Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1880-12-16

"And 1 would help him." cried the child
eagerly, her great, dark eyes shining as she
spoke. 20, it would be so nice! We could
work together-I could copy his sermons, and
find his references, and help him visit his poor
people; and you, mamma, would keep house
and Leila and Mary receive all the visitors
and make plenty of friends. Everybody
would love Cyril, and his church would be
full all the time"
Mrs. Hope smiled little sadly at the pic
ture. Perhaps it occurred to her to wonder
whether, when Cyril did have such position
his little pet sister would, indeed, be there to
6ll the part she had marked out so enthusias
ticaly for herself The hectic flush which
the little passing excitement had brought to
Louis thin cheek died away she sank back
in her chair and coughed slightly, pressing
her hand to her chest.
"Do you feel any pain this morning, love ?"
asked the mother, gently"
"Not much-only just a very little when
l cough. But-my cough is so much better !;
1 slept the whole night through, last night"
"You must take your brothers advice,
and be more in the fresh air. If you have
finished your breakfast, suppose you 60 out at
once, for little while. The garden is cool
and shady Low"
"When have seen Cyrils letter, mamma !;
l want to read it for myself after Mary gets
through"
"Cyril would feel complimented if he
knew how highly we esteem his letters" said
Leila. II think I shall write to him to day."
"And I'll put an enclosure in" added Mary.
81 meant to write to-day" said Lou, look
ing disappointed; "but if you two are going
to, 1 had better wait"
"Why so, dear?" asked her mother" "Cy-
ril will be glad to hear from you, all the
same. Write by all means land tell him that
1 shall send him letter by to.morrow's mail"
"He will get letters enough, all in
bunch," said Mary, laughing. ave had
better consult together, so as to be sure we
will not all tell him the same things. On
second thought, however, believe l won't
write this time; so yous Lou, can send an
enclosure in Leila's missive, and I'll defer
mine day or two"
So it was amcably settled; and Lou, after
a brief enforced ramble out of doors, sat down
to the delightful task of penning her brother
a long, comprehensive epistle, which proved
too voluminous to 60 as an enclosure. So
eager was she over this performance, and so
bright were her cheeks when it was finished,
that her mother, gently chiding her for fatigu.
ing herself unduly, bade her 60 and lie down
for the rest of the forenoon, and neither read
nor employ herself in any other way until
she was thoroughly rested. With cbild's
docilty she obeyed, and Mrs. Hope, passing
through the room soon afterwards, had the
satisfaction of perceiving that she had drop.
ped into sweet, sound sleep.
"She does seem better, lately" the mother
murmured to herself, with a lingering look at
the fair, innocent face. "Her cough is GER
tainly less troublesome and if her appetite
would but improve-well, we must hope for
that by degrees. Perhaps after a time we
may be able to give her change. If she
could be with Cyril, now, it would do her
good but we could not manage that, I sup
pose"
With scanty means at her command, it
WAS not always easy for Mrs. Hope to carry
out her wishes or her plans. She had long
been trying to devise some method by which
she would be enabled to procure for her
youngest child the much desired change; but
so far she had not been able to arrange it.
1t would be impossible to move the whole
household, and to separate them seemed
equally impossible, since she could not leave
her two elder daughters alone, and would not
have trusted Louise away from her. There
was no kind friend or relative in whose charge
she could place her. And in addition to all
this, the cost of journey and necessary
out6t-how was that to be accomplished I? So
it was relief now to her to think that she
might possibly, after ALL have exaggerated
the necessity for such move Lou was
really improving-at least there was ground
for believing So Alas the belief could not
be sure one. Her heart misgave her, even
as she tried to re.assure herself, that it might
be only delusion. But with household oc-
cupations waiting for her, she could not stop
to dwell upon anxious doubts and fears, and
breathing the lightest of kisses upon the
sleeper's marble.like brow, she stole from the
room as quietly as she had entered, softly
closing the door behind her, to shut out any
possible interruption of the child's repose.
Barring the natural anxieties arising from
the condition of this cherished one of their
band-and even upon these the younger
members did not care to dwell-no happier
or ,uore cheerful household than Mrs. Hopes
could have been found. Pervaded by truly
Christian atmosphere of purity and love, the
little circle knew no discordsnt elements. All
their thoughts were for each other, all their
efforts unselfishly exerted for each others
welfare and satisfaction. Mrs. Hope kept
house, but Leila was her active adjutant and
counsellor. Since leaving school she had