My Pretty Sister 



think Mary Is my £-ood sistQr, and Esther Is 

 Vlvj pretty sister ; don't you ? " Of course 

 he repeated my words aloud, and called 

 forth a storm of make-believe Indignation. 

 I was a perfect little wretch, said Esther, 

 rosily laughing and shaking her head ; and 

 If I would only use my eyes I might see 

 that they had an equal share of comeliness, 

 though she would not say as much for the 

 goodness. 



They might laugh at me, but there was 

 some truth In my childish distinction, 

 although both were Indeed true-hearted girls 

 and very good to look at. Esther brought 

 sunshine and flowers Into our homely life ; 

 Mary was Its strength and Its wit. 



The love of the sisters for one another 

 was very deep ; I know this now, though 

 I did not trouble my head about It then. 

 Mary would have slaved from morning to 

 night for Esther had the need arisen, and 

 that without complaint, so great was her 

 share of that elder sisterly love which holds 

 at all costs to the faith that the young 

 have a divine right to happiness. Esther's 

 feeling for the sister only three years her 

 senior, was touched with something near 

 akin to reverence ; more than ever so after 

 Mr. Trevanlon went away, and she strove 

 so bravely to hide her sorrow. 

 162 



