Uncle Titus and His Visit to the Country

riving to choke down her tears and sobs. It seemed as if her heart must break. The Major lay back on his pillow, white and still, with a peacefu

last she opened her eyes, she went to seek him, and she found him still in bed, and lying

oking through the open door into the bed-room where Dora

will call your aunt, ch

om, and she raised her head and tried to control herself, for she dreaded the scene that she knew was coming. And it came-cries and sobs, loud gro

papers, and as she laid them together, meaning to lock them up, she

ister N

at heart I now lay before you, and that is, that you will take my child under your protection for as long as she may need your care. I shall leave very little

hildren under his care, when we are obliged to leave them and can no longer provide for them ourselves. Recei

and could not help growing calmer as she read. She t

ou and I will try to remember that all is well with your

, but her heart was heavy within her; she felt as

here was no need now of the usual warning when they approached Uncle Titus' room, for the little girl was so sad, so weighed do

a, though not without some complainings from Aunt Ninette. However, the furniture was brought ov

y Uncle Titus, who however seldom spoke, so deeply was he absorbed in his own thoughts. After supper, Dora we

o look once again at her father, and after some objection, her

she again reached her little bed-room, did she at last give way to her sobs without restraint, for she kne

r father had lived together in Karlsruhe. Her father went over with her the lessons she had learned in Hambur

construction of shirts of all kinds was a most useful branch of knowledge, and she proposed that Dora should learn this art, with a view of being able to support herself with her needle. She argued that since the shirt is the first garment to be put on in dressing, it should be the first that one should learn to make,

and every afternoon on a little chair close to the seamstress' kn

ons were truly dreadful. She must sit through the long hot hours, close by the seamstress, almost smothered by the big piece of cotton cloth, which her little fingers could hardly manage, and she grew restless and irritable, for her hands were moist, and the needle refused to be driven through

so high as to her room. So Dora listened to the sweet melodies which were her only refreshment during those hot long hours, and even the running scales were a pleasure to her ear. But then the thought of her father came back to her, and she felt bitterly the terrible contrast between these hot lonely afternoons and those which she used to spend with him under the cool shade of the lindens. Then she thought of that glorious sunset, and of her father, as he stood transfigured in t

ds us in

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en her needle moved more easily, as if inspired by the cheering thoughts. Yet the days were l

the most necessary questions, in order not to disturb her husband. Dora said little; and less every day, as she grew accustomed to this silent life. Even when she came home from school at noon for the

took so keen an interest in all about her, that he

her; just the same movements, the same i

ngly. Yet for all her pains it would happen sometimes, most unexpectedly and when she was least looking for a storm, that one would bre

enthusiasm, by a song she had been listening to, pl

our lif

he lamp

an fade

r the

uld be played on the piano, and it sounded so beautiful, so wonderf

e to know how to play on the piano! Do you

k of the terrible din that a piano makes! And where would the money come from if you could find the time? Oh, Dora, where did you get hol

, and the storm blew over. But never again did she dare even to speak of music, no

ora looked at them so often and so steadily, that she began to consider them as her own special property-or rather as friends who came every night and twinkled down into her heart, to tell her that she was not utterly alone. One night the idea came to her that these bright stars were loving messengers, who brought her kisses and caresses from her dear parents. And from these heavenly messengers the lo

e stars, and often she could hardly get to sleep, it was so cold in the little room, under the roof. At last the Spring rolled round again, and the days passed one like another, in the quiet dwelling of Uncle Titus. Dora worked harder than ever on the big shir

n all that time you have never left your desk except to eat and sleep. Am I right?" asked the

that the doctor had s

air; that is all the medicine you need. Don't go too high up, but stay there six weeks at least. Have you any preference as to the p

e would have an answer. The doctor had fairly deserved this attack, by his astounding prescription. His little game of snapping it suddenly upon them, and then quickly making his escape, had not su

To drop everything and go away at once, and stay away for six weeks! And where? We have not an idea where! And there's no way of kn

that I wish to make the most of the little time I have l

alked over, I assure you. The consequences may be very serious, and the matter must not be

only quiet, and out in the country some where," sa

dful things in Switzerland. Or some noisy factory, or a market place, always full of country folk, all the people of the whole canton pouring in there together and making a terrible uproar. But I have an idea, my deares

if I remember right the family had some unpleasant experiences in Sw

ed a letter to her brother's wife's uncle. This done, she hurried away to Dora's sewing teacher, who was a most respectable woman, and arranged that while they were in Switzer

, and as she compared it sadly with the happy companionship of her dear father, her sorrow and solitude seemed too terrible to bear, and she hid her face in her hands and gave way to bitter tears. Her uncle and aunt might die too, she thought, and she should be left alone w

the neighboring tower striking so many times that she was frightened. She raised her head. It was perfectly dark. Her little candle had burned out, and not a glimmer of light came from the st

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said to herself, she would trust his knowledge, and not fear what the future might hold in store. And after

something that promised to be satisfactory. There were a great many things to be taken into consideration, she said, since Uncle Titus was to make so vast a change in his habits. The utmost pru

tter," said the physician warningly, and he was making a hasty retreat, when he almost

pon the shoulder. "It will do this thin little creature a world of good too, this

ave Dora behind," rema

rve that if you do not look out, you will have another case on your hands, a

say?" cried Aunt Ninette in her most plaintive

little good blood in her veins, and that she cannot la

as she came back into her husband's room. "My dearest Titus, just lay down your pen for one moment. You did

d. She never makes any noise," and

never makes any noise, and that is the most important thing. But there are so man

, seeing that she could expect no help from him, she went into her own room, thought everything over carefully

k. Tannenburg was certainly quiet enough, for his brother had always complained of the want of society there, and that was all he knew about it. But this was satisfact

just such a dwelling as you describe, now ready for lodgers. It is occupied by the widow of the school-teacher, an elderly and very worthy woman, who has two g

so far apart, and she hoped that the one in question was not situated in such a way as to be undesirable for the residence of an invalid. She wished to make sure

untry. Also there was not a house to be seen far or near, except the large residence of Mr. Birkenfeld, standing surrounded by beautiful gardens, fields and meadows. The Birkenfelds were the most respected family in the neighborhood. He was a member of every committee, and was a most benevolent man, and his

packed the heavy materials for six large shirts, which she was to make while they were in Switzerland. The prospect of sewing on the shirts in a new place, and with different surroundings, excited her so muc

ions of all the new things that she was to see for the next six weeks. The idea of this coming freedom almost ov

parasols, baskets and bundles, got down stairs with some difficulty, and mounted the