Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-01-19
Aliscellnnu.
The Invalid.

Ell any lace OF cbliu OF woman t""' ""'
ever seen. divile peace that, won
through anguish, had blossomed into JOY
Such face as the martyrs might have
worn in the Intervals Of torture, whe'
the remembrance of consciousness OF sus'
tanning love. Small and delicate IN out
line IL was neither emaciated nor cadav-
erous. but luminous from soul unfalter-
ing in its trust, securely anchored on
something stronger than itself. If l had
any thought of acting the part of helper
to one in need, in offering sympathy in
the accustomed phrases to one long de-
barred from the joys of active life, shut
in from the beauty of the out door world,
it died out in the presence of that face,
was utterly forgotten before the marvel
of those clear eyes that shone with a
light as steady and assured as the light
of stars. Sick-room platitudes had no
place at that bedside, and coincidence
would have been as incongruous as though
offered on the loss Of his means, to one
who had invested all that he had in a
field that contained an inexhaustable
mine of gold. In the presence of this
invalid girl, recognized something that
made intellectual attachments meager,
wealth and impertinence, and even good
health thing to be carried modestly,
not faunted in the face of the world, as
one or the best things life has to give.
81 am glad to see you, she said smil,
ing, and giving me hand exquisitely
small and delicate. have wanted to
see you but am compelled, as you see, to
wait for people to come to me-" No
queen could have received guest with
more perfect, selfpossession, for to this
pure soul suffering had been teacher,
not only of every Christian grace, but Of
that tranquility and self-poise that is the
secret Of the best manners.
am afraid you find the days very
long," l said, clumsily broaching the
very subject / had meant to avoid.
"Oh, no." she answered cheerfullY,
"not too long / usually sleep late. The
pain will not let me sleep much, but
towards morning | fall asleep, and often
do MT ,uab n All nine -. ton. than e;,to
gets me pand l have my breakfast, and
that uses up "a couple of hours, and after
that read awhile, and then | am 81
tired that am very glad to get back Il
bed, and by the time am a little rested
it is night again; no, the days are MOI
long"
"And the nights p asked.
Yes, they are long; but | wouldn't
mind if the pain would only let me keeI
still, SO that sister could sleep. l dom
know why it is so much worse at night
but sometimes can't help groaning, anc
then she is awake in an instant, and tina
is SO hard for me to bear, for know how
harl she works all day, and then being
awake so much at night is fairly wearing
her out" and here the eyelids fell, and 8
tear or two stole from under them anG
rolled down the pale cheek. "You SEE
she has had the care of me so long, ant
before that, Of mother and grandmother
her whole life has been given to taking
care of the sick"
{" How long have you been confined t
your bed as yeu are now?' | asked.
Fifteen years"
| suppressed the exclamation that rose
to my lips, for the words were pronounc
ed quite simply, as one would say that
he had lived in a particular house Oh
neighborhood fifteen years She was lit
tie more than a child when the accident
occurred that took her away from all
the interests and activities of life, and
consigned her, an incurable invalid and
helpless cripple, 10 her bed During all
these years she had been constant SUI
fer, and some hours out of every twenty
four were hours of agony, and yet she
had no word of complaint or repining OF
her own account, and the only tears she
let fall were for the patient life wearing
itself out in care and tender solicitud,
for her.
What she could speak of so tranquil
ly, | found it impossible to think of with
composure. l took my leave somewhat
hurriedly, and on my way home, listened
to a story of suffering, selfsaeri6ce anC
unwearied devotedness, that is rarel,
equaled. On the older sister, and ,
brother whom / did not see, had devolv
ed the care of decrepit grandmother
invalid parents and this helpless young
er sister. With no complaints, quietly
and as a matter of course, the burden
had been assumed. 1t involved the sur
render of every personal hope aud ambi
ton. The brother, like other young mel
OF the place, had longed to go West, ant
make place aud home for himself
bot he could not be spared the tim,
never came. Early and late, with pow
erty ever pressing harder and harder up
on them, he toiled for those dear to him