The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1885-12-25
EDITH'S SACRIFICE.

~ SOAiiS W. DO JAoO AioSs5uiilCCllo,
mamma DEAR" cried pretty Jennie
Maxwell, bounding into the sitting
room where her mother was reading,
and f1inging down her bundle of books
on the lounge. "There's going to be
the incest swings, and croquet and
tennis, and a platform all trimmed in
flowers for us to stand on, while we
sing and recite our pieces"
eyes it is, for Harold Preston told
us about it at noon," joined in her
twin sister, Louise, "and for one am
thankful school is over, then we can
her long blue black braids of hair, and
flung herself into an easy chair with a
contentcd sigh.
Edith made no remark as she en-
tered the room. Her sweet face wore
a thoughtful look and the mother saw
that she had something on her mind.
eyes, have no doubt but what it
will be NICE" remarked Mrs. Maxwell,
''and you deserve it, for you have
studied hard this term. Mrs. Knott
brought home your dresses this after
noon. They are in my bed room, if
you wish to see them" Jennie and
Louise gave a scream of delight, and
Immediately left the room. When
they had gone, Edith rose up from her
chair and coming overt to her mothers s
side, said: Mamma, need I 90 to NOR
row unless I wish?"
"No, dear, but you surely would not
desire to stay at home, when every one
else is going?"
"No, wouldn't stay at home-I-
well-mamma, you know Margery
White, who is SO sickly all the time,
and she was in my class, too"
"Well, dear, what is it?" questioned
the mother, caressing the golden head
lovingly.
"You know she hasn't many pleas
ures, and Mrs. White has to work so
hard, and Thought that-as didn't
care to go to the picnic, would 60
and spend the day with her, take a.
basket of dainties and some flowers
along and we'll have a nice time to-
gether."
Gas you like, Edith" was Mrs Max
wells response. II visited Mrs. White
yesterday, and she said Margery felt
bad because she could not attend the
picnic. She looks very pale and i'll,
but I've no doubt she would be glad
to see you. Now run, dear, and see
your new dress"
The dress had no attraction for
Edith, but she went into the room
where the girls were promenading be-
fore the long mirror, admiring the ef-
feet of their new dresses. GLOW do
they look Ede?" inquired Jennie,
spreading out the folds of her pretty
white null. "Aren't they too sweet
and simple for picnic dresses?" "Very,"
was Edith's brief reply as she flung her
white dress over her arm and went
upstairs to her little chamber She
did not pause to try it on, hung it up
in the wardrobe and closed the door
with a snap, thus shutting the dress
and all her happy expectations of the
picnic from sight.
Then she drew up a chair to the open
window and sat down to think. The
Greenville academy closed that even
ing and on the morrow was to give a
grand picnic. Great preparations had
been made for the occasion, and every
boy and girl looked forward to the day
with delight.
Edith had also, but she was a girl
who wished far more to give pleasure
to a person than receive it. She was
not one ofyour- too-good- world
girls, but she always tried to do right
and generally succeeded. Of Judge
Maxwell's three daughters, Edith was
his and the whole household s sfavorite.
She was ever ready to offer her services
to those who needed them, and it grew
to be a very natural thing for the girls
to say when any work was to be done:
"Oh let Edith do it. [ have to prac-
tice my music" or II haven't finished
this painting YETI
And. Edith cherfully did it.
Thepicnic day came. The weather
was perfect, not a cloud to be seen
and a gentle breeze rustled the trees
and stirred the flowers in the Maxwell
garden, waiting their sweet perfumes
in through the open doors and win
dows of the mansion. At 9 Mrs. Max
well, Jennie and Louise got in the
phaeton and rode away to the picnic
grounds, leaving Edith to 60 when
she chose to Margery's.
When the girls learned of Edith's
sudden resolve, they merely said, "It's
just like her.
Laden with a basket of the most de-
llClOuS OeiiDlCo oAO Pe1dCly y 1iAOAuOAj |
several late magazines and a charm
ing boquet of roses, heliotrope and
smilax, Edith set out. She passed
down the broad avenue, then entered |
a quiet, secluded street, and soon
at the gate of a low, unpaint-
ed house, with a bit of yard in front,
and a fine apple tree leaning over the
little board fence.
A woman, sad and weary looking,
opened the door and asked Edith in
with such kind smile that made her
homely features really beautiful. The
room Edith entered was uncarpted,
it's furniture consisting of only a rough
table, two battered chairs, a bed and
one rocker, in which Margery sat. She
was a pale, emaciated girl, with dark
circles around her large, dark eyes,
which lighted up when she saw Edith.
"How glad / am that you have
she said, holding the bouquet
to her face to inhale their fragrance;
"and isn't it a perfect day? Why
didn't Won 90 to the picnic Edith?"