The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-06-19


Miss Winchester found herself wonder
ing while she dressed, the next morn
ing, how her small guest had spent tn,
night; # Lizzie had thought to close q
certain window which created draugh
in the little side chamber The SOUND
of the gentle. unaffected good night
fingered pleasantly in her ear. and, I'M
consciously, she was looking forward
to the little fellows '.good morning.
Deep down in the heart of this reserved
self-sufficient woman, who lived heI
life alone at Evergreens and was proud
of her independence of society, was a
spring of true, womanly tenderness,
/ after all; thickly covered, and nearly
choked, it is true, by daily additions OF
pride and selhshness. A little child s
hand, guided by the Spirit of Divine
love. was shaking the barriers strong
with the habits of years; little childs
voice was stealing into empty heart.
chambers and awaking sweet echoes
there.
1t was almost with an air of expec-
! tation that Miss Winchester stepped out
on the piazza upon which her break
fast-room opened. A small, bowed
figure sat on the lower steps, sobbing
softly, and wiping away the tears with
first one brown hand, then the other, in
a helpless, piteOus way.
"Why, child, what is the matter?"
said Miss Winchester, in genuine con-
Germ.
The little boy choked back his sobs,
and in a shaky voice, very unlike the
ringing tones of the evening before,
said:
IF You please. Miss--Henrietta will
you-let- me-go-awayP I-dOn't-
like g--your-guest as the
gentleman -and-I want to
see-my mother" And here the tears
had their way again and streamed down
the little pale cheeks.
''Has any one been unkind to you?'
mo, ma'am. The big fat woman
gave me real nice things to eat, and the
other was good to me. But they amt
nice, and they don't talk nice, and ask
me questions that sound like making
fun of me, and my mother says that's
rude"
The lady's face flushed, and her eyes
almost fell before the fearful ones lifted
to hers.
Tell me something about your
mother Or do you mind my cues
tionsP''
.'Oh, no, ma'am," said the boy,
brightly, while the tears yet hung on
his lashes. You are lady, and don t
act like they do" nodding toward the
kitchen. '.Mother sews most all the
time. She didn't want me to come
without her, but I'd been sick, and she
said she knew l wanted fresh air. She
hadn't enough money to pay to send
me anywhere, so came here with the
Others, and she couldnt come. There's
so many people go away in the sum-
mer, and then she don't have much
sewing"
"And you want to 90 back to her?"
said Miss Winchester, slowly. "Do you
not think the country pretty?"
'Oh, yes!' exclaimed the little fell
low; Its prettier here than in any
parks ever saw. And the sun shines
so prettily through the leaves At our
house it's just like great hot fire on
the pavement and the brick walls.
And verything smells so sweet here"
land yet you want to go away"
There isn't anything to love here"
said the child, simply. 81 wanted to
play with the big dog, and the pretty
calves out yonder, but the man
wouldn't let me. Mother said | wasn't
to be troublesome, and IL think
trouble you. thought the gentleman
meant something nice when he said l
was to be your guest didn't know
just what he meant"
''And you are my guest" said Miss
so solemnly that the boy
looked startled. But she held out her
hand gently, and led him into the break
Every word of the pastors appeal.
aye, and the Saviour's command was
ringing in her ears. How had she
given a cup of cold. water to this little
stranger? Grudgingly, even out of her |
unkindly, exposing tie
sensitive spirit, trained by some gentle,
lady-like mother. to coarse company
and rude jeers. The Master, whom she |
protested to serve after the straightest |
sect, had asked a favor ut her hands
for one of the least of His. She had
turned her back upon him at the first,
and then kept back part of the price"
Another place, Lizzie" she said to
the surprised waiting-maid. Little
Edgar will sit with me hereafter.
But while the boy, Won from his
grief and loneliness, prattled merrily
through the meal, Miss Winchester ate
the bread of bitterness in self-searching
and condemnation.
Although the mistress of Evergreens
disliked sudden propositions pressed on
her by Others, she was quick to act
upon motives of her own. A half-hour
after breakfast found her giving orders
TO Lizzie As to the arrangement of one
Of the many pretty bed-chambers of the
Shortly after she stood on
he front portico, clad in gray linen
lister. Little Edgar watched at the
gate for the carriage in which he was to
.ide with Miss Henrietta.
TO the station, John, and drive rap
Oily. We have not too much time"
shes going to take the little chap
,ack," thought John.
'.Do you know where we are going?"
lsked Miss Henrietta, smiling into the
'unny face opposite her.
mo. ma'am, but it's a nice ride
aid Edgar. contentedly.
81 am going to take you to show me
he way to your mother. And then we
will bring her back to Evergreens and
he shall be my guest, too.
'Oh, are you IN earnest? Do yor
eally mean to have mother and me,
oo?" exclaimed the boy, rising in his
excitement.
Yes. YOU and your mother. too"
Il do like yon. Please he said
mildly, may kiss you?"
II waS ratkcr a shv EiSs o;vep ond 70 |