THE ELDER SISTER

New Zealand Tablet, Issue 17, 25 April 1907, Page 37

THE ELDER SISTER

It was the last cold weather of the season, or at least that seemed very probable.' The shop windows were filled with light prints and dainty muslins. . The melting snow showed the brown, dead grass of last year, with here and there a tuft of delicate green. And just as spring seemed near, the thermometer fell almost to zero, covering Bell's pond in a single night with a floor of transparent ice. When Lucile waked that Saturday morning she could scarcely believe her eyes. ' Ofo, I'm so glad it's cold again,' she declared at the breakfast table. •' I thought the skating was all over for the winter. And I'm 1 just going to stay out of doors every minute to-day andl make the most of iti while it Lasts.' Lucile was a strong, active girl, and cared as little for the cold as any fur-coated squirrel. Across the table Lucile' s sister, Margaret, flushed a little. Margaret was several years older* than Lucile, and, as sometimes happens in families, was expected to do not only her share of the work, but her younger sister's as well. Margaret, too, was fond of skatang, but she was not likely to find much of an opportunity to indulge her liking on this busy Saturday, with its thousand little tasks, which Lucile might have shared if she had not determined to spend the entire day on the ice. Margaret said nothing, 'but as the color rose to her cheeks there was in her heart a little pang of bitterness for which one can hardly blame her. Lucile. could hardly wait to finish her breakfast, so eager was she to begin the -'day's sport. She wrapped herself up warmly, for in spite of the blue sky the day was intensely cold, threw her skates over her arm and hurried downstairs, stopping only to leave a kiss on the babyte plump cheek. But the baby was cutting teeth, and was out of sorts with, all the world that morning, so that he responded to the caress by a fretful wail, quite unlike his usual happy self. Margaret laid down the sock she was mending and took the little fellow in her arms, while Lucile made her way to the kitchen, from which the savory odors of the Saturday baking were already beginning to rise, and supplemented her hasty breakfast by some crisp cookies hot from the oven.

In spite of the cold the ice was 1 covered with young people .who,, like Lucile, were' anxious to make the most of the last skating of the season. On the bank of the little, lake some one had built a fire, and after half an hour of the vigorous exercise Lucile was glad to rest a few moments and warm her chilled fingers by the kindly flame. And as she • stood there chatting with a little company of her friends-, Kate, Clark came up behind her. ' Where is Margaret this morning ?' she asked.

''Margaret ? Oh, she's at home,' Lucile replied' briefly. . *

' That's queer,' Kate answered. • I 'thought she 1 was so fond of skating ; isn't she ? ' , There was only one reply possible,"" and yet Lucile •hesitated before giving it. « Yes, she's fond, of skating. But, yciu see, there is so much to do Saturday mornings that some one has to help- mamma.'' Kate laughed! a- significant and disagreeable laugh, Lucile thought. « Oh, I see," she said ' I forgot she was the older sister.' 'A.^ 011 '* know what you mean,' returned Lucile, Jiaugh'tily. .w'iP 011 '* you?> said Kate, with unchanged' oomiposure. Well, every one knows. I've heard ever so many pe - o-

pile say" how odd it is that when Margaret is onl y three years older than you are, she should do so much and you' shouldn't have a care. Of course it's very nice for you,' added Kate, with a sympathetic air which Lucile somehow found , exceedingly aggravating, ' 'but I wonder how Margaret likes it. Well, are you w,arm v yet ? Let's skate if you are;* That was all that was said, and Lucile told herself -with some heat that Kate Clark was a very disagreeable girl. Yet her closing remark rang aver anxl over in her ears. . How did . Margaret really like being the older 'sister ?. Was it pleasant to tee the one left out, .always ? Did three years' • difference in age make ■so m/ach difference" in feeling that Margaret could enjoy giving up all her Saturday to household duties ? These .and similar questions crowded into* Lucile's mind' quite- against her will. ' Hellci !' said Joe Pierce, some ten minutes later. '.Going home already? I didn't think you'd freeze out so quick as that, Lucile.' ' ' I'm not cold,' Lucile answered,. ' And I guess I'll come bask this afternoon.'- She picked up her skates and started towards home even more rapidly than she had come. Margaret, who had - iust hushed the baby into a ■ nap, and was dustioig the parlors, looked, up in surprise when Lucile rushed into the room. ■' Why is it so very gold ?' she asked, wonderingly. ' No, not very.' Lucile answered. ' But don't yop want to go and skate a while ? I'll finish the d-ust-"ing.' " • . And then all - the questions she had been asking 'herself were' answered, fcr the tears actually stabbed to Margaret's eyes.- 'Of course I'd like to go ' she answered, '-but I don't quite understand Lucile I thought you were going to skate all day.' ' • ■ And Lucile, remembering ncr selfish remark in the morning, blushed a little. ' Never murid what you thought,' she answered. ' Hurry and get ready. I'm going to play I am older sister this morning.' And she wasn't a bit sorry, not even though the baby was cross, and the mending-basket was full, and •her hands were kept busy till dinner time. From, the window she could just see the pond, amd distinguish Margaret's erect, swift-moving figure— the best skater there, Lucile thought with prMe. And when in the distance she caught a glimpse of Kate Clark's red' hood Lucile smiled to herself. ' I was awfully provoiked a-t her this morning,' she reflected, 'but I guess, after aJll that she just told me the truth. Anyway, she won't ever get a chance to say it again, for after this I'm going to take my turn in being the "older sister ' " And Lucile .was as good as her word. From" that day the duties and responsibilities which had been left for Margaret, the sacrifices and ' giving up ' .which had been looked upon as belonging to the older sister, were shared by Lucile. Day y by day as she performed her seit-impcised tasks she grew more woma-nly and' lovable And which of the two sisters found the most real pleasure in the nejw arrangement it would be hard to say. — H/Xcpiange.