The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-10-13

when needed. | noticed that the girls
were not so tidy and helpful about the
mouse as l had been taught to be, but
as did not see who supplied all def
clencles l thought little about it. One
day a picnic had been planned, and
heard the girls impatiently comment
ing upon the illness of the one servant.
as 1t threw upon them some disagreea-
bic household duties. How Mrs. Nor
ton ever accomplished the delicious
lunch we ate that day, only such over
worked mothers can explain; the little
assistance given by Stella and Alice must
have been most unsatisfactory.
"We returned by moonlight. so tired
that we went to our rooms withoHt see
ing any one, if indeed any one was IN
at that hour. By and BY don't know
how long we had slept-a frightened
voice called Stella, who shared my room.
and soon we all knew that gentle, tired
Mrs. Morton was alarmingly i'll. At
sunrise she was gone, without hearing
the voices so full of love and sorrow.
Girls, can't describe Stella's grief; she
| placed her own delicate hand beside
the thin, toil-stained dead one, and said:
See, Louise. at what cost mine is SO
fair; and | have been vain of nv white
hands She kissed the cold fingers
again and again.
Zone day | found Stella at her
mothers workable holding up some
unfinished piece, evidently left in haste.
Louise she said, mother asked me to
do this and l really meant to; oh, why
didn't | do it at once?'
''You can understand what an i'm
preston all this made upon me, and
when, few days later, | was called
home by the illness of my own mother,
the feeling was intensified Mother
was very i'll, and as hope grew fainter
my distress was hardly less than Stel-
las. One night, when my sister and
| were too anxious to sleep, / told her
about Stella, and we then pledged our
selves to take from mother every posi-
bic care, and to make our home our
first object. To make the promise more
binding and real, we exchanged rings.
Mothers illness made it seem more nat
ural and easy at first, and everything
moved on so smoothly that l really
think she regained her health more
, quickly.
! All the mending and sewing was done
promptly under her direction, and we
always silenced her by saying that we
liked to do it. She seldom knows what
is preparing for tea or breakfast; we
beg her not to inquire, for we know that
she enjoys little surprises. The boys
and the dear baby are better and hap
pier for having so much of her time and
attention.
"Last summer l visited Stella again.
She is the light of the home. Only for
the discipline | had passed through
could | understand how she was able to
do so much. Once when l expressed
something of this to her, her eyes filled
with tears as she asked: DO you sup
| pose she can see us-that she knows
what | am trying to do?' Her hands
were not fair and delicate, but l thought
them more beautiful. Why, girls, 1
never see a pretty hand without won
derng if it has a right to be fair and
white. So am going home to help
mother; | shall be happier because l
know it is my duty"
As Louise finished speaking the retir-
ing bell sounded. Not word was
spoken, but the kiss that each bestowed
upon the flushed face of the earnest
speaker told of the impression her
words had made. Those mothers alone
can tell whether the influence was last
ing -COngregdtiopGltSt.