Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlz Franks and the Online
Distributed Proofreading Team.
by
1894
My Sister,
"Minded of nought but peace, and of a child."
"Well, there!" said Miss Vesta. "The child has a wonderful gift, thatis certain. Just listen to her, Rejoice! You never heard our canarysing like that!"
Miss Vesta put back the shutters as she spoke, and let a flood oflight into the room where Miss Rejoice lay. The window was open, andMelody's voice came in like a wave of sound, filling the room withsweetness and life and joy.
"It's like the foreign birds they tell about!" said Miss Rejoice,folding her thin hands, and settling herself on the pillow with an airof perfect content,—"nightingales, and skylarks, and all the birds inthe poetry-books. What is she doing, Vesta?"
Miss Rejoice could see part of the yard from her bed. She could seethe white lilac-bush, now a mass of snowy plumes, waving in the Junebreeze; she could see the road, and knew when any of the neighborswent to town or to meeting; but the corner from which the wonderfulvoice came thrilling and soaring was hidden from her.
Miss Vesta peered out between the muslin curtains. "She's sitting onthe steps," she said, "feeding the hens. It is wonderful, the way thecreatures know her! That old top-knot hen, that never has a good wordfor anybody, is sitting in her lap almost. She says she understandstheir talk, and I really believe she does. 'Tis certain none of themcluck, not a sound, while she's singing. 'Tis a manner of marvel, tomy mind."
"It is so," assented Miss Rejoice, mildly. "There, sister! you saidyou had never heard her sing 'Tara's Harp.' Do listen now!"
Both sisters were silent in delight. Miss Vesta stood at the window,leaning against the frame. She was tall, and straight as an arrow,though she was fifty years old. Her snow-white hair was brushedstraight up from her broad forehead; her blue eyes were keen andbright as a sword. She wore a black dress and a white apron; her handsshowed the marks of years of serving, and of hard work of all kinds.No one would have thought that she and Miss Rejoice were sisters,unless he had surprised one of the loving looks that sometimes passedbetween them when they were alone together. The face that lay on thepillow was white and withered, like a crumpled white rose. The darkeyes had a pleading, wistful look, and were wonderfully soft withal.Miss Rejoice had white hair too, but it had a warm yellowish tinge,very different from the clear white of Miss Vesta's. It curled, too,in little ringlets round her beautiful old face. In short, Miss Vestawas splendidly handsome, while no one would thin