Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-29

trouble 10 you." heard the doctor say.
"and Is anxious to- be taken To his lodg-
ings, hut 10 move him Is simply impossi-
ble as yet"
"Ot course" said Aunt Hillary,
promptly, - don't dream of his being n
trouble, poor man; and am sure he Is
weleonr to whatever | can do for him
1t Is fortunate that hc Is in my house. as
/ have 40 family to take up my time
and So hall DO able to pay him proper
attention. just tell me what | can do
for him, doctor"
"a present, said the doctor, in low,
grave voice, " he needs only quiet and
nourishing food
Aunt Hillary did not take in the full
significance of these words until "A few
hours later, when Ephraim returned
from Mr.. McIcan's lodgings. whittier hc
had voluntarily gone for certain articles
of clothing, and To see the schoolmastcr's
effects properly secured during his
absence. And then lac told Aunt Hillary
n pathetic story of bare walls and straw
bed. chair and table; the latter with the
schoolmaster's dinner set out upon IT.
"Pca-soup and corn bread. as ! live"
said Ephrafm. with brown sugar and
coffee i'm n cupboard. and no butter.
And the shocmakcrs wife, who lets him
the room, says he cooks his own victuals
and don't eat enough 10 physic n snipe,
and mcnds his own clothes occasional ~
Aunt Hillary burst into tears. She
knew, as did everybody in the place. that
the schoolmaStcr was very poor; but
she had not dreamed of poverty such as
this. And then he was stranger. with
no friends near Ia do him "A kindness, or
to look after him in his illness. What
.l.sV-
touched
Thereafter. despite his helpless condi-
tion, | considered Mr. McIRa fortunate
man. / never entered the house without
finding in Aunt liillary's kitchen (a per-
feet model Of a kitchen, by-the-bye), vari-
Gus dainty dishes. the very sight Of
which caused my schoolgirl mouth to
water.
Such fragrant tea and delicate waiIics,
serycd on the French china that LA
been wcdding-prcscnt 90 her mother
Such savory bccf-tca, and fresh straw
berries and translucent jcllics Such
omclcts-Huch broilcd steaks -- such
white, fcathcry rolls and all 50 tempt
ingly arranged on the large iapnnncd
tray. ready Ia be carried to the invalid's
bedside, where stood n round table al
ways adorned with the very choicest Of
Aunt llillary's ilowcrs-not in big
bouquet. hut simply blossom or two,
fresh and sweet. in little DrsSdcn-china
vase that had been longer in the family
than Aunt Hillary herself,
And then, how neat and cool and
pleasant was the room in which the in
valid lay. Kind ncighbors supplied him
with papers and books. and Aunt Hill
larry sometimes read 10 him; and more
than once heard her singing in the twi-
light in a low voice. much as q mother
might sing TO her tired baby.
As hc grew better and could sit up in
bed. Mr.. Mclean began to make himself
of Use to his hostess. He rctouchrd a
faded crnyon portrait Of her father; hc
repaired and renovated q much-prizcd
workboN ho instructed her how to clean
gilt picturc-framcs: how to fix colors in
carpets and dress goods by chemical
combination. and. bcst Of all. hc took
charge Of Jackey-thc cause of this I'M
expected change in Miss Hillary house.
hpld-and. subicrting him TO course
of careful training, transformed him inia
a tractablc. intelligent and well-b,haycd
member Of the household.
Ii was wonderful. Ephraim declared,
how changed the b"ag, had become. and
how implicitly he ob"ycd the least worl
or sign from tlc -chOoimasteT, who was
the only person for whom he ever mani
tested the least respect.
Aunt Hillary did her best. hy means
Of feeding aud pctting. to win his regard.
but hc appeared 10 look upon her with a
certain conirmptuou- Indifference. some
times expressed in his conduct. except
when stcTnly rrhukcd by Mr. Mclean.
And 50 the sweet ilowcry June passed:
and one day. MIR Mclean. with the
assistance of crutch and Squire
sanders arm. limpcd out of Aunt Hill
lary's rose wroathed porch to carriage
which was waiting before the door.
saw him turn To Aunt Hillary and take
her hand. and say something in n low
voice about her goodness and his graft
tudo: and I thought his owes were moist
and his voice somewhat faltcring.
And when hc was gone (uut to his old
lodging. but To- Squire Sanders hnspi-
table homc), Aunt Hillary went back into
the house and wandered about in n lost
kind Of way. md finally sat down In Mr..
McIran's armchair. and then. without
n word. began to cry.
When ! asked what allied her. she
wiped her eyes and laughed. and said
that she felt at loss, as If her occupa-
tion was gone-and she must get an
other patient 10 attend to or go into
hospital as nurse.
After this | used 20 occasionally soc
Mr.. Mclean seated in Aunt IIillary's
front porch. or leaning on her gnte. rs
shc gathered a rosebud for him Once
heard linn talking about his little girl.
I.illic--hc was n widower-at school
away in the South. and Of
his longing to see her; and then knew
that it was for this child-to dress her
nicely and give her n good education
that the schoolmaster had saved his little
earnings, to the sacrifice Of his own COZ
fort.
He dill not go back 10 his little sohj
Squire Sanders influence he
the position Of principal Of
c. Academy. with good salary:
and now he began to dress we'll and look
So handsome that the single ladies Of
c. began to take quite an interest in
him. They invited him 10 society meet
ings and quilting suppers; but it was
a.ll f,.