The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-05-21

time, and mother sent me after doctor
this morning"
Iasked where they lived, and she men,
toned number on Pleasant Street.
swell" said, ''tell Susy not to worry.
shall get along nicely, and win come
to sec her as soon rs can make time-to
night, II not BEFORE" 1. ..I
/" Yes, ma'am."
She went away then. She had lazy
sort of voice, and spoke llngeringly-
quite unlike the quick, characteristic ut
teaances Of little Brains. How well re-
membered that first day, and the brisk
Z" Yes'm that broke In upon my mus
ings.
II was quito late In the afternoon before
I could make time to 70 to Pleasant
Street. Hound the Mory's living In the
third story OF comfortable looking
house. went first Into room which
seemed to serve rs q kitchen and sitting
room. Mrs. Mory, tired looking wo-
man who had been pretty once, was stir
ring something In saucepan over the
fire. She turned TO greet me, and Invited
me to 90 Into the next room. where Slisy
was. II was small bedroom, but every
thing was neat and clean. There lay
poor little Brains, with bright flush
burning OIL her checks, her eyes glitter
ing, and her poor little body shaken by q
parOxysm Of coughing. As soon rs she
could speak she put out her hand.
THANK you, Miss Macgregor; it was
very kind Of You to come. didn't mean
to give up this way and dlsappolnt you.
And suppose you will have to get some
one else. I thought first that perhaps
Body could do my work for u week or
two, until got better; but don't sup
pose she'd answer"
',No, I fear she wouldn't; and besides
while you are III your mother will need
her ut home. hut III keep the place for
you. shall have to get some one else,
TO be sure, but Ill get them with tile uil-
derstandlng that you are to come back
lust rs soon rs you are able, aud they
must be ready TO give up to you at any
time"
"eh, how good, how good you are!"
the poor little morscl cried, with kind
ling eyes. "I was 40 afraid should
lose my place that 1t was worse than the
sickness"
Her gratitude touched me profoundly,
for II seemed to me. even then, that she
would never get any better: aud u was so
hard to think that poor little patient life
going out so early quenched In Its dawn.
1t brought OH her cough to talk, so !
did not stay with her long. In the way
out said TO her mother. .. ....
"Do not be troubled by any fear OF
want. I shall pay Susy her wages Just
the same as IL she were well. can well
afford It, for am prOspering In my busi-
ness, an,l if she wants anything that you
cannot get her you must let me know"
As I went out Of the house caught q
faint, red glow Of the March sunset,
shooting up high enough TO show q
glimpse of It's splendOr even to the dwell
lcrs In brick walls. Would little Brains
see many more days decline9 longed
TO take her away Into the country, aud
give her, before she died, ono glimpse Of
wide-strctching fields, Of sunsets and
sunrisings. But II was too late. She was
not well enough to be moved, and II she
should never get any better she would
see light before long such as no sun
ever kindled, breathe airs Of healing,
smell flowers that grow not on any earth
ly soil. Her "country" would be bright
or than any OF her dreams-the land that
lies every far OIL" I'D r-r r-.
The next day went to sec her again.
! had not thought OF going so soon, but q
spell seemed to draw me. II wns reward
enough to see her poor little face brighten,
and her eyes grow eager with welcome
when went In. But she was no better.
She never would be thought. ] asked
her mother what the doctor said and she
answered me, with burst Of sobblng'
IL don't think he has much hope OF her.
lie says her lungs are very much lntlamed.
He thinks It might have been better II she
had staid ut home. when she first got her
cold. but couldn't keep her. She was
such an ambitious child. Oh, ma'am, II
God takes her how shall bear II? Since
her father LEFT me. little rs she Is, she's
been what depended On.'
could well understand 1t. Tho girl
had one Uf those natures Oh which weaker
ones rest lnstlncilvcly. She was thorough
~ reliable. with cotrage,a patient hope,
q quiet strength, utterly out Of proportion
to her tiny frame. could not say any.
thing to console her poor mother, for
knew too well what she was losing, and
Il seems sO idle to talk about heavenly
consultations to ears deaf with misery.
The soul l. SD seldom ready t0 accept
them until after the blow has fallen, aud
God himself speaks to the stricken one
through the darkness Of desolaiion. i
could only say,
I'VE need not quite give up hope yet,
and We ought to think Of her now-of
making her rs comfortable us we can"
Then went out again Into the March
twilight.
Every night amer that found me at
Pleasant Street. could not stay away.
Besides all my Interest In her mn unac-
countable impression took possession OF
me that was In some way associated With
my own fate. was going, so II seemed
to me. straight toward my hesilny-a dcs-
tiny In some dim undrcamcd Of way con-
nected with "Brains" aud her little room.
have said that from tile first had
not much hope Of her. My hope les
sencd every day. She would never come
back to the place had engaged another
to fill till she got well. should never
watch again her tidy little ways, or be
amused ut her quaint wOmaiillness. i
had not thought II was in me to care Tor
her so much, but my heart grew heavy
rs ! saw her fade away. She suffered
terribly with her racklng cough, and the
constant wearing pain IN the side anu
chest; but she did not lose her Drght
cheerfulncss. For long time, too, she
seemed to make light of her Illness. ana
tell me that In little while she should be
back doing my crrands Us OF old.
The first time she said anything else
was Que April night. went 10 her lit
tic later than usual. and found the Doc
tor with her. had never seen him be.
fore. this DR. Sargent. His name seemed
somehow strangely familiar, though l
could not recall at the moment where j
heard II. lie was bending over poor
little Brains when went In. but be raised
his head and met my eyes with his own,
so Kind. SO pififll, so serious, that felt
drawn toward him ut once. The child
put out her hand. .-...l--.
You'll have tO keep her. Miss Mac
gregor," she said with sad smile. -
I did not think at first who she meant
and asked her.
1.-The girl that took my place, you
know. I've been asking Doctor Sargent,
and he doesn't think Ill ever be able to
20 back any more. -,
She was So calm that for very shame i
tried to DO calm also. but the tears would
come, and went out into the next room
/