The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1883-10-05
WHITE HANDS.

It was the evening before commence
ment at Mt. Pleasant Seminary. Six
young ladies of the graduating class
were gathered around a window over
looking the pleasant grounds, and talk
ing eagerly about the future. Their
plans were various, reaching onward
with no thought of grief or sorrow.
Wealth, admiration, fame. were among
the attainable. Music and art would
each have its devotee. One would con-
tinue her studies at higher institution;
another would become the mistress of
beautiful home.
One had not spoken, and when the
question, second time, was asked i'm
patiently: Louise, what are your
plansp' her answer was eagerly await
ed. II shall help my mother" said
quiet Louise. "O-o-oh, we all mean
to do that, of course said one, 'but
what plans have you? You can't mean
to stay at home in a poky way and not
try to do anything?" Girls" said
Louise, II do mean to do just that;
for the present, at least, my business
shall be to help my mother in any way
that it is possible for me to help her. -
A glance at the puzzled faces around
her, and she continued: ''Shall l open
my heart to you bit and let you read
sad page from itP You remember
Stella MortonP You remember that [
once visited her during vacation? Her
home was very pleasant, and large
family of brothers and sisters made the
days pass merrily. Our pleasures kept
us so much out of doors that we saw
little of Mrs. Morton-a delicate, quiet
lady. always ready to bestow sympathy
when needed. noticed that the girls
were not SO tidy and helpful about the
house as had been taught to be, but
as did not see who supplied all def
ciencies | thought little about it. One
day picnic had been planned, and /
heard the girls impatiently comment
ing upon the illness of the one servant,
as il threw upon them some disagreed
BILE 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 without see
ing any one, if indeed any one was up
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 my white
hands She kissed the cold fingers
again and again.
One day | found Stella at her
mothers work-table holding up some
unfinished piece, evidently left in haste.
Louise, she said, mother asked me to
do this and I 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, l was called
home by the illness Of my own mother
the feeling was intensified. Mother
was very ill, and as hope grew fainter
my distress was hardly less than Stel-
las. One night, when my sister and
| were too anxious to sleep, I told her
about Stella, and we then pledged our
selves to take from mother every posi-
BILE 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 1 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 I 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 I expressed
something of this to her, her eyes filed
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 thought
them more beautiful. Why, girls, l
never see a pretty hand without won
dering if it has a right to be fair and
white. So [ am going home to help
mother; I shall be happier because l
know it is my duty"
As Louise finished speaking the retir-
ing bell sounded. Not a 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
[Ioz-