Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

.^pril 5,1893.A FAMILT PAPER.I LOVE IT, I LOVE IT.AND WHO WILL OAREITO CHIDE WIE FORLOVINGTHE OLD ARM CHAIR,(Original.)BARBARA.By Grace E. Crossman.Let me introduce her to you ! She sat onthe top of an over-full trunk coaxing it downwith little springs and pounces. A fresh,bright face, heavy braids of shining hair, andeyes that had a way of winning hearts for theirowner almost at a glance; she had a carefulregard for appearances, and was as trim as anaval cadet, all dark blue, from cap to shoe,tailor-made, and neatly gloved.A joyous creature who had seen seventeenJunes oome and go, and was just starting tojoin a party of wealthy cousins who had takena fine summer home for the. season near afashionable resort."It's a yery delightful arrangement, and Itrust it will bring nothing but happiness toyou, little sister. You will learn much of adifferent life from ours, much which willbroaden your mind and keep you from beingnarrow and one-sided; much too, which willdelight and charm; but you will need to bevery firm,very watchful, lest you drift withthe current; for the current of this new lifewill be toward self-indulgence in every form.Promise me, Barbara, you will never forgetyou are a ' King's Daughter,' and all that youdo shall be done in His name."" I promise you, Garnat," she said gravely,rising to throw her arms lovingly around atall, slender girl who was carefully packing arusset leather bag. " I wish you were goingtoo. I would be sure of doing right if youwere with me. No girl ever had a sweeter,dearer sister; you will write twice every week,your long beautiful letters, and tell me what todo? for I shall write you everything as itoccurs. I dread to meet them, they are all sohighly cultured, and have lived in such adifferent world from ours. They wiil find medull and uninteresting. I do so hope they willlove me a little; it's so nice to have people carefor you. They are trying to give me so muchpleasure,I mean to enjoy it; andj hope I maybe a real help to some soul this vacation."It wae in this wise that Barbara talked asshe started on her visit.IL" Cousin Barbara will reach us to-day. Iwonder what she will be like, and if we shallenjoy her or find her tiresome. I am halfsorry mamma included her in the party, butshe thought she ought. She has been sodifferently brought up, and is such a strangerto us all. I remember seeing Garnet when wewere both ohildren. You have seen Barbara,Boss, tell me what she is like.""As I reinember her, Cousin Jessamine,sheis a little brown-haired, brown-faced maiden,with quaint, old-fashioned ways, well suited toher name, and hei eyes are remarkably fine,and made one feel she could see through allshams and pretenses, and would be satisfiedwith nothing but the true metal. However, itsseveral years since I was there, and a fewyears makes quite a difference in even a veryyoung lady, I suppose you will grant. Ofcourse we shall find her charming; all ladycousins are."" Thank you ! I'll make you my nicest bowfor that pretty speech. Will you let meaccompany you to the train? Mamma saidshe had ordered the carriage, and you hadconsented to ride over and meet her."" I am honored by your request, fair cousin,we will start at once; it's so warm we will needto drive slowly."" I do not know what we are to do with herduring the season," continued the lady, as theyrode away behind the spirited chestnut horses." I shall depend largely on you, Eoss, for helpm this, if she proves too wearisome."" I do not fancy her entertainment will be avery great tax on any one. She has been sorigidly and severely trained, I should judge,that the very freedom of our life here will giveher sufficient enjoyment. One must admireUncle Horace, but he has such straight-laced,narrow ideas, and is so vary pious, that thebirds in the sweet-scented orchard dare to singnothing but psalm tunes on a Sunday. Andthose poor girls listen religiously to two of thelongest sermons when the mercury has climbedinto the nineties. They never allow wines ofany sort to be served; and as to brandy saucesand pies, I do not suppose Barbara ever tastedthem in her life."" And mamma has been telling us," saysJessamine's slow, sweet voice, " that UncleHoiace has been so decided in his objections.Aunt Mary has never allowed the girls to bctaught dancing, nor has any other opportunitybeen given them for cultivating ease and graceof manner. After all, we can afford to be verypatient if she does exhibit little oddities andprovincialisms, which will be the naturalresults of heredity and environment. CousinDora has seen her, and