MARGARET AND HERBERT.

In a large family there are often diversity of character and varieties

of mood and temper, which bring some clouds of sorrow. In our little

Eden of innocence there were storms now and then. Miles was a little

wild and head-strong from his babyhood, and Margaret, though very

beautiful, was often wilful and vain. For five years the twins had

grown up together the same in beauty and health One day an accident

befel Herber , and the dear child rose from his bed of sickness a pale

and crippled boy. His twin sister grew up tall and blooming. The

twins loved each other very much, and it was a pleasant sight to see

how the deformed boy was cherished and protected by his sister

Margaret. She would often leave us in the midst of our plays to go and

sit by Herbert, who could not share with us in them.



We had our yearly festivals, our cowslip gatherings, our blackberry

huntings, our hay makings, and all the delights so pleasant to country

children. Our five birthdays were each signalized by simple presents

and evening parties, in the garden or the house, as the season

permitted. Herbert and Margaret's birthdays came in the sunny time of

May, when there were double rejoicings to be made. They were always

set up in their chairs in the bower, decorated with flowers and

crowned with wreaths. I now think of Margaret smiling under her

brilliant garland, while poor Herbert looked up to her with his pale

sweet face. I heard him once say to her when we had all gone away to

pluck flowers:



"How beautiful you are to-day, Margaret, with your rosy checks and

brown hair."



"But that does not make me any better or prettier than you, because I

am strong and you are not, or that my cheeks are red and your's are

pale."



Miles was just carrying little Dora over the steeping stones at the

brook, when Herbert cried:



"O, if I could only run and leap like Miles; but I am very helpless."



To which Margaret replied: "Never mind, brother; I will love you and

take care of you all your life," and she said these words with a

sister's love, as she put her arms around the neck of her helpless

brother. She loved him the more, and aimed to please him by reading

books to him which were his delight. This was a pleasant sight, and

the brothers always admired Margaret for her attention to their

helpless brother.