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

ANONNONS
of lace fell over beautiful hand, which
rested upon the soft upholstery of the
arm of the chair. 1t was a hand that
the most fastidious of sculptors would
have chosen for his model. On its first
shapely finger was magnificent dia-
mond ring, which the son of Mrs. Thomas
Fletcher had placed there only the night
before. Mrs. Thomas Fletcher was a
rich widow; Roland Fletcher had no
identity of his own-he was always
spoken of as ''the rich Mrs. Fletcher's
son." and everybody knew that it was
his mothers money that kept him
sailing on the top wave of elite society.
Marion Douglass, our heroine, was in
deep thought. Her eyes rested upon
the betrothal ring upon her finger, and
shade of sadness passed over her face.
"I wonder if there is any real happi-
ness in this world" she said, aloud.
81 thought l was going to be so very
happy after l promised to marry Roland
Fletcher, but this has been the most
depressing day have had for months.
How | wish | had something to do;
something that amounts to something.
| want to be occupied, but there is
nothing for me to do; everybody does
everything for me. Roland talks about
the beauty of repose' and rest, but l
will tell him tonight that Cowper says,
the Absence of occupation is not
rest.'n
Just then the door-bell rang, and the
servant summoned Marion Douglass to
the hall. The caller was a sewing-girl
from Madame Marmount's, who had
come to bring home the new silk dress
which had been made to wear at re-
ception on the following evening.
"Madame wishes me to stay and see
if the dress fits well, and if you will wish
any alterations maao,n said the sewing
girl, as she handed the elegant dress to
Miss Douglass.
The dress was pronounced a perfect
fit, and Marion saw no alterations she
wished made, so the young girl fixed the
'1oopings," and pinned on the flowers.
1t was with gaze of rapture that the
tasteful dressmaker surveyed the beau
tiful young lady standing before her, ar
rayed in the elegant costume, and, clasp
ing her hands together, she exclaimed,
go, how lovely, how lovely!" Then,a
if fearing she had been too communica-
tive, she said, ''Please excuse me, Miss
Douglass, but indeed 1 could not help
expressing myself as l did"
"You are perfectly excusable, +" replied
the young lady, kindly. eff look well,
am greatly indebted to you for the
tasteful arrangement of my dress. May
ask your name?"
"Dora, Dora Curtiss," replied the
girl.
"Don't you get very tired sewing all
the time?'' asked Marion, in kindly
tone of voice.
go, no, Miss Douglass, love to sew
and help design the beautiful dresses"
she replied. 81 hope soon to be able to
have an establishment of my own, so
can do more for mother and the chill
dren."
Marion saw that Dora Curtiss was by
no means the hollow-eyed, thin
checked, sad-faced girl' of the average
sewing-girl type, pictured in novels. On
the contrary, she was bright, fresh,
red-cheeked, happy-faced girl.
"My mother has been an invalid for
years." she said, encouraged by the in
terest the young girl had manifested.
"She gets low spirited, sometimes, SO
always try to keep a state of bright
weather in my heart, and that makes
me feel better.'
"Wouldn't your mother relish some
jelly?' asked Marion, impulsively; g we
have plenty of it," and she sent the
servant Immediately to the store-room
to bring two glasses of the incest Jelly.
O. thank you many, many times, Miss
Douglass, for your thoughtfulness, y
said Dora. "Mother will enjoy the
jelly so very much"
elbow much happier feel since met
that sewing GIRL" thought Marion. 81
wonder if it is because happened to
think of giving her that jelly But that
was such a little thing to do. How much
might do every day for the happiness
of Others
The next morning Marion woke up
with the full determination to 90 and see
Dora Curtiss' mother and carry her some
fruit. She got ready very soon after
breakfast, and while drawing on pair
of well-ftting gloves over her tiny hand
she remembered how often her friend:
had said, "What beautiful hands yor
have" and feeling of pride filled hel
heart for moment. When she arrived
at her destination she was ushered int
plainly-furnished apartment on the
first floor of tenement house. Mrs
Curtiss received her with many kline
words of welcome and thanks. Sh,
said the fruit and jelly were Just wha
she had been wanting.
AS Marion looked around the room
her eye fell upon paper pinned upol
the wall. These words were writer
on it:
Beautiful hands are those that do,
Work that is earnest, brave and true,
Moment by moment. the whole day through
She asked to copy the words in he
memorandum book, and, after pleasan
talk with the invalid, Marion left tn
house. She had only walked short dis
lance when she Unexpectedly met Re
land Fletcher.
"Why, Marion, what are you dom
in this miserable part of the cityp"
az have been calling on a sick won
an she replied, with sweet smile.
$50 you have turned Sister of Char