The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-30


melody from their swelling Threats. The
water lines spread their waxy leaves in
charming contrast with the cradle OF green
in which they rocked gently up and down.
The willows on the bank, and the reeds IN
the pond looked down at their own graceful
reflections, or kissed the CLASSY surface. But
the sun shone, the birds sang, the lilies
bloomed all UNDECIDED by him that day. DC
casionally, when a frog leaped splashing into
the water, OF a looms shrill cry sounded In
the distance, he started with fear-''so does
conscience make towards OF us all Inc
vision of that pale face, pinched and
drawn IN its agony, was between his eyes
and all natures ioyeliness- The words OF
his father kept sounding in his ears: Il had
supposed YOU would be the first to defend
the unfortunate Almost unconsciousiy
he found himself retracing his steps, and al
most to the Hospital where they had taken
Sail. He would at least tell her how sorry
he was, and see what amends he could
make
When Dick saw her lying so wan and
white. he could scarcely believe his eyes. 1t
was the first time he had ever seen her face
and hands clean; her hair, too, they had al
WAYS laughed at so much, had been cut
short and brushed smooth, and DOW that the
tangles were out it looked as nice as his
own
sail. are you hurt much?" asked Dick, a
Dig lump COIlllDR up III Ills NiAode ~~hN ca
most choking him.
Eyes" She said; 1.-The Doctor says I'll
never walk any more. l don't care If die
if can die soon, my back hurts me so
can't stand It,"
''Oh, Sail, won't you forgive me?' sObbed
Dick. II was only chasing you for fun
didn't think OK hurting you"
"Yes, suppose the boys thought it was
| fun; / didn't" and she turned EARLY away
| from him.
1 Dick saw that he was poor comforter,
and getting no comfort for himself, he slow
| ly moved away. Suppose she died! He
would always feel like murderer. Or
suppose she did not die. but should be a
| cripple confined to her bed or room, perhaps
| for a lifetime. What would life be worth to
him if he could never run or jump, always
confined to one tiresome place, at the mercy
| of others to wait upon or neglect? He had
his dear father and mother who would sacri-
| flee all they thought most of and liked to do
| best, TO make the attiictiOn endurable. but
Poor Sail had no friends to do this for her.
| So, as he thought, he resolved by the help of
God to be true friend to her; to do for
her as nearly as he could all his parents
| would do for him under such circumstances.
Every evening saw him regularly on his
way to the Hospital, never without some
| little luxury to eat or something else to
| give her pleasure. As she grew stronger,
he read to her such stories rs she could I'M
derstand Her tastes grew and h er mi I'd
matured as the months rolled by (there is
nothing develops the understan ding like
sufferingl With some instruction and much
patience in time she was able to read for
herself. Among other things Dick had
given her pencil and paper, and she amused
herself trying to draw the faces of the at
/ tendants in the Hospital. of course they
| bore little resemblance to the originals at
/ first, but with each effort they grew more
and more striking, till it was easy to see her
remarkable talent needed only proper cult
walton to make her famous. Dick succeeded
| in interesting some others in his pro tege
and soon had the sa,isfact on of taking her
to a pleasant studio, with every convenience
| for the pursuit of her art, and a master to
instruct her. All Dicks spending money
he had religiously devoted to Sails interest
in one way or another. 1t required little
| self-denial to do this, but it did require all
the resolution he could muster to spend his
leisure time with her. reading to or amusing
her, when he wanted to be somewhere else,
But il was good school for him, and lie
improved in it quite as much as Sail. 1t
was teaching him many lesson of patience
and benevolence he would have learned no
where else. making him familiar with scenes
of suffering, showing him with what forti-
tude the good can endure trials and he saw
as never before how much he had to be
thankful for. While Poor SAIL the match
girl" may find her life in the end more use
full and happy than if she had been left in
peaceable possession other basket of matches
on that eventful day, Dick does not feel
that he is entirely guiltless even after all he
has done for her, but know he would feel
like telling every boy to think a moment
before they do anything 'just for fun"