Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-03-01
into his attentive ear his plan for study

was MS ready response, when he had
concluded. '.And will propose some-
thing more Howard, which you have
not thought of. should like to come
and give you some little assistance my
self. Now, no thanks" he continued,
smiling, as he noted the look of de-
lighted surprise that beamed i'm the
earnest eyes gazing into his own. SIT
will be as great a pleasure to me as to
you" tfll-l 4 +
So, with Mrs. Howard's consent-a
consent how willingly given!-it was
thus arranged that Howard should
study with Mr.. Weston, a few hours
every morning. All, me! that little
room where the young cripple lay,
what sweetly mournful memories clus.
tered around it in after years,
Thus five years passed TRANQUILITY
away, and it was not until the fifth thar
Howard revealed to his friend his long,
cherished scheme of becoming an au-
thor, begging him to keep the knowl-
edge sacred.
Mr.. Weston was delighted He had
far less fear than the trembling aspirant
that he would be successful, and readily
proffered his aid in the laborious task of
writing and correcting. So the two
|
her mother little dreamed of the ambi-
tious scheme entertained by those so
near them.
Though Howard had the general plan
and scope of his work already sketched,
it took two years to finish it for the
publishers. How hard it was to appear
Indifferent during the time its accept
ance was pending he only knew; but
he went bravely through the ordeal. If
it should not succeed, he asked himself
again and again, what was the use of
all these long years of study? But ah!
| if it should-if it should What happy
competence it would provide for them
all, releasing his dear ones from all toll
and carei tt.ttf
And there were other and nearer
considerations that increased his anx-
iety. Howard knew, although his
! mother tried to conceal it, that she was
greatly straitened for want of means.
The summer had been an excessively
hot one. Day after day the scorching
sunlight fell on the parched earth, but
the bright beams brought no joy to the
hearts that were palpitating with hope
for shower. No balmy wind brought
relief to the fevered brow of Ethel, as
she tossed on her little bed, her whole
frame wasting away under the fever
that burned in her veins; her thoughts
wandering back uncOnsciously to other
| days.
Poor Mrs. Lee forgot. her perplexity
about the want that impended in attend-
| ing her darling; i'm watching, with
trembling hope and fear, each beat of
the fiuttering pulse, each gasping, pain
full breath. Long seemed the contest
between life and death; but youth and
vigor conquered at last; and one bright,
/ beautiful morning, after weary days
and nights of tears and watching, Mrs.
| Lee came into Howard's room, her eyes
dim, and her voice tremulOus with joy,
to tell him that Ethel was pronounced
out of danger.
.'Oh, we should not repine at any
thing when we have our darling re-
stored to us !" she whispered. every
thing else will come right in time but,
oh Ii she had goLe, there would have
been no joy left.''
She had just closed the door when
Howard heard quick step in the hall,
which he well knew, and his breath
came and went hurriediy as Mr.. Weston
entered. He could not trust himself to
speak; but one glance at his friends
face, flushed with joy, revealed the
truth, and fervent exclamation of
thankfulness burst from his full heart.
"They have sent a sum of money in
advance" said Mr.. Weston, as he turned
to depart. II cannot stay any longer,
but ar Howard, no one rejoices more
at yo success than do
Howard caught his hand, and bowed
his head over it. and Mr.. Weston felt
the tears that would not be restrained
fall upon it.
Mrs. Lee was surprised at her sons
emotion as she looked i'm to bid him
goodnight.
''Stay one moment, mother,' he en-
treated, 81 have something to tell you.
| know you are troubled about money
for the rent and the things you have
needed for Ethers illness. Take this
and use it as you will; it is little gift
from me-" ..
She looked astonished.. 1861 ,'v
"Ask no questions now dear MOTHER"
he said, gaily; believe me, you shall
know all soon. And remember the
promise / once made, that though my
useless e Z stence.
All. what a pleasure it was to be able
to supply the little delicaeies so grateful
to the invalid; to see the happy look of
contented peace come back to his
mothers eyes; to feel that, but for him,
a relapse might have carried the one so
dear away from their yearning hearts
to know that it was his work. 1t was
worth a Lifetime of pain to have reached
that hour. '-a-.,.r 81 1-
Slowly, at first, the bloom of health
returned TO Ethel's cheek, its sparkle to
her eve, its elasticity to her frame but,
after few weeks, she grew rapidly
better; and when, on a lovely evening
towards the middle of August, MIR.
Weston walked down TO the cottage, he
thought he had scarcely ever seen her
look so blooming. He had brought a
new book, he said; and the little group
gathered around to hear him read it.
Hour after hour stole on unnoticed,
while they listened, entranced, to the
glowing thoughts that sprung fresh
from the heart Of the author-a heart
beating warm and tender towards his
fellow-battlers in the great contest of
life, urging. them ever not to despair,
not to yield to doubt, to rembember that
the promise is to him that ''Over-com-
eth" Lavish were the praises bestowed
on it by the listeners, though Ethel
wondered. slightly why Howard should
be so silent. fr .1.B aaaf Z
When their exclamations of delight
had subsided Mr.. Weston said, half
smilingA"Perhaps you would like to
know the name of the writer"
"Oh, yes, indeed .' said Ethel eagerly.
"He does not live far from you," was
the reply. ''Can you not guess"
But he was interrupted; she caught
the glance of her brothers. eye: some
thing in it told her the tale, and she
sprang to his side with glad cry. Her
mother pressed forward and caught him
to her heart, while their tears mingled.
1t was long ere the happy trio sepa-
rated, but at length Mrs. Lee, fearing
the effect of such excitement on his
delicate frame, drew the reluctant Ethel