Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-04-02

speakg 70 me again, aud was 10 oross
this aftenoonP Did she make herself
sick sewing on my dress, and / didn't
want 10 help her darn Stockings a lit
lie whilep Oh mammai forgive mel"
and poor Meg fell on her knees BY the
bed, kissing the hot hands, AZ this
moment Mr.. French aud the doctor
entered; The latter sat down By the
bed, and Mr.. French whispered 70
Meg, ''Ned has gone for Aunt Alice;
don't be frightened Meg, yOu must be
mother TO the little boys" and hearing
their voices in the hall, he motioned
her away. She went out TO them, tell
ing them quietly that mamma was
sick, but she would read "Robinson
CrusOe" 10 them on the hammock, and
perhaps she would soon be we'll The
doctor told them before long that the
dear, loving mother had typhoid fe-
yer, that II must have been some days
in coming on az the fever was already
very high, and he feared the worst
Ned few up 10 his room with quiver-
ing lips, and was seen no more for
hours, when he appeared in slippers
and gown, saying he should sleep on the
lounge by the bedroom door, and
there weren't men enough in town 20
hinder"
win, who was two years younger
than Meg, and Frank and Philip, the
nine-year-old twins, mothers "bOnnie
bairns," with many tears, and anxious
questions, went softly up 20 bed, each
trying to be the quieter, for their room
was directly over "her's," and she
started at the slightest sound. Meg
thought she never could go to sleep that
night. All her discomfort and fretful-
ness came vividly to her mind, and it
was late before her tired, fearful eyes
closed to sleep. Thus began a sad,
weary and long fight with the fever.
Meg was busy day times with keeping
the house in order, caring for the boys
who came to her with their troubles
and joys, relieving Martha Of some
duties, like putting away clean clothes,
setting the table, and best Of ALL COM
forting her father Is well as any one
could. The piano must be closed now,
and OH how Meg lOnged for the happy
time to come, If it ever did, when she
could again sit down and play to her
mother, or better yet with her The
boys den" was vacated, for try as
they might, and did, they could not
move 50 quietly but the poor head below
was panied; and Meg prayed for the
day to come, when she could put in
order once more the full, funny place
which she called q " curiosity shop"
Mary and Ella Blake rode often to in
uuire How is Mrs. French to-dayP''
and sometimes Meg would ride a little
with them, never once noticing what
I NL 4l..A
times she did not look her ''best" To
her great delight the doctor gave into
her hands-"careful little hands, he
called them--the responsibility Of pre-
pairing the beef-tea, wine jelly, and
other strengthening dainties he pre-
scribed. How Insignificant and useless
everything seemed in comparison with
I her mothers life! "Give me this, dear
Lord" she prayed day after day, ''and
mine shall be yours" How she re-
solved to be patient, helpful, loving and
unselfish! How she determined to do
I all, and ten times more than she had
ever done, to relieve her mother. She
took down her French grammar and
tried to eonjugate a new verb to sur
prise her when she got well, but the
thought that perhaps she had taken her
last lesson from her gentle teacher
drove all others from her mind, and
books were put away till happier times.
At last, after days and nights of wea-
riness and suspense, the dear life was
declared out of danger, and great
Thanksgiving and praise went up from
the hearts Of father and children.
From that day, Meg French loved
first and best her home and the dear
ones in it;while content and unselfishness
made her sweet face more lovely, and
her life blessing to all.-JeHHie Dick
insOg, in NJ Y. tribune