Year: 1876

member we made ourselves wrappers
out of some soft Canton silk, covered
with great flowers that We found. 1t
had once been used for curtains when
the house was in its pride. When hard
pushed for a costume, one of us would
make the most of little cold, and ex-
tinguishing the glory of the wrapper
by shawl, would sit near the Iire.
Wye bringing tea, and Mr.. Van Aster
suggesting hot homemade or violet tea,
such as his mother made.


Grandfather was always kind to US
that is, he never scolded us; but he
never petted us. He never thought of
our wanting money or clothes, l sup
pose, any more than we thought of ask
ing. Betty was pretty-a pale, wild
rose beauty-with brown hair and soft
shining brown eyes; but what was the
good of her being fair with no one to
see?


Grandfather had his bedroom and
library down stairs, on the south side
of the hall. Pleasant, sunny rooms
they were, opening into others never
used, and filled with the gigantic fur
niture our ancestors preferred. In the
evening he used to open his library
door, and we could see him reading
under the light of his tallow lamp.
When bed time came We said good
night to him at his door, and he would
pleasantly respond. But one evening
he did not answer His book was open
before him, his head upon his breast
he was dead.


The neighbOrs came. Among others
Mr.. Thompson, with whom grand
father had been accustomed to hold
long debates over the garden wall. He
was cute business man, kind but with
no time to waste. He showed us how
we stood in the world. There was no
will. We were the heirs. But except
a few hundred dollars in the secretary,
and the certificates of good-for-nothing
insurance stock, there was no property
no trace OF INCOME.


"Most Singular" said Mr.. Thomp-
son. "How has the old gentleman
been liviDg?"


.'We do not know. We did not even
owe the servants but that one weeks
wages"


There were but fifty dollars left
when the funeral expenses were paid.
We had the place TO be valuable in the
remote future; but how were We to eat
and drink meanwhile?


Mr.. Thompson said he would advise
us at any time, and went home.


We girls cried. We said he should
talk with Van, Aster, and get a situa-
tion at once He was within a month
of graduating, but if he could have the
place in the bank at three hundred
year he should go now.


This he did. Van Aster's uncle was
the bank president, and, perhaps, was
influenced in our favor. For week
we felt rich. Then we soon found that
wood, coal, flour, taxes and things
counted up so fast that We were poor
even in the matter of clothes. Wye
must look nice to work in the bank.


We grew thriftier every week, and
by-and-by Wye said he thought we
would be able to bring it down to a
straw day.


Poor, boy, he did have such an appe-
tite. All the time had it in my heart
to hope we should come upon some
hidden treasure, and l secured every
corner of the house. L found old wine,
a chest full OF rich brocade and lace,
boxes of yellow letters, but of money,
not dime.


..Do you suppose" said Beck, "that
he turned his whole fortune into gold,
and spent it during these years of war:
| have heard of such things"


''If he did not, where is it?" said 1.


When spring opened we established
Wyman in grandfather's rooms. They
were pleasant, and convenient for his
friends, and gave him certain dignity
as the head of the house.


We had little of anything else; we
thought much Of our family dignity
We had no servants, but we cleaned
the rooms ourselves, and the whole
work was completely done, all anima-
ted by the forlorn expectation of mine,
of finding some hiding place, or at
least paper, TO throw some glimmcr
of light ON grandfather's past. But
nothing happened. Nothing happened
till months and months after. Wyman
came home from the bank, sick.


Then we felt this was our first real
fright and misfortune. Bunnie ran to
the end of the street for a doctor, and
came holding him fast by the hand.
He had made a friend, and so it turned
out, had we. He was young man, L
found out in the course of few days,
and he seemed wonderfully taken with
us all, and what of our story he learned.


As for Wyman, he was not danger
ously ill at all. Staying in bed was the
best thing he could do. He needed
but little medicine; we must give him
nice things, talk to, and amuse him.


So we did; and getting over our anx-
iety, had quite jolly week, doctor,
Van Aster, and all. The doctor had
never been in so old fashioned house.
He thought it beautiful. and talked so
much about the great chests of drawers
the tables and the chairs, that we
opened our eyes.


"And the bed!' exclaimed Wyman.
''Don't you believe one mahogany tree
was sacrificed TO each post, to say moth
ing of the crowning cannon-balis, big
enough to hold plum pudding each!'


As he spoke an idea flashed through
me. Twas always having inspirations
Beckie said. mounted chair, from
thence to a table at the head of Wymans
bed. They were huge balls, divided in
the centre by projecting band like the
equator of a globe. l began to un-