Part 1 (2/2)

Guy was not a Christian, he had not even gone much to church since he began to study law, but he was a good, kind brother, and the sisters were sure he would come out right some time. If they had given the reason of their a.s.surance, Agnes would have said, she prayed for it and believed that G.o.d would answer prayer, while Ruth's reply would have been, ”He is our Guy, and of course he will die a Christian.” The girls did not talk so much to their brother as to each other; he could not understand their ”spiritual talks,” and his life and theirs were after all so different. But when he spent an evening at home as he occasionally did, their joy was extreme. Agnes then was sure the Lord meant to answer her prayer very soon, and asked to be directed so that she might draw her brother to Christ by her consistent life. Ruth exerted herself to the utmost to entertain him. Watching him very closely to see the effect of her efforts, and being rewarded by some such remark as: ”Ruth, you are becoming quite brilliant; it will not do to have you cooped up here; you must see more of the world.”

That satisfied her; she knew she was doing him good, and she would not stop at anything to accomplish her purpose. For while she was not so keenly alive to spiritual things as Agnes, she saw as Agnes never appeared to see, the danger there was of his being led astray, knowing how few real Christians were to be found in the legal professions.

The girls had had many struggles during the last few years, even since Guy commenced the study of law. And he had not been without his difficulties. It had been a hard fight between his love of profession and love for his sisters. So that many a time he resolved to throw aside his books and earn a livelihood in some other way, any way rather than have them helping him. But whenever he mentioned it, they seemed so distressed that he yielded the point, resolved to study with more earnestness so that one day they might be proud of him. He did not know already how proud they were, or what pleasure it was to make sacrifices for him; for they never hinted at the self-denial they were called upon continually to practice.

It had occurred to Guy's mind frequently that he ought to spend more time with his sisters, that being alone, their evenings must be dull; but home always suggested that which he wanted to drive from his thoughts as much as possible; hard toiling and sacrifice on the part of his sisters. If he kept this before him constantly, he reasoned, it would so dishearten and depress him that his chance of success would be naturally lessened. Indeed his spirits must be kept up or he give up altogether. When he began to make money, things should be very different; he would devote himself entirely to them. But with diplomas, fortunes do not come, and so it was rarely that the girls had their brother home with them. When they did, we have seen how it cheered and re-a.s.sured them.

On the death of their father it was ascertained that very little support was left for his family, and Guy entered a store at a very small salary, while Ruth was compelled to remain at home on account of her mother's delicate health. She managed to obtain a few scholars, however, and every month had a little to add to the general fund. Agnes, then too young to support herself or others, continued to go to school, and in time received a teacher's certificate. But as she was not yet old enough to obtain a situation in the public schools, she helped Ruth with hers which had increased in size, making quite a good appearance in the second story back room.

They were at that time living comfortably, when Guy, who had never liked the store, expressed his ardent desire to study law. He was rather surprised to find the readiness with which his mother consented, and the eagerness of his sisters. Speaking truthfully, they thought him far above his present business and much preferred that he should have a profession. So it was not long until he was in a lawyer's office. Then their mother died. It seemed a very cruel thing to Guy that she should be taken away just now; if she could only have lived a few years longer to see her son a great man; he had determined to repay her for all her devotion.

Ruth soon had to do without her a.s.sistant when Agnes, with a bright, cheerful heart, went out into the world ”to help Guy and Ruth.” And now the sisters are teaching, while ”Guy Gorton, Attorney at Law,” mounts his three flights of stairs daily, with a great deal of hope, and as large a share of importance.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Decoration]

CHAPTER II.

DIFFERENTLY CONSt.i.tUTED.

NEITHER of the girls could tell which awoke first on New Year's morning, for as Agnes said at the breakfast table, when they looked at each other they were both awake.

Guy declared it was no wonder she graduated with such high honor when she was so extremely wise; and Ruth gave it as her opinion that she always had been a most precocious child, relating instances, some of them so amusing that with the recollection came a general outburst of merriment. ”Do you remember the time the Millerites were making such an ado about the world coming to an end, Guy, how she went to mother and asked if it twisted itself round and round until it came to the end?”

”Don't I though, and the day she asked mother if _vertigo_ meant a monkey. When mother told her no and laughed, she said it must be some animal, for she read in the paper that a man went up into a tree and while there was seized with vertigo.”

”And the day she was transferred to another school, when she said she had a note of transubstantiation.”

”Yes, and”--Guy was about to continue, but Agnes declared she was not going to sit there as a target for their fun, and ran laughing out of the room.

”What are you going to do with yourselves, girls?” asked their brother, as lighting a cigar he prepared to go out.

”O we are going to stay at home and have a nice time; you know holidays don't come very often.”

”Well, you women folks have queer ideas of a nice time, if that is what you call staying in the house. Why, it is enough to make you stupid. Fix yourself up like other girls, and promenade; that is what I mean to do.”

”What, fix yourself up like other girls?” demurely asked Agnes, glad of an opportunity to pay him back.

”O precocious child, I must be careful!” and he started for his promenade.

”Be sure to be back at one,” was Ruth's reminder, and then the girls began to plan their ”nice time.” ”I'll wash the breakfast dishes, Ruth, while you make the beds, you tuck the counterpane in so smoothly and have the pillows so straight,” and Agnes, with sleeves pinned up and crash ap.r.o.n on, began her work. Her heart was very light, and as she worked she sang:--

”Behold I come with joy to do The Master's blessed will; My Lord in outward works pursue, And serve his pleasure still.

Thus faithful to my Lord's commands, I choose the better part, And serve with careful Martha's hands, But loving Mary's heart.

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