Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-07-17

one would have chosen to cool one
self in. An uncomfortable, soreis
feeling over the eyes made her glad ,
SIT down and rest them by fiy
minutes nap. But her head restin
against the wall rubbed Off the colo
ing, so she got up again saying:
However them footmen stand beip
powered can't think. Bother it m
head feels like sandmartin."
Martha had no very definite MOTTO
as to whether sand-martin was fsl
flesh, or fowl; but she picked up tn
word with Londoner's relish for rura
phrases, and suppose it must meal
something sandy. Perhaps it was a
well that just at that moment she wa
not tantalized by the thought of tn
cool, breezy life of the bird she ha.
named.
"Oh, dear! l wish l was dead !" sh
SAID presently; but sudden sharl
pain through her temples reminded he
OF the near possibility of death and
with q shlver, she turned her wishe
into, IL wish I was a better girl +;
wish l had learnt in my Bible, or some
thing l wish-oh, l wish-there was
anybody in all the world to care if !
was dead or alivew Then she stopped
suddenly; her throat seemed to dry up
and. with a terrified sense of falling
down unknown depths, she sank upor
the floor. Poor Martha had fever.
Many days and nights Martha la,
unconscious. When she awoke she
was in white bed, cool and soft, witt
an unaccountable of strawberries il
the air.
IL suppose IT'S heaven" she thought
"or else a dream. Anyhow, I'll keen
still, lest missus's bell should ring.
But some one said, won't YOU
wake up, DEAR The voice was a
gentle, motherly voice; such voice
as had never addressed Martha since
she could remember.
"les, she thought again, "that' 5
Just the way | should talk in heaven :;
IL very nice. l wonder l was afraid
to-day"
She spoke the last sentence aloud
and the mothcrly voice, this time with
shade Of trouble in it, said: "Ah
she's little light-headed still, Door
dear Bu; she'll soon come round.
See, she continued to Martha, .only
just look what your friends have
brought you. ~
"Tlsn't me- said Martha ~ haven't
got any friends
well, that's pretty - said another
voice-so CHEEKY and so thin, it re-
minded her Of Toms, grown older.
mot got any friends y the voice went
on, when they've been and sent Won
this :"
"lhss being put close to her, was
SO exceedingly fragrant that Martha
opened her eyes, and found out where
the strawberry odor had como frc,a.
Queens" which slight, pale woman,
In widows cap, was holding toward
her
Don't you know what to do with
them, dearie." said the motherly body
whose clean precision of dress some
how told Martha that she was an hos
pital nurse.
"Oh, yes said Martha. with a SIGH
OF delight as the first one melted in her
mouth ''but l never saw such mons
ters"
Yes" said the widow, looking
pleased, ''thev wanted them to be first
rate, and there's been plenty of time
to get them. To-day is the first dav
the doctor said you might have them"
but such beauties !" said Martha
again. They must be rich people
that sent them"
Rich enough said the widow, with
a curious smile and Martha feasted in
silence; only now and then begging
her two companions to take one, .to
make them seem real"
When she had finished, the widow
said, "You don't know me, do YOU?
I'm Toms mother. You remember
little Tom?'
"Oh, yes" said Martha, with Il
glance of conjunction at the empty
basket. II wish I'd saved him q straw
berry.
''He's had his share, l fancy" said
the widow smiling.
''How! z" said Martha.
''ln giving them to you. He bought
them, his brother and he, on purp ose
for you, they've been saving up ever
since you've been ILL.,"
but how w-ever-did-they-get
the money!" said Martha.
''Oh, went messages and held horses,
and things, in their meal times" said the
widow.
'uow good of them! oh, how good of
them!" said Martha, crying little be-
tween weakness and pleasure.
"Yes, they are good children, espe-
cially Tom, it was thought"
A little dew of mothers pride and jov
moistened the widows eyes. The good
nurse objected to tears on principle; but, i,
as she said atterward, 'she had not the
heart to interfere" when Martha. half
raising herself, drew the widow toward
her and said, "Will you be my friend
indeed? I've never had friend in my
life. Nobody cared for me since my
mother died"
Somebody cares now, :hen," said the
widow, with her voice still as clear and
cherry as a little birds; "you shall be o
me instead of my daughter that died.
1t used to remind me of her when Tom
was telling me about YOU"
''God bless you ~ said Martha whose
tears of joy would not let her say more
But when the widow had gone, and
the kind skillful nurse was arranging
her for sleep, Martha said, "God forgive
me for despairing I'll never say again,
Who cares?"