Atlantic Monthly, Vol. 10, No. 61, November, 1862

air into the room too closely heated by the brisk fire. The air fanned the leaves of the ivy-plant that stood in the window, and of the primrose which seemed ready to open in the warm sun. Above, th

willing to take the repose won by her work; indeed, this was the only way she had managed to preserve her strength for all the work it was necessary for

very fortunate that she had a rich relation or two to help her. But, unfortunately, the rich relations preferred helping only in their own way. One uncle agreed to send the older boy to his fa

ows, into the great rivers, and finally feeds the deep sea, which is very thankless, and thinks little of restoring what is so prodigally poured into it. It only knows how to sway up with its grand tide upon the broad beaches, or to wrestle with turreted rocks, or, for some miles,

leave her to her own will, and drew back, feeling that they had done their part for humanity and kinship. Now and then Mrs. Schroder received a present of a worn shawl or a bonnet out of date, and one New Year there came inclosed a dollar-bill apiece for t

to husband her strength, while the boys very early learned that they must help their mother to get through

so! If you knew how i

new wars sown in treaties of peace. Austria is not content with her share of Poland, and Russia privately determines upon another bite of Turkey. John thinks it very unjust that he must give up his ball t

d, was obliged to be constantly dependent on his brother for defence, for his position with other boys at school,-as he grew up, for his position in life, even. Harry was the favorite always. The schoolmaster-or teacher, as we call hi

ed. But the consciousness that he could not live without them weighed him down and made him moody. He alternately reproached himself for his ingratitude, and his brother for h

l came into the room. She had a fresh, bright face, a brown complexion, a full, round figure. She cam

ked to help you about Ernest's things. But Aunt Martha must needs have a supernumera

ave plenty to do. It is the thinking that troubles me. My boys are grown up into men,

to show only energy, activity, and self-reliance. She was an only child, and had been obliged to be son and daughter, brother and sister in one. Her father was the owner of the house in which were the rooms occupied by Mrs. Schroder and her sons. The little shop on the lower floor was his place of business. He was a watchmaker, had a few clocks on

ng cats with the best of them. She was a favorite champion among the boys,-placed at difficult points of espionage, whether it were over beast, man, woman, or boy. She was proud of mounting some imaginary rampart, or defending some dangerous position. Sometimes a taunt was hurled from the enemy upon her allies for associating with

e tea-table, to fetch and carry as Aunt Martha ordered. All this was pleasanter than the quiet evening that followed, because she liked the occupation and motion. But to be quiet the whole evening, that was a trial! After the tea-things were cleared away, she would sit awhile by the stove, imagining all sorts of excitements in the combustion within; but she could not keep still long without letting a clatter of shovel and tongs, or some vigorous blows of the poker, show what a glorious drum she thought the stove would make. Or if Aunt Martha suggested her unloved and neglected dolls, she would retire to the corner with them inevitably to come back in disgrace. Either the large wooden-headed doll came no

chroder's room. One of the economies in the Schroders' life was that their pleasures were so cheap. What with Harry's genial gayety and Ernest's spiritual humor, and the gayety and humor of the friends that loved them, they did not have to pay for their hilarity on the stage. There were quiet evenings and noisy ones, and Violet liked them both

e boys had become men; and now she was k

" she said, dreamily. "Oh,

Ernest that I think of most. He is going away among strangers

comes home. You see, he will be great then. He has been dependent upon us, all along, because genius must move

y boy will look down up

sing herself

hey only would look down upon us! But it is the old story: the body can do for a while without the spirit, can make its way in the world for a little, and meantime the spirit is dependent upon th

chroder, looking into Violet's face.

y with which Ernest goes abroad,-which he has lived upon all these years,-not only his daily bread, but what his tale

ould be pitied. It is hard for a generous nature to owe all to another. I

; but the spirit that Ernest breathes into the form,-will Harry understand it or appreciate it? The body is very reverent of the soul. But I think the spirit is not grateful enough to the body. There comes a time whe

l ever spurn Harry?-they are bro

sion in Mrs. Schroder's face, and laughed as sh

rk together and for each other. I have no business with forebodings, this laughing, sunny day. The March sun is melting the icicles, and they came clattering down upon me, as I was in the yard,

ew out the table, and made all the usual preparations necessary for dinner, talking all the time

est?" asked Mrs. Schroder. "They hav

"They will like to be al

bid him