Year: 1870

stylish girls in the town. There were fou,
of them, all handsome, and queenly, and
cultivated, with little fortune of their own,
which was left them two years before, and
which they were to come in full possession
of when they were twenty one, but not a
moment before.


OF course the young gentlemen of the
village kept their eyes turned towards the
Whipple family If there was ride, or a
walk, or party or soeiable, nothing could
be done unless these four pretty maidens
were concerned in ii, much to the disgust of
the rest of us, who had no special expecta-
tions, whatever might be our individual pre-
tensions to good looks and culture.
There was another member of the Whip
pie family This young lady was neice of
Mr. Whipple, the child of favorite sister,
who had been unfortunate and who died
not long after her marriage. The child was
such pale, puny creature, with such awk-
ward, shy ways, that she grew Cinderella like,
in such domestic obscurity, that none of US
knew much Of her until the event happened
which Fam about to relate.
Cousin Ned was always an eccentric geni-
US. He had been travelling all over Europe,
and vas the author of Letters from Paris, 4"
published in our Paper, that were thought
very brilliant because they described the Eu-
ropean fashions in a vivacious way, and cut
US Americans up for trying to ape Eugene,
when we ought to have enough sense to know
that the styles of one country were lily
adapted to another


Cousin Ned was regarded as a great CATCH
All the Whippe girls were delighted when
they heard of his intended return, and made
me promise to bring him over as soon as he
was at leisure. Indeed, they had been very
attentive to me on his account as | very well
knew, and | was just foolish enough to be
patronized by them, although | knew they
barely recognized me at Saratoga when we
met there one summer.


Among my letters that morning, found
one from Ned He had arrived 10 New
York, and was only waiting, he said ''to
purchase me the handsome silk at Stew





As | knew there was to be birthday
party at the Whipple's, ran over to show
the letter, and beg them to allow me to tel
egraph to Ned to hasten, that he might be
in season for the festivities


We were all sitting in the back parlor,
talking over our new dresses and trimmings,
when Mrs. Whipple came in hastily.


Now, girls. this won't do some of you
must polish the windows in front. Bridget
is all out os sorts this morning. She says
she will wash them, but she will not have
time to rub them, and that unless of
you will help her she II quit, and it will be
just like her to do it. So if you know what
is for your interest, do fly around and get
her good natured again.


where's Said?" asked all the girls in a
breath. Said was the orphan niece, and
was expected to do everything that Bridget
didn't


She's sick with one Of her terrible head
aches, Mrs. Whipple said, with an indig
nant toss of the head.


''Well, she's always sick, seems to me, -
Cecilia cried out harshly.


I've been expecting she would give out,
ever since my birthday party has been an
nounced, said Rose, spitefully.


Il should think you would be ashamed of
YOURSELF" Mrs Whipple returned, as if
there was slight sense of justice left in her.
Said has worked like a dog ever since this
party was talked of Lcok at the piles of cake
she has made, and the creams and whips, to
say nothing of the dresses and furbelows. L
should think you might have some mercy on
the child


well, guess she can manage to polish
those windows" Rose said, laughingly.
"You don think I'm going to stand up
there for everybody to look at who goes by?"


''It you never do anything worse than
polish windows, you never will have occasion
to blush for yourself, the mother said.


''Well, / should blush to be seen doing
Bridget's work, and if she cannot do it, then
Said must. -


Said Said'' Rose screamed at the foot
of the stairs.


"WeIll' answered sweet pleasant
voice from above.


Bridget wants somebody to polish the
windows.


There was little pause, as if gathering
strength to take up the cross-then the sweet
voice answered.


''IIl come right down"


"Well, hurry up, they are all cross-Brid-
get aud mother.


''Yes, dear


Rose came back to where we were sitting
but somehow the beauty of her face had all
disappeared.


Presently Said came in with white hand
kerchief resting on her curls like dainty
morning cap, and with a chamois skin in
her hand


1 do not suppose l had looked at Said for
two whole years as observantly as 1 looked
at her then Was it possible this was the
sallow, peak faced girl that had been called
said ?'' Her form had rounded into the
finest proportions. The blue eyes looked
from under the long silken lashes with
depth of tenderness in them, such as one