Ballou's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXVII, No. 1 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

82 Maggie's Hxperience. “Don't mind the boys, my child,” she said, apologetically, drawing near to Maggie, as they crowded from the room. “It isn’t often that they are as rude as you saw them to- night.” Before Maggie could reply, Mrs. Westmore hurriedly added: “T hope you will be very careful when you are with Helen and Harry Henderson. It’ will never do for them to quarrel. break up the match, and he is a rich man, you know. Your sister could not find a more ‘eligible man.” “Is Mr. Henderson going to marry Helen ?” she asked, with a start of surprise. “Wush. They will hear you! Nothing has ever been said directly, I believe, but then it is an understood thing in the family. Helen couldn’t do better.” Maggie turned away with a keen pain at her heart; but she was a brave little woman, and laughed and talked so glibly that no one ever suspected it—not even Harry himself, who seemed to watch her movements with considerable interest. This young girl was not one to sit down quietly and fold her hands, when everything was at “sixes and sevens” about her. There- fore she could not behold the barbarous cus- toms and ways into which the family were falling without an attempt to rectify them. At her uncle’s, she had been used to seeing everybody treated with deference and polite- ness, and all the household arrangements - made with good taste and order, and a differ- ent state of affairs annoyed and troubled her “excessively. She meant to inaugurate a new era. Ac- ‘cordingly, she was up at an early hour the ext morning, and commenced her labors by carefully sweeping and dusting the front porch. As she ceased from her work, her face all aglow with exercise, Harry came out. _ “Good-morning,” she said, looking up at him with a bright, frank smile. “Tt seems that our city lady has taken up a new role,” and he glanced at her duster and broom. 7 “A necessary one. ‘morning’ to you!” “So you did,” with alaugh. “But we are not used to so much ceremony in this house. We take all such things for granted. Say it ‘to Helen, and see whiat reply you will pet.” “YT am going to when I see her. It is so much pleasanter to begin the day with a civ vil word.” It might But I said ‘good-— “It may be with you.” “And is it not with you, Harry ?” “We are getting sternly practical in this house,” he said, lightly, yet with a deep glow in his eyes. “I’m afraid it will be hard for you to become used to us again.” Maggie was fearful that he was about to allude to the past. She could not endure to have him do that. “ Have I not made an improvement here— in the looks of the stoop ?” she asked, quickly. “Tt don’t look quite so outlandish, that is a fact,” he assented. “Thanks; that is more of a concession than I had hoped to get from you.” He laughed, and they went slowly into fee parlor together. The very sight of that room was an agony to the young girl. “ Here is an abundant field for labor,’ she said, seriously. “Iam really aching to make a habitable room of this. First of all, Napo- leon the mighty must come down from his high perch.” “That picture belongs to Helen,” returned Harry, with a queer look. “It has hung there ever since she was a baby, you know. It is as sacred in her eyes, as a piece of the cross, or St. Peter’s sandals !” Maggie had forgotten that. It was hardly likely that the prejudiced Helen could be made to look upon the matter as she did. Napoleon the mighty seemed destined to keep his position. “At any rate I will have a different ar- rangement of the mantel ornaments,” she said, with a sigh. The breakfast bell rung, and they hurried in. Helen only laughed at Maggie’s cordial “good-morning,” at which Harry gave the girl another of his queer glances. “He has become used to this want of courtesy,” she said to herself; “but at least L believe he don’t like it any better than I de.” The meal passed very much as the supper of the night before had done, only Mr. Hen- derson was a trifle more civil and attentive, for his part. After breakfast was over, Maggie went to her work again. The parlor blinds were dusted and opened, letting a whole flood of sunshine into the room. The faded grasses gave place to some fresh flowers, and the earthen bird and the gaudy parrot were con- signed to the oblivion of the closet, not soon to be resurrected. The room was carefully swept, and the sofa and chairs arranged more gracefully and easily. Ber_ewn, norifolio..of