The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1862-12-12

trude the admiration which she felt-as
profound as any sentiment of hers could
be. s'Go thou and do likewise" was the
only tribute Miss Chaloner would have
welcomed.
The next morning they took the carriage,
packed with the purchases of the day be-
fore, and started to convey them to their
destinations. On the way they stopped
at Everetts and took in the Madonna.
Surely this is not for one of your PEN
sioners?" Nan asked. 81 think one would
hardly feed the hungry with pictures.
There is more than one kind of hunger,
child Nan. You shall see whether my gift
will be appreciated" ......
They had stopped at three houses, leav-
ing pair of blankets here, dress there,
and at another piece of cotton, as need
was. At the next pause Miss Chaloner
took the picture in her hand, and turned
with a smiling face for Nan to follow her.
They went up two flights of stairs, and
then a faint, sweet voice answered "Come
in :" to Miss Chalenor's tap on the door.
They entered a large and not uncomforta-
BILE room. Every thing was scrupulously
neat. In one of the windows stood tea
rose, a geranium, and heliotrope. Nan
knew they were her cousins favorite flow
ers, and guessed how they came there. In
the bed, bolstered up by pillows, and knit
ting busily, was young girl. She was not
beautiful, and yet Nan thought she had
never seen face so sweet. 1t was deli
cate, thin face; SO pale that the tracery of
the blue veins shone through. The eyes
were dark and full of mournful tender
ness. The hair was cut short, like q child s
and lay about the brow in sunny rings.
How the pale visage frightened into smiles
as she saw who was her visitor! Miss
Chaloner took chair near the bed and
gave one to Nan, as if she were at home.
Then she asked,
elbow do you do to-day, Martha? Did
you have bad night? / have brought my
cousin, Miss Darrow, to see you''
"Thank you. 1 am pretty well no more
pain than usual. l slept several hours last
night, and it did me so omuch good Mother
has gone out to take home some work, and
I was quite cheerful sitting here alone"
"You always are. 1t reproaches me
sometimes to think of it," Miss Chaloner
said kindly. Chow long is it since you
have been able to stand on your feet 2"
Give years this month, mann
"Five years of this lying here in one
place, and looking at the blank wall and
sutfering!" Miss Chaloner's eye grew misty,
but she went on, in tone Of encourage
ment.
81 have brought something to hang in
tornt of you, on the wall, Martha, and per-
haps it will comfort you sometimes when
you are lonely"
She unfolded the wrappers from the pic
ture and held it before the sick girl. Mar
tha did not speak. Her ecstacy was word
less, but it shone in her eyes and transfg-
ured her face as she looked By-and-by
her tears began to fall
ooh, Miss Chaloner, she said, at length,
edo you mean that that is my own?
never saw any thing half so beautiful. |
shall never be lonesome again"
''Do you think my picture has a good
investment" Gertrude asked, smilngly,
as they went down stairs.
''The best of all - Nan cried, with ca
ger tones. 'Oh, Gertrude, isn't she love-
~ % Ielilleu, SO gentle
''And so patient" Gertrude added.
"What she suffers no one dreams-nights
and days of racking agony-and yet busy
every moment when the sharp torture
leaves her respite. If had made ten times
more sacrifice for the sake of doing good,
to have known that girl and learned the
lesson Ofunfaltering trust, OF patient sub
mission she has taught me, would have
been worth it ALL"
Nan staid in Boston three weeks longer
She went with Miss Chaloner to buy the
rest of her winter things; and when she
left, at last, twas with new purpose in
her eager, impulsive, but kindly heart
Last week she wrote to Gertrude Chalon-
er:
81, too, have been shopping since 1 saw
you. Hitherto | had shopped only for one
Now | am shopping for many, and the re-
ward is proportionately larger l do all |
Gertrude, | do believe am doing
all | can for those whose sufferings you
taught me to discover. Sometime, per
haps, shall be good enough to be called
your friend. |, too, have sent one away
to fight for me whom hitherto my selfish
love had held back. My offering, like
yours, is on the altar Come to me and
teach me how to tcoH.''
How long will these women and many
more besides them, havein which to learn
that long, slow lessen? With what grand
results, to them, to all, will the waiting be
crowned at length? God knows.