Aunt Judith | Page 5

young face will be a cheery sight in our quiet cottage home. She will
have a thorough education, and we shall endeavour to bring her up so
that she may be a fitting helpmate to her mother on her return home."
Dr. Latimer showed the letter to his wife, who read it thankfully. "Your
sister is a noble woman, John," she said brokenly; "let us accept her
offer, and may God bless her."
Thus it was that Nellie had left the home nest and come to live her life
in the busy town. She knew almost nothing about her aunts, and had
never seen them; for Dr. Latimer dwelt in a far-off country village, and
the distance from it to the city was very great. The postman would
occasionally bring a letter, book, or paper to the doctor; and every
Christmas a hamper filled with choice meats and other dainties would
find its way to the house, showing that the young nephews and nieces
were not forgotten by the aunts they had never seen. Those "good
fairies," as the little children styled them, were three in number: Aunt

Judith, the bread-winner--though how, Nellie as yet did not know; Aunt
Debby, the Martha of the household, hard-working and practical; and
Aunt Margaret, an invalid, seldom able to leave her couch.
"I cannot tell you much about them, dear," Mrs. Latimer had said one
night when talking with her eldest daughter over the coming parting.
"They (meaning the aunts) were abroad on account of Aunt Margaret's
health when I first met your father, and did not return home till some
time after our marriage. Aunt Margaret was not any better, and had
settled down into invalid habits, requiring the constant attention and
care of both sisters. Aunt Judith spoke at one time of coming to spend a
few days with us; but Aunt Margaret could not spare her, and so she
never came. Your father says Aunt Judith is a brave, true woman, and
keeps the little household together, besides the many kindnesses she
bestows on us. I trust you will like your aunts, my child, and be happy
with them, even though you are away from us all."
Nellie had been thinking all this over while the cab was quickly
whirling her along the now deserted thoroughfares, and so deeply had
her mind been occupied with these thoughts that she started in
amazement when the driver drew up before the entrance of a small
cottage, and she saw a bright flood of light streaming out from the
hastily opened door.
"Here we are, dear," said Aunt Judith's kind voice breaking in on her
reverie; "this is your new home, and there is Aunt Debby waiting to bid
you welcome. Run! I shall follow you immediately."
Nellie, obeying, hurried up the little gravelled path, and reaching the
door, found herself folded in Aunt Debby's motherly embrace, with
Aunt Debby's arms round her, and Aunt Debby's round, rosy face
pressed close to her own.
"Dear, dear! to think I should be holding one of John's children to my
heart," said the good lady, wiping away an imaginary tear from her soft,
plump cheek. "There, come in, child, you are thrice welcome. How
strange it all seems, to be sure;" and chatting away, Aunt Debby led her
weary niece into the cosy parlour, where the bright fire and daintily

spread table seemed to whisper of warmth and home comforts.
"There, sit down, dear, and let me unfasten your cloak," she continued,
placing Nellie on a chair and proceeding to take off her hat with its well
soaked plume. "Dear heart! how the child resembles her father! John's
very eyes and nose, I declare. Well, well, I'm getting an old woman,
and the sight of this fresh, young face warns me of the passing years."
"I think, Debby, you should show Nellie her room and let her refresh
herself; there will be ample opportunity for talking to her later on, and
the child is wearied with travelling."
Aunt Judith, who had just entered, said this in such a kind voice that it
was impossible to take offence, and Miss Deborah, raising her little,
twinkling eyes to her sister's face, replied, "Ah! Judith, I need you to
look after me still.--I have a sad tongue, my dear (to Nellie), and am apt
to chatter when I ought to be silent; come, let me take you to your room
now," and off trotted Aunt Debby with an air of the utmost importance.
Nellie followed wearily up the tiny stair with its white matting, and
then paused in glad delight as her guide, throwing open a door on one
side of the landing, ushered her into a small room. It was simply and
plainly furnished, as indeed was everything else