Ballou's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXVII, No. 1 — page 77: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Maggie's Experience. Helen, rather curtly. “We cannot afford to purchase every new improvement for our convenience. We are not city people, you wiil remember.” For some reason, the elder sister seemed to like to throw out remarks like this last, when- ever she could make a place for them. One mizht have thought that she was possibly a triile jealous of Maggie’s training in city life, despite the contempt with which she pre- tended to regard it. “Yes, it will do very well,” repeated Harry. “We are certainly just as happy without them.” Maggie opened her eyes in wonder. “ Has he, too, become a part of this hum-drum, slip-shod life?” she asked herself, with sudden pain. She longed to say something more, to speak out and explain her real sentiments, but the time did not seem propitious, and she was wise enough to remain silent. At tea time her father came home. His greeting was a little formal, but she knew by his manner that he was very glad to see her, and that satisfied her. She soon began to feel the most at ease with him of any member of the family. Somehow his blunt, gruff ways did not distress her as much. With a great rattling and clattering of chairs and dishes, they seated themselves at the supper table. The repast was bountiful, but without any attempt at taste or neatness in the arrangement. The table-cloth was soiled; the silver needed polishing; the food was heaped together in the middle of the table. Everybody helped himself without any regard to his neighbor. Maggie could not help but contrast it with the system and order that regulated her uncle’s table. Mrs. Westmore sat at the head, looking anxious and worried; Mr. Westmore was silent and taciturn, and seemed only bent on despatching the meal as soon as_ possible; Helen, who sat opposite Harry, had no appe- tite, and divided her time between nibbling at her bread and butter, and stolen glances, first at Maggie, then at Harry, as if afraid the two would interchange a single glance of which she was not aware. Willie and Ned sat further down, eating as for a wager. No one offered to wait upon Maggie. Harry seemed a little absent-minded, and probably did not know that she was uncared for. “Can I trouble you for the bread, Willie 2” she asked, at last, addressing her elder brother who sat near her. 81 “I suppose you might,” and Willie went on eating. Mr. Westmore frowned, and darted an angry glance at the boy. Maggie saw it, and hiding her own wounded feelings, hastened to ask: “Well, will you please pass it to me, Willie, dear ?” “Why didn’t you ask like that in the first place? Only my name isn’t Willie dear!” “Aren’t you ashamed of such conduct, Willie?” began his mother, reprovingly, look- ing more anxious and troubled than ever, while Maggie thought: “ What a young heathen he is, to be sure! . 1 wonder if something can’t be done to tame him a little, before I go away ?” She had no relish for the meal, after that. Pretty soon she heard the two boys laughing shyly between themselves, and by-and-by Ned said in a loud whisper: “JT wonder if it makes everybody so dainty living among grand people? I am _ going to ask ma, to-night, now see if I don’t!” “Do,” returned Willie. “And you'd better ask if she thinks Sister Maggie pares her beans when she eats them. I shouldn’t be surprised if she did.” Even Harry Henderson heard these re- marks, and they seemed to recail him to him- self. He glanced keenly at the girl’s face, and shrewdly suspected the emotion that she was brave enough to try to conceal. He was too well used to the family ways to have minded them much, under ordinary circumstances, but now he could not help but pity the poor girl, and during the remainder of the meal manifested this compassion by a close atten- tion to her wants—indeed too close to suit the elder sister. “ Have you been reading Lord Chesterfield of late, Harry?” she asked, curtly, as he passed the cake to Maggie, with an unusual show of politeness. It was a rude speech, and he colered under it. “Tt wouldn’t hurt any of us to learn a little courtesy,” he returned, resentfully. “Ah, I see. Maggie is converting you to her way of thinking. Well, I am sure you are a promising pupil.” Maggie felt very much hurt at these re- marks of her sister, though she tried not to let them trouble her. Mrs. Westmore heard them, growing more and more anxious and restless, and very soon gave the signal for withdrawing from the tan iclooolks.com