Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1870-12-29

while the wind whistled outSid
! She could see, too, as plainly as
t she were there, the dear, old Chin
t pitcher filled to the brim with choic
t cider, pressed from the many hue
apples that had made the orchard
/ fair at autumn, and the dish of erin
: son Spitzenbergs and little cake:
that always stood on the table i
front of the hearth-stOne, ready fo
, guests of a winters evening.
, "Oh, this will never dow sal
: Hildah, springing .up-the dea
} home vision was becoming too niue
for her. What can l do to pas
away the time?
Make somebody happy was tn
. thought that came to her.
/ "Who?'
Then Hildah remembered the lad
of the house, Mrs. Sutherland. |
was hardly strange not to hav
thought of her at once, for Maud
mother, through the winter, neve
left the suite of rooms appropriate,
to her use-her fragile health keep
ing her close prisoner through tn
northern winter. And vet confine
ment in such a prison was scarcel,
a hardship.
Hildah had been once in thes,
rooms since she came; but bewild
cred at all around her, had brough
away only vague impression o
tropical warmth, twilight dimness
lit by the rose of silken curtains
and in the midst of all a pale lad,
sitting with cushions piled arounC
her, who asked both Brenda anC
herself to come and see her again
she had had a very bad day of it Sc
far
The voice had been soft and swee
enough to have drawn her thither
but in the hustle of gayety Hildal
had forgotten the wan invalid i'm
prisoned, in splendor, it may be, bu
still imprisoned, in spite of all.
Hildah went up the staircase ant
knocked timidly upon the gill
paneling of one of the many doors
| a low come i'm floated towards
her, and Hildah entered.
"How glad l am" said the pale
lady. from amid her cushions. i
have just sent nurse away to gel
frightened up-invalids are dull
company, you know. And then
she held out wee bit of hand to
Hildah, who caressed the same soft
ly, as if it were small, white bird.
ling.
Almost before she knew it, Hill
dah was sitting on q cushion at the
pale lady's feet, still holding the
one hand and talking cheerily OF
her school life and Maud and Bren-
da. By-and-by Mrs. Sutherland
drew her on to speak of her own
home and rural fireside; and Hill
dah's voice grew eager and conf
dental as she described the quiet
farm house, and even told how the
vision of the China pitcher, filled
with amber red cider, and the dish
of red checked apples, had come
back to her that night among the
dear memories of the hearth-stone.
Then Mrs. Sutherland rang a bell,
and presently there came tray OF
dainty confections, in obedience to
whispered order given to nurse.
Hildah had never cared less to
eat than now; for, since those few
words of DIR. Ives had been spoken,
and she had crossed swords with
Mr.. Sutherland-albeit in the cause
of right-she had felt an odd chok
ing at her throat, which it was
hard to conquer. Hildah loved to
be loved, and craved the sympathy
of those about her; yet she was a
brave little heart for all, and would
fight the battle of life nobly.
AT another time, this tray of dain-
ties would have been tempting en-
ough, especially to one used to the
plain fare of school life. Two little
cups, dainty shells of pink and gilt,
out of which floated the aroma of
chocolate, mould of amber jelly,
hot-house grapes, white and purple,
and the gold red of oranges, set in
a flligree of silver-an artist would
not have disdained the tray of
dainties, it was such pretty bit of
coloring in the mellow rose light
that filled the invalid's room.
Il am not hundrg, dear Mrs.
Sutherland, pleaded Hildah.
You must keep me company,
though returned her hostess. If |
am an invalid, l find wee bit of
supper does me no harm-good,
rather; l sleep the better for it
So Hildah ate to please the lady,
who said the bit of supper was
nicer tonight than it had been for
months. think you have some
thing to do with it. dear child.
Then Hildah laughed, well pleased,
and when the repast was done, the
pale lady caressed the hair of her
guest, who had taken her station at
her feet once more, and in minute
asked.
The rest have gone out. you say
Yes, ma'am-to the theater.'
And You stayed at home:
Yes, ma'am.
Why, my child:'
'Hildah looked down moment,
then turned her gaze up to that of
the invalid, saying, simply, You
know, l think
Mrs. Sutherland smiled softly
they understood one another then.
May not read something toyou
anything you like-before | go"
asked Hildah.
Mrs. Sutherland, taking a book
from beside her, opened it, and
handed it to the young girl, who
saw it was the Book, and open at
the fourteenth chapter of st. John.
Hildah read the beautiful verses
that have comforted so many souls: {:
Let not your heart be troubled:
Ye believe in God, believe also in
me-
When she had finished, she looked
up to see a faint light, that showed
exceeding joy on the hitherto pale
cheek of the invalid, and in her soft,
sad eyes as well. Hildah kissed the
lady, then withdrew to her own
room; in striving to please another,