for by reason
OF native talent or strenuous endeavor The
rest Of the family lean this one. The
world Is apt to be pretty evenly divided into
those who lift and those who lean. The
eminently successful member of the family
is expected TO carry the rest, and he often
does ii without a single note of complaint.
In the old days, before women were so
generally self-supporting, 1t was not eX-
traOrdinary to see number of brothers and
sisters growing old together all unmarried,
because no one was willing to diminish the
family income by Withdrawing his share
from the common stock. Brothers do not
so often In these days remain single that
they may maintain spinster sisters in COM
fort nor do the sisters wish 1t. They feel
entirely able to take care of them
selves, and It is decidedly their preference
TO be independent There seemed no little
seliiShnesS in the demand that man or wo-
man should live solitary life, for the sake
OF others, and yet there was in 1t often a
nobility greater than is illustrated in the
modern fashion of every one for himself.
Many a daughter has put aside her own
hope OF individual ease and of happy mar
rage for the sake of a raother whom she
could not leave and with whom she would
not burden a husband. The mother has
lived on contentedly, accepting costly sac
rihce which She has undervalued beca use
It's magnitude never entered into the scope
OF her imagination.
In one of the most united families within
the circle of my acquaintance there oc-
CURED something very like a tragedy when
girl year after year refused TO marry her
betrothed because she would not desert her
widowed mother and her younger sisters.
Ten years slipped away as swiftly and ST.
lently snowfiakes that fall In the night.
The lover was patient but gradually the
romance vanished and he ceased TO regard
with worship & being whom he saw very
often in an unbecom!ng print gown, with
Bingham apron, drudging. drudging,
growing faded and wan, with creases upon
the forehead, and Fuckers about the eyes
BY and by Il pretty younger sister came
home from school IN the lisso.ne grace and
bewitchiug charm of Sweet aud Twenty
her eyes were free from care, her cheek
had the bloom of the peach. her hair was
thick and brown. she was what Bertha had
been ten years ago. John promptly for