The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-22

Rather queer enc. Alabama Foster. |
But her father aud brother and sister call her
Bamsn
Kiss she got dolls ard books and play
thipee?p
she has nothing. Her father is az poor
as be can be- and her only dolls and pisv-
things are her little brother and sister. He
tells me she's been little mother TO them
ever since his vife's death. as for books, l
dent suppose che can read word"
/ was interested now.
Only twelve years old, aud with TWO
children to care for? Why. doctor, how does
the Door child manager / asked.
Very well. believe. / persuaded the
supeTin tendent TO let them see ner for al
hour every dav, and there are the two little
mites holding her hand, clssping her around
the neck and crying out, % Bams, when Is
you. comm back? We wants you SO bad at
horeep
" III come as soon as can, dear she al
ways says But you must be good and
useful. and not let poor pa miss ne too
much
"rn send her my singing donl'' Gertis
burst out imreIuously; ''and my china tea
set, and oh a lot of thingsl'
DIR. Isdaile patted her head.
Good for you, my Gear. I'm glad to see
the measles hasn't struck in, as l was afraid,
and turned you into monster. / had every
reason TO fear it, you see. But treaty don't
think Bams cares for dolls or playthings.
She's foo old in her ways fOr the N / car
ried her doll, but she didn't seem to know
how 10 play with il. and turned ii over to
her little sister. She said, as eravely rs
judge, L never had doll when / was small,
aud then. you know, have the children.
Somehow, l don't care for make believe
thipgs.'"
"Bnt don't she csre for any thing?' asked
astonished Gertie.
Just take her a flower If YOU want to
IL - II L..
the country until a year ago. and
she's homesick for the sun and
the flowers and the grass in her old home. |
carried a flower every now and then before
the last severe freeze, and it was pathetic tn
see how she fondled il and kissed it, aud laid
it on her pillow where she could touch it."
Il s'pose, auntie, we haven't single, soil.
tsry flower in the garden% Gertie asked me
after the doctor was gone.
Not one and there are none in the MARKET
bat few iaponicas. that are beyond our
means" answered.
Gertie fought intently with knitted brows
for a few minutes. I'm well enough to go
out" she said. decsively, land to -morro ",
auntie. you and will go to the hospital to
see that Girl"
Indeed, you won't. The doctor says you
are not to 20 out for week. and if this in
clement weather lasts. l can't say how long
you will be prisoner"
Iexpected that she would burst into tears
at this announcement An invalid mother
and do:ing father who did not know how to
say no to his darling, had spoiled Gertie ter
ribiy. Bot she was a warm hearted. gsner
Gus little creature. with a reserve OF good
sonDd sense lying under her Detalance. she
did not cry. bat she persisted.
II ~ not sick mite, and 1t will do me
good to go out. i must see that little girl in
the hospital"
$50 you shall when it is prudent. But
| Just wait PATIENTLY, and you shall carry To
her what she loves best some beautiful flow.
| ers."
Flower" she exc aimed "Why, aun-
| tie you said there were nonei'
Not to-day, but there will bs some in a
| very short time. Don't you remember those
| hyacinth buds l bought and planted some
| weeks ago? put them IN dark place, aud
to day find the two in the hyacinth glasses
arc growing beautifully, and those 10 the
| pots are full of buds. Think what a display
OF color they will make-white, blue, pink,
| yellow and red. You shall have the two
| glasses and several of the pots to carry to
your sick girl as soon as they are in bloom.
| That's worth waiting for, isn't it?'
Gertie clapped her hands and kissed me
enthusiastically. "You dear sweet auntie!'
she cried. "You must bring the hyacinths
in here, so that / can watch them. And you
must GO and see the little girl. and tell her
| I'm coming But you mustn't cay q word
i ABOUT tu6 II yaClDtlS, Oh COuree.
The next day found me by the bedside OF
the little patient in whom we were inter
ested. Such a sweet, patient face she had,
and a natural courtesy of manner which is
not often found in the children of the very
| poor. Her little sister was standing by the
| bent position allosed. was combiDg aud
curling the cbiid's flaxen hair, aud tidy DC
her shabby dress.
"You see, ma'am, ia tIies to DO all be can
for the children, but men don't know how.
He put on Ellen's aproa hind part before
and she rever knowed It Ellen's az good as
good can re-" with wing smile at the lit
tie one "but she amt got any head for hxin
things right. Now run home, You and Will,
and try and sweep the floor and have things
neat for poor pa. You're all he's got now to
do for him."
She lay back on ner pillow, aud watch ed
the children until the door closed On them.
Then she sighed deeply.
You must be very tired lying hers?' ]
asked.
A wistful look crept into the child.
eyes.
81 try not to be-" she said simply. 81,
wouldn't he o me to fesi bad about il. Ev-
erybodvs good to me here, and IL it wesn'i
for pa and the childrer-" -Another heavy
sigh completed the sentence.
bad few yiolets, and put them in her
| hand. Then came the sudden change the
doctor had spoken OF. Her langoid ewes
frightened, a faint color rose to her white
cheeks, a smile parted her lips. and she raj ed
the flowers TO them, aud drew long breaths
| as il to inhale their fragrance.
"Oh, amt they SWEET" she cried at lsss
I'VE was always poor folks, but where we
used TO live, we had big garden. and ma
used to make posies, aud l sold EN-. Bat
when ma died, pa he couldn't stay there no
longer. Shs used to say that where she was
goin' the flowers was hca finer and sweeter
than in our garden. That's Heaven, yoa
know. always did love 10 xers, but no "
They're like ma aud Heaven IN me. Ga, &c
love 'em SOL do love EN- SOL"
Il have little niece about your own age
who is coming to sac you," l said to her
"Dr. Isdaile has made her 90 anxious to see
you"
'Dr. Isdaiie {" she repeated. "Oh. he's 50
kind AID good TO me, ma'am, and t. the
children. / don't bsiieve there ever was SC
good gentleman in the whole world"
/ rose to take my leave.