The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-10-31

W Miss SudlCUtl TAP OI Tue uOOi. AAoy
entered large and not uncomfortable room.
Everything was scrupulously neat. In one
of the windows stood tea-rose, geranium,
and heliotrope. Nan knew they were her
cousins favorite flowers, and guessed how
they came there In the bed, bolstered up
by pillows and knitting busily, was young
girl. She was not beautiful, and vet Nan
thought she had never seen face so sweet.
1t was delicate, thin face; so pale that the
tracery of the blue veins shone through
The eyes were dark and full of mournful
tenderness. The hair was cut short, like
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
Chalcner took chair near the bed and gave
one to Nan, as if she were at home. Then
she asked,
How do you do to-day, Martha Did you
have bad night? have brought my cou-
sin, Miss Darrow, to see you
Thank you. am pretty well-no more
pain than usual. slept several hours last
night, and it did me so much good. Mother
has gone out to take home some work, and I
was quite cheerful sitting here alone
You always are. |, reproaches me some
times to think of it, Miss Chaloner said,
kindly. How long is it since you have been
able to stand on Your feet9'
Five years this month, ma'am.'
Five years of lying here in this one place
and looking at the blank wall and suffering
Miss Chaloner's eyes grew misty, but she
went on, in a tone Of encouragement,
i have brought something to hang in
front Of YOU, on the wall, Martha, and per.
haps it will comfort YOU sometimes when YOU
are lonely
She unfolded the wrappings from the pic
ture and held it before the sick girl. Martha
did not speak. Her ecstasy was wordless
bat it shone in her eyes and transtigured hel
face as she looked. By-and-by he tears be-
gan to fall
oh, Miss Chaloner, she said at length, dc
you mean that this is my own? | never saw
anything half so beautiful | shall never b,
lonesome again
DO yon think my picture was good in
ve>jment % Gertrude asked smlingly as the,
went down stairs
The best Of all" Nan cried, with cage
tones. oh. Gertrude, isn't she lovely? S,
refined. so gentle
Ard 50 patient Gertrude added. 'Wha
she suffers no one drcamS-nights and day
Of rackins agonv--anG yet busy every mo
ment when tie sharp torture leaves her a res
pite. If | had made ten times more sacriic
for the sake of doing good, to have know
that girl and learned the lesson of unfalter
ing trust, of patient submission she ha
taught me, would have been worth it ALL
Nan stald in Boston three weeks longer
She went with Miss Chaloner to buv the res
of her winter things; and when she lett, 6
last, it was with a new purpose in her cage
impuisive, but kindly heart. Last week sh
t wrote to Gertrude
It 81 too,have been shopping since saw yo'
: Hitherto | had shopped only for one. No
| AM shopping for many, ard the reward
proportionately larger. do all can-ye
Gertrude, do believe am doing all ca
for those whose sutierings YOU taught me
discover. Sometime, perhaps, | shall
good enough to be called your friend. l, to
Q have sent one away to fight for me who
hitherto my selfish love had held back. \
Offering, like yours, is OIL the altar. Come
; NE and teach me how to waH'
How long will these women, and mai
more besides them, have in which to lea
that long, slow lesson? With what graz
results, to them, to all, will the waiting
crowned at length? God knows.