The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-09-01
zHE: gRtBuHE.
HER DIARY.

realize that am fairly outside OF that
dingv schooi-room, with its row OF stunt
ca desks and It's paneling Of blackboard
Tt is so delicious TO have ones time to
ones self such luxury just to SIT Ia y
and dream over the pictures OF Uncle
Aristotle's walls, where IN spending
happy holiday ! l wish vacation would
asst forever!
Lena re proaches me with my want Of
energy. bat tell her she has enough for
both. She hardly gives herself time to
eat or sleep, while | allow myself gen
erous margin for both occupations l H.
sist that Lena is preparing herself toc
country parish Or a mission to the Feeje
ans: and she assures me with grim face
that every one has a mission II she
chooses to discover it. | wonder what
mine is In the morning, when L no I'D
that pleasant middle state between sleep
ing aud waking, L hear Lena starting Oft
to read the Bible to OLD Mrs. Haddock,
and feel very wicked for half a minute.
She never seems to have moment to
spare for what she calls friyolltles. I've
never seen her her stroll into the garden
nor sit on the veranda to pass the time
o.day with Dame Nature, nor idle in the
hammock. I've never seen her waste a
second before the engraving of Turner IN
the library or the AIRY Schetfer over the
manteI, which have set nae dreaming
away half hours By the score. Every one
of Lena days has its appointed task:
She reads theology to two blind ladies'
of decayed fortunes, and the church pap
ers TO bedridden old man; she is presi-
dent of the Society for Aged Women,
and treasurer of the Dakota League to
send tracts ard blankets to the Indians;
she belongs to halfa dozen Bethels and
foreign missions and societies for the
education Of INDECENT young men for the
ministry, and she is always seeking out
destitute families and inval!ds to whom
chicken broth and calf 8 foot jelly are
providence
She does a world of good - Ost
RAIDER says to me. as he sees her going
out like my Lady Bountlful: and he says
It with sigh.
Il don t like soody-good people, |
reniy, Just to vex him, and because /
must speak my mind for though l like
Lena herself used to love her when
we played dolls together ten years ago
vet ] don't fancy the Lena who has wrap
ped herself away from all home sympath-
les and innocent pleasures
You will learn to like her, Ostrand-
er insists. But | wish she would re-
member that there are hungry souls
without going into the highways and
hedges to find them.
m afraid he thought me stupid en-
ough, fer did not understand him at
once.
You mean that she could do some
good at home too? She might read to
her mother, who is an invalid herself, or
to Uncle Aristotle, whose eyes are fail
ing him? and teach the maids their work
and cnertain you and me? questioned,
glibly.
No" said he, most charitably.
"Those are things to which she viii
awaken one day. ali in good time. L
was speaking of myself.
'sOf yourself?' [ repeated. ''Do you
men''-and then I couldn't help laugh
ing, if [ were to die for it, why. Oot-
rander, she hasn't half minute to waste
on love, if that's what you mean
You've hit my meaning exactly" he
answered. 1T seems to amuse you.
To tell the truth, it does amuse me.
Ostrander is so handsome, and In love
with Lena, who is so prim, and thinks
of nobody hu. the bed-ridden and power
ty-stricken. Very good OF her, no doubt,
but not half SO natural as caring for Ost-
rander would be.
Sunday-Ostrander overlook us COM
ing home from church, and wanted to
walk round by the haunted mill, but
Lena was going to hear the lessons OF
her ragged school at Poverty Point
Ostrander said he hoped she would
teach them 10 love one another. He and
| walked on together over the crazy
bridge by the deserted mill, where the
river slides by, reaching an arm toward
the distant sea, and the trees lean over
to look at themselves on their bank till
they interlace [ felt almost sinful to be
there enjoying myself in the Sunday still
ness, with the perfumed fields stretch
ing away in the sun, and the river rip
ping at my feet. and Ostrauder repeat
ing snatcheS from the poets that painted
the scene TO perfection. while Lena was
doing good work at Poverty Point. |
believe [ confessed to the sensation, for
Ostrander said:
u suppose every one must do good IN
his or her own way.
but it seems to me, l replied,
THAT Lena method Is to DO just the
contrary to what she would like to do .
DO you think she would perter walk
ing with US to teaching those ragged
urcbins 2" he asked, Frightening.
L haven't doubt but she would
prefer walking with you. | assured
him; ''only Lena is perpetually mortify
ing The flesh. -
Upon my word, [ couldn't help wond
ering at her when no sighed and looked
away across the rivers dim expanse 4,
aud forget me for half an hour. If any
one loved me like that, [ should be
ashamed to make no return. but-no-
body does.
Tuesday-"I suppose, " said 0strand
er last night, that if / were an invalid,
or fellow with cataract or bump.
Lena would be devoted to me-
Cant you pretend to some mlsfor-
tune ?" L asked.
"Will, if looking well can't move her,
looking i'll prevail?