Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1860-07-13
THE YOUNG INVALID.
BY MISS E W BARNES


answered without raising her eyes from the
needle.
Marianne fingered on the steps and looked
earnestly at her. as she sat with her work table
beside her, in the spacious and airy hall of the
beautiful cottage. The day was intensely hot,
but here a soft cool breeze stole in through the
shaded rooms, and the flowers in the garden
plot in the front were hung with glitteripg wa
ter drops from the neighboring hydrant
Mrs. Bradford in her white morning robe,
and with her dark glossy hair lying in soft
folds over her forehead, was herself seemingly
an embodiment of placid and serene repose.-
1t was pleasant picture, and Marianne lin
gered.
"How happy she must be? ?" thought the lit
tie, sunburnt child never dreaming that any
sorrow could enter such place and in her
inmost heart she wished that God had given
her mother and home like that.
please, ma am. may | sit down and cool
myself? II looks so-so-happy here" Mrs
Bradford raised her eyes to look, for the first
time, upon the speaker. Certainly, my child,
as long as you wish :" and Marianne took off
her torn straw hat, and wiped her forehead, and
smoothed back her moist curls, as she inhaled,
with something like sigh, long draft of the
refreshing air. $50 you think that it looks
very happy here; but do you not know that
almost every home in this world has some sor-
row resting upon it,"
people were always happy but wish Lizzie
and l had such home"
"And who is Lizzie ?''
"My little sister. She has had the scarlet
fever and is just getting we'll"
Have You no mother ?"
"No ma am; mother died when Lizzie was
baby. and l was too small to remember her.
"Have you no father ?"
Il don't know maam. He went to K ansas,
and perhaps he is dead we don't know"
"Who takes care of you?"
ave live with my aunt, ma'am but she is
poor and she can't do much for us, with four
children of her own; and so l sell berries to
buy bread. We don't have much besides that
and cold water, and / can't give any straw
berries to sister now, because she must have
bread to make her strong again."
Mrs. Bradford did not answer and as Ma
rianne looked up she saw that her face was
buried in her hands, from which her work had
fallen. and that tears were trickling beneath
| them. After pause, she said in u very low
voice, our sister will soon be well but in
that room-pointing to one which opened in
the halls little girl who will never, never
be well again in this world" Her lips CULVER
ed with emotion as she rose and vanished
through the half open door, ...
Marianne heard her speaking in low and
gentle tone, and then feeble, but very mus-
cal, voice replied, please, mamma, let her
come in. for moment" a.
"Are you not weak to-day, darling?"
mo, mamma, 1 think not
Marianne was summoned, and what scene
transfxed the child as she passed within the
door! 1t was lovely room shaded, but not
gloomy. Flowers here and there in vases fill
ed it with fragrance and snowy muslin cur
tains sabducd the light. Books and beautiful
! gifts lay on rosewood tables, showing it to be
the apartment of a splendid child but the OBJ
ject which at once attracted her gaze the
figure of the occupant. On little couch,
which could be wheeled to and fro at pleasure
aud beneath misty curtains of dazzling white
ness lay pale but beautiful girl, OF about
! twelve or fourteen years. She was white as
the drapery which enveloped her; and her
large and dreamy eyes lent a spiritual expires
/ sion to her whole countenance. The effort to
raise her head caused for moment slight
contraction of the brow as from pain, but it
passed away into a smile, like a momcntary
shadow upon moonlight. As Marianne stood
motionless, she extended her little pale hand
You do not fear me because I am ill?"
"Oh. no." said the child as she approached
with an evident feeling of awe, as if an angc
had spoken to her.
"Mama tells me that You have little sicl
sister, and that you gather berries TO SELL
Yes, Miss, gather them TO buy bread"
"Will you sell them to me?"
"Oh, yes, but your mamma said she hac
enough for to-day"
$50 she has, but would like these; how
much are they?"
Eighteen pence"
Quietly she put her hand beneath the pillow
and drew out little silken purse. Counting
out six shilings, she put the money into th
child's hand. There, know you will mak'
good use of it and now take the strawberrie
, to your sister, with my love"
Marianne looked at her and burst into tears
''Dou't cry, because that would make nlamms
and me unhappy"
ooh, you are SO good"
NO. not good, only very happy and CRATE
> full when 1 can do little good You sec, pa
pa is rich enough to give me everything want
but this money is my own, to do with as will
, so it is no great sacrifice that. l make yo
must not be too grateful. Come and see m
again. What shall call you?'
, Marianne"
"LiIlie is not always as sick as she is now,
, said Mrs. Bradford sometimes she can 81
: up three or four hours day, and then sh
: earns this money to give away. 1t is he
e greatest pleasure"
e A blush, like a rose-tiut passed over th
Y cheek of the young sufferer, as she said, a
n would be no pleasure for me to give away tina
which costs me nothing. / have been sic
e ever since was born, but papa and mamm
n have spared no trouble or expense in obtanin
d teachers for me, and it is privilege to use m
# best efforts to do the little good can. ] ear
e in my own way this money, and give it ava,
n because it is the only way in which can sho
h my gratitude to God for His mercies to M
,e and especially for giving me such dear parent
E. You see I car not .go about doing good" 6
o others can-as you can, Marianne, and eveI
e. other little girl, even though she has no none
Of There are a thousand ways of doing good, al
to even though they may be small, they are all a
ceptable to God. You haveb begun by earnir
bread for your little sick sister, and that
pleasing in his sight" ts
A look of satisfaction passed over Mar
IN annes face she had acted from the promp
n ings of natural affection without thinking th
e. it would be acceptable to God, but hencefort
nt she would act from the two-fod motive of d
e. ing good and pleasing her heavenly Father
h. That night the poor orphan knelt down al
he prayed for strength to keep her resolution al