The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-25

hatEer queer ore, Alabama Foster.
But her father and brother and sister call her
Rana"
Has she got dolls AID books and play
thiDgsp
"She has nothing Her father is as Door
rs be can be, and ber only dolls ard play
things sTe her little brother and sister. He
tells me she's been little mother to them
ever since his wife's death. As for books,
don't suppose she can read wCrd."
] vas interested now.
Only twelve years old. ard with two
Children TO care for? Why, doctor, how does
m. ~noI child manager asked.
..ve,v II believe 1 persuaded the
sprr1interdent to let them see her for az
hour every day, and there ~rs lhs t6o NIUE
mites holding her hard, clssping nv around
tie BeCk aT crying cut, o Bama, whel 10
you comm back? We wants you 80 bad al
hon en
I'll cone as foon as can, dear she ST.
Tkyt ssys. Bat you must be good ard
uceful, snd not le. poor pa miss ne TO
much
'Tll serd her ny singing doll" &c lie
burst out, inIe o1sly; and my china Tea
set, and oh lot OF things"
Dr. Isdaile patied her head.
Good for you, my 6elTi I'm glad to see
tie measles hasn't struck in, as l was afraid,
and turned you into monster. I had every
reason to fear ii, on see. But treaty. don't
think Bama cares for dolls or plsythings.
She's 100 old IN her ways To- them. / car
ried her doll, but she didn't seem to know
how to pay with it. and turned it over to
her little sister. She said, as gravely as
judgs, i never had doll when / was small,
and then, J on know, have the children.
Somehow, l don't care for make believe
things "
"But don't she care for any thing?' asked
aStonished Gertie.
Gust take her a flower If you want to
see delight. The child always lived in
tie country until a yesr ago, and
she's homesick for the sun and
the flowers and the grass In her old home. /
carried flower every now and then before
the lsst severe freeze, and ii was pathetic to
see how che fondled l. and kissed it, aud laid
il On her pillow where she could touch it."
i s'poie, auntie, We haven't single soil.
tsTy flower in the earden2' Gertie asked me
sitter tie doctor was gone.
Not ore, and there ere none in the market
bat few iaPonicas, that are beyond cur
meaIs," / answered.
Gertie fought intently with knitted brows
fer few minutes. I'm well enough TO go
out" she EsiG, dscisively, and tomorroT ",
aul tie, you sad 1 viii 60 to the hospital to
see that gill."
Indeed, you won't The doctor says you
are not 10 go out for q week. and if this in
clement weather lasts, l can't say how long
you will be prisoner"
Itxpectsd that size would burst into tears
st this announcement. an invalid mother
aid doing father who did not know how to
say no 10 Lis darling, had spoiled Gertie ter
rio y. Bat she was warm hearted, gener-
oDs little creature. with q reserve Of gond
soCnd sense lying under her petalance. She
dad OF cry. b1t she persisted.
TT o. sick mite, and il will ID me
coed to go out / must see that little girl in
the hospital"
so you sEal, when it is prudent. But
just wait patiently, snd you shall cary to
her " hat she loves best, some beautiful flow
ezs."
Hover" she exc Il med why, sun-
tie on said there were rouei'
'-Noi TO. dsy, but there will BE- some in g
very 81 ont tine. Don't yon remember those
hyaciLth buds bought and planted some
4 etks ago? put them IN dark place, and
arc growing beautifully, and these in the
pets are full OF buds. Think what display
OF CO lor they win mske-white, blue, pink,
yellow and red. You shall have the two
gissses and several Of the pots TO carry to
your sick girl as coon as they are in bloom.
That's worth waitiDg for, isn't it?'
Csrtie clapped her hands and kissed me
Enthusiastically. "You dear, sweet sunts"
she cried you must bring the hyaciaths
in here, so that can watch them. And you
must 90 and see the little girl. and tell her
I'm coming. But you mustn't say word
about the byacinths. of course"
Tie next day found me by the bedside OF
the little patient in whom We were inter
esled. Such q sweet, patient face she had,
aud q natural courtesy Of manner which is
not often found in the children of the very
poor. Her little sister was standing by the
bedside, snd Bsma, IS well IS her reoum-
bent POSITION allowed, was cOnbiDg and
curling tie child's flaxen hair, and iitying
her shabby dIess.
''YOu see, maaH, ia tIies TO 90 all he can
for the children, but men don't know no 7.
Ee put on Ellen's apron hind part before,
and she rever knoTed it. Ellens az gooi rs
coed can be-" with loving smile at the liz.
tie ore. but she amt got any head for hxin'
things right. Now run home, you aud viii,
and try and sweep the floor and have things
neat for poor pa. You're ali he's got now to
90 fer him."
She lay back on her pillow, and watched
the children until the door closed on them.
TIE she sighed deeply.
You must be very tired lying here?'
ssl ed.
a Wistful look crept into the chi.d's
eyes.
~ Try rot to be-" she ssid simply. 'It
wouldn't be o ms to fesi bad about l.. ET-
eIybody's good to me here, and If is wasn't
fer pa snd The childTel' Another heavy
sigh completed the sentence
j had 3 few Yio,ets, and put them in her
hand. Then came the sudcel change the
doctor had spoken o.. Her lG1goii eyes
frightened, faint color rose to her white
CHEEKS, smile patel her lips, and she raj ed
the flowers 10 them, aid drew long brea.As
ss If TO inhsle their fragrance.
'Oh, Sint ihey sTeet2' she ciiso at las.
I'VE was always poor 10 KS, bus where re
q ed to live, re had big garden. and nia
us6d to make pcsisS, and l sold zen. Bat
when ma died, pa ne couldn't stay there no
longer. She uEed TO gay that where she was
eoia tie flowers was heap finer and swsstsr
thsn il our garden. That's He zvsa, yo1
kpow. ] always Old love flo FeTs, but nov
ihey'Ie Ike ma and Heaven 10 nee. Ga, do
love en- sol do love 'eDI SOL"
L have little niece about yo1r own ags
who il coming to see you" said TO her
DE-. Ifdsils has made her 20 anxious ID ses
you"
Dr.. Isdaile. !" she repeated. "Oh, he's 50
kiud aud good 10 ne, ms'an, aud t, tbs
CHILDREN. ] don't believe there ever VAS SO
coed gentleman in the whole Horldi'
/ rose to take my leave.
Wont you CINE again, ma'am?' che
asked politely.
very soon, hope. and with my little
niecen
When / got home Gertie questioned aud
s-QUesnoned me until she fairly dove
me DISTRACTED. l wal relieved when she
turned her attention to the hyacinths. which
she declared had grown fully an inch since 1