II.—IN THE NEW WORLD

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 10 December 1897, Page 25

II. — IN THE NEW WORLD

The building of a gaudy new house on the corner opposite their grand, old-fashioned one had made the Eatons aware that they were soon to have new neighbours, a Mr. Marvin, 'twas said, who had made a large fortune in the West, and whose family intended spending it (rather an easy task) in Washington. Its fancifully ugly tower was receiving tho finishing touches when the Eatons left for their summer residence , returning, they found the new neighbours in possession.

" And sure, ma'am, it's no credit they'll be to our square, with all their gold and glitter," said Norah, judicially. " It's a royal

style of dress they wears, but there is frayed edges showing underneath, I'm thinking. Mrs. Marvin's no lady, ma'am, and I said it the minute I saw her speak to her coachman ; for, you know, it's one of the best tags o' ladyhood the way a mistress gives an order to a servant. And it's the hard, Bour mouth she has ; there's not a child would be the happier for a kiss from it. And she the own mother of two little girls, with a furrin' governess to mind 'em. But it's not them that minds her indade. You know the poor begging-man that stands there by the President's house singing that song which rhymes with ' blind' — about the Blessed Lord's

Giving us eyes to pity with And hearts to make us kind. Sure I saw her the other morning trying to make the children give him a bit of charity, and they just laughed and ran on ; and it was only a coin from her own purse that went into his hat as she passed him."

" I shall not visit our new neighbours," said Mrs. Eaton to her husband. '• From what I have seen and heard, they are not people for whom I'd ever feel esteem or sympathy; and a mere interchange of meaningless civilities between persons just because their houses face each other I consider simply hypocrisy. But if ever I see an opportunity to do anything for that sad-eyed little German governess of theirs, I shall seize it."

Lo ! a few weeks later, when, glancing away from her prayerbook, she perceived the Fraxfein's diminutive figure glide timidly up the aisle of St. Matthew's, she rose quickly and drew her back into her own pew.

" I hope you'll sit beside us every Sunday," she said, as, service over, they walked out together ; the Fraulein, not a little touched by the stranger's politeness, acknowledging it with many thanks in her pretty, imperfect English —

" You are most good, most good, Madame I It is not every Sunday that I am permitted the consolation of hearing the holy Mass. Mrs. Marvin she not a Catholic, alas ! and she have not ask me if I was one when she bring me with her away from the Faderland. And when I tell her, she seem so angry I fear she keep me no more, and I all alone in the strange land— a stranger with no friend."

" Friendships for life are often formed in a brief moment " answered Mrs. Eaton, taking out her card and leaving it, with 'a warm clasp, in the Fraulein's hand, "'i am your neighbour you know ; and I hope you will always thiuk of me as a friend ;' and come to me, as one, for sympathy in any good that may befall you or help in any trouble." '

'■ 0 mamma, what do you think .' I've something dreadful to tell you," began Effie Eaton, as she came in from school the next afternoon. " Rose Pierces mother knows the Marvins, and yesterday Rose spent an afternoon there with the children. And, mamma, there's another little girl that we never saw or heard of —a &ick girl that can't walk, but lives away up in the tower • and it's like Cinderella's story with the cruel step-mother — sisters and all. They told Rose they never cared to talk to her or play with her ; she was • only trouble,' their mother said. And she had no toys or pretty things like them ; and if it hadn't been for the Fruulcin, Rose would not even have seen her She took her upstairs with her. and. and poor little girl her name is Margaret — was to lovely and sweet that Rose be»"an loving her ri^ht away. I wish we could call on Margaret mamma, without acquainting ourselves with the rest of the family — indeed, I would not even want a bowing acquaintance with tin- in.'" '• I'll tell you what we might do, dear," paid Mrs. Eaton ■' Gather together some of your books and pictures ; we'll hide them in a pretty basket, under fruit and flowers;, and send them to Margaret — • care of the Fraulein."