Lewie | Page 5

had only time to throw her novel hastily
aside, when the door opened and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Wharton,
entered, accompanied by two of her little girls, their bright faces
glowing with health and happiness.
"And how are the children?" Mrs. Wharton asked, after the first
salutations were over.
"Why, Lewie does not seem well, he has been complaining for a day or
two."

"And where is Agnes? We rode over to see if you let her go over and
pass the holidays with us."
"Why, to tell the truth, Agnes has been very naughty, and I have been
obliged to shut her up."
"Again!" exclaimed Mrs. Wharton, while glances of indignation shot
from the eyes of her two little girls. "Agnes naughty, and shut up again!
Why, Harriet, do you know she appears to me so perfectly gentle and
lovely, that I can hardly imagine her as doing anything wrong. Mr.
Wharton and I often speak of her as the most faultless child we have
ever met with."
"She is not so bad in other ways, but she does delight to tease Lewie,
and keep him screaming. Now, it has been one incessant scream from
the child all this morning, and Agnes can amuse him very well when
she chooses."
"Judging from all her own pretty things scattered about the floor here, I
should think she had been doing her best to amuse him," said Mrs.
Wharton; "she has even taken down her beautiful work-box, of which
she has always been so careful. You may be sure it was a case of
extremity, which compelled her to do that."
"Why, what a sad litter they have made to be sure; I did not observe it
before. The fact is, Ellen, I have been exceedingly occupied this
morning, and did not know what the children were about, only that
Agnes kept Lewie screaming, and, at last, with the utmost rudeness, for
that I saw myself, she snatched something from his hand, and for that, I
punished her."
"Ah, yes, I see, Harriet," said Mrs. Wharton, glancing at the
yellow-covered publication on the table; "I see how it is, now; you have
been wholly absorbed in one of those wretched novels, and left little
Agnes to take care of a sick, cross baby. That child is very sick, Harriet;
do you see what a burning fever he has?"
"Ellen, do you think so?" said the mother hastily and in great agitation.
"Oh, Ellen, what shall I do; oh, what shall I do! perhaps my baby, my
darling, is going to be very ill."
"Do not agitate yourself so, Harriet, I will send Matthew directly over
to the village for the doctor; but first, may I have Agnes?"
"Oh, do what you please with Agnes, only send the doctor to my baby;
call Mammy, she will bring Agnes, and do go, quick!"

The bell was rung, and Mammy was despatched to bring the little
prisoner down; she found her as we left her, sleeping with her head
upon her arms.
"Precious lamb!" said Mammy, "she has cried herself to sleep." Then,
kissing her, and rousing her gently, she told her that her aunt and
cousins had come to take her to Brook Farm.
Agnes was at first very happy at the idea of once more enjoying the
sunshine of her aunt's cheerful home, but, when she heard that Lewie
was sick, a cloud came over her face.
"Aunty," she whispered, "I think I had better not go, perhaps I can do
something for Lewie. I can almost always amuse him."
"Lewie is too sick to be amused now, my dear, and you can do no good
here; besides, I want to get you away as quickly as possible, for I think
it may be the scarlet fever that Lewie has. Come, darling, we will go."
Agnes drew her hand quietly from that of her aunt, and running back,
she stooped over her little brother as he lay in his mother's arms, and
kissed him; and then, standing a moment before her mother, she raised
her eyes to her face. But her mother's eyes, with a gaze of almost
despair, were fixed on her darling boy, and she did not seem to be
aware even of the presence of her little daughter.
A look of disappointment passed over the face of Agnes, as, without
intruding upon her mother by even a word of farewell, she turned, and
put her hand once more in that of her aunt. And now, as, comfortably
wrapped in buffalo skins, Mrs. Wharton and the little girls are flying
over the country roads, to the sound of the merry sleigh-bells, we will
relate a conversation which took place between Mammy and Bridget;
and by so doing, will give a little insight into