she says she isreally very bright, and will readily fall intonew ways without any jar, and very littleadjustment. I trust we shall not find her agrievous burden."" How she has kept bright and interestingin such an atmosphere is beyond my conception,"adds Ross.And thus they talked of Barbara as theydrove toward the incoming train.IILI wish I had space to tell you of the meeting.Of the long bright days which followed,days in which they boated, rode, and playedtennis in the cool mornings, filledthe sunnyafternoons with garden parties and high teas;and danced away the hours of the starlight,moonlight nights to the accompaniment ofthe sweetest music Barbara had ever heard.They were delighted and charmed withBarbara, she was so interesting and original;and her thoughtful kindness and unfailinggood-nature, won their love as well as admiration.True, they smiled sweetly over what theywere pleased to term ' her prudish whims,' andquietly discussed her 'childish notions;' yetthey were forced to respect the young creature'sfirm adherence to her own code ofright.CRYING BABIES. 'Some people do not love them. They sbould usethe Gail Borden Eagle Brand Condensed Milk, aperfect infant food. A million American babies havebeen raised to man and womanhood on the Eaglebraud. Qrocers and Druggists.And, for the most part, Barbara washappy. It was pleasant to be with people wholived such a brilliant, fascinating existence;and she found it each day more and moreenticing; and realized how she was beinginfluenced to believe, with the ancient Epicureanphilosophy, that happiness is thehighest good.Cousin Hoss had not found her a burden;and she found it very flatteringto be chosenas his companion in their pleasures. He hadthat indescribable, but unmistakable air of onewho has mingled much in circles of wealthand culture. He was so popular with all thecousins, so kind to her, that she dreaded tooppose his wishes or differ from his opinions.Yet, more than ouce the odor of wine came toher, as he bent his handsome head to listen toher words or to pay her some graceful compliment,shocking all her sense of right.Ou the particular day of which I am tellingyou, Barbara awoke to the fact that there wasgreat need of decided action on her part, if shewould be true to the commission to be herbrother's keeper. Once aroused, she was verymuch in earnest.A dinner was to be giveu in her honor, anda number of guests were to increase the familyparty. All day long Barbara pondered andwondered how she could persuade Aunt Marieto omit wine from her table. Could she, BarbaraWillard, daughter ot a staunch prohibitionist,and a member of the white ribbon army, sitat the table as the favored guest, and allowwine to be served in her honor? Should sheapprove by her silence? Was it any better tohelp make drunkards with Aunt Marie's silvertankard and sparkling glasses, than in thelittlesaloon at home? What if she offended AuntMarie who was so kind? Would it do anygood ? She could refuse to taste it herself, asshe had done all the time. No one would urgeher now. Shonld she try to do more?I wish I could make you understand thecourage it required, and the great effort it wasfor this little country girl to meet her fashionableAunt on the stairs as she was descendingto welcome her guests. And I wish you couldhave heard the trembling, pleading tones thatbegged so earnestly for no wine at dinner thatday." Its my dinner, you know. Auntie, given toadd to my happiness you said, and I cannotbe happy if wine is served."" Hush child! that's all nonsense. You willoutgrow these antiquated ideas in a year ortwo, and thank me for not allowing you to havemade yourself ridiculous to my guests."Seeing tears in the brown eyes the lady added,not unkindly, " I know you are conscientious,Barbara, regarding it, and I do not insist oreven request you to partake of the lighterwines while you entertain these notions ; butyou are too young, and not in the position todictate what may be properly served to myguests."Poor Barbara! how she had failed ; whatshould she do? Eeturn to her room, put offthe soft, white silk with its delicate laces, andrefuse to come below? Should she shock allby her rudeness and ungracious manner?Having done her best to hinder the evii shouldshe not quietly accept her failure?It was a very quiet, grave-faced Barbara thatEoss took out to the elegant dining-room anhour later and sealed at the long table glitteringwith its gold and silver service, rare china,and shining satin draperies.He missed her bright, breezy speeches, andsoft musical laughter, and her previous appreciationof himself; and more than once,