The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-07-23

afraid to come mere mySelI, anu WHICH,
have TO come to collect rents for mother,
she always ties a camphor bag around
my neck" u
III am not at all afraid" replied Ma
rion, "and this is not God-forsaken
part of the city, if the people generally
are as sweet, patient Christians as the
sick woman | have left. | never felt SO
happy in my life, and have just begun
to learn that our truest happiness comes
to us through doing good to others"
"Charity begins at home" said the
young man, twirling his gold-headed
cane. You better make convert OF
me, though don't think much OF your
religious chaps"
Roland Fletcher walked home with
Marion, expostulating with her and try.
ing to make herpromise that she would
never 90 into tenement house again.
After they had seated themselves in her
fathers parlor, he took the tiny hand
with the diamond ring on it into his own
and said:
"The idea of such a beautiful hand as
this is ministering to sick people in tene
ment houses, and Juggling fruit, plas'
tiers, and nobody knows what else,
through the street for their benefit"
HMy hands are not beautiful, Roland
Fletcher, - replied the young lady, hasti.
ly withdrawing her hand from her low.
er's. 81 have learned to-day that
Beautiful hands are those that do
Work that is earnest, brave and true.
Hereafter l shall devote myself to min.
istering to those whom God has not seen
fit to bless with this worlds goods as
abundantly as He has blessed me-"
"If there is anything l detest," said
Roland, "it's your pious women, your
women's rights women, your self-sup-
porting women, and your fanatical
women, who think they have mission.
[ expect you will be clamoring for the
ballot next. You are my individual
property now, and wish you to pre-
serve your true womanlineSs and not
overstep the boundaries of propriety by
this nunnery, mission business"
"You and differ about the meaning
of the term true womanliness," repeat
ed Marion, in a trembling voice. al
feel that 1 have a right to follow the
dictates of my own conscience in such
matters"
Roland saw that Marion felt hurt,
and, as he did really love her as much
as his selfish nature was capable of low
ing any woman, he tried to modify his
rash words. Weeks passed on, Marion
still continued her visits of love and
mercy, but always under protest. Every
day she felt that Roland and she were
drifting farther and farther apart. The
external things of life-the life of pleas
ure and fashion that had woven such
chains about him-were slowly breaking
in Marion's soul. Her estimate of the
things that bring happiness were very
different. She was not surprised one
morning to receive a note from Roland
Fletcher asking that the engagement
might be broken. He closed the note
saying: cit has always been against my
principles to marry any woman with
mission.n
Years passed away. Roland Fletcher
and Marion Douglass had drifted apart
and lost sight of each other for a long
time. Marion had married wealthy
gentleman who believed with her that
our happiness in life comes to us "when
we make life less difficult to Others"
They both were of one mind in Their
ideas of usefulness. Marion's beautiful
hands never tired of doing work that
was "earnest, brave and true Three
lovely children had come to their home,
but amid their present happiness the
sorrows of others were never forgotten.
One lovely summers morning Marion
started from the "Flower Mission,''
with her basket of bouquets to distribute
in the hospitals. While passing through
one of the wards she stopped beside the
cot of a new patient who had been
brought in the night before.
"Will you have bouquet, sir?n ask
ed Marion, as she tenderly bent over the
suffering one.
"Thank you, madame" the sick man
said, as he reached out his hand and
took the proffered flowers. "What
a beautiful mission the Flower Mission
is, and how very kind you ladies are to
bring them to US poor sick ones, who
are shut out from natures beauties
owe are very glad to cheer the sick
ones in this way" replied Marion, as
she took a stray rosebud out of the bas-
ket and handed it also to the patient.
The mans eye fell upon the hand of the
woman who ministered to him, and he
said:
beautiful hands are those that do
work that is earnest, brave and true"
Marion's face had been hidden b9-
meath her large shade hat, but when she
lifted her head there was mutual rec
ognition. 1t was Robert Fletcher.
"Marion Douglass!" he exclaimed.
elbow often have longed to see you and
take back the cruel words [ said to you
so long ago about true womanliness. |
have tried to bless the name of woman.
| have been the recipient of her Chris
tan love and kindness. When all 9TH
ers forsook me, it was woman with a
mission who nursed me through a
malignant disease, and rescued me from
death without repentance and forgive
ness. 1t was n woman's hand that
guided me to the 'only Name given
among men whereby we may be saved,
and it was band OF praying women
who rescued me from drunkard's
grave"
Roland's story was soon told. His
mother died years before and left him
her immense fortune. which he soon
squandered in riotous living. He was
| now a charity Ootinnt at q bocn;tal