The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-01-21
ONLY HOPE. I"
Why the Blue-Eyed Little Lady
Was Christened Our Hopo."

When Hope Harris was born, they
said sac was a poor little thing and
coald never amount to much. As to
whether they meant ''much" in regard
t. fesh and blood, or the size and
amount of brains, was not explained;
but they said it with plying faces and
low voices, and mourned with the moth
er that the child was so insignificant.
Why they named her Hope, is quite
rs hard to tell, unless in the small en-
deavor to make her hopeful in some
way
She was little, and weak, and gentle;
no one asked for her opinion in regard
to anything; no one took it if it was
given. she was just little Hope" to
her mother and father and half dozen
brothers and sisters-sweetly pretty,
with eyes like bits of the skies-deep,
unfathomable-hair like the soft, yell
low silk of the corn swaying down in
the meadows, clear, delicate COM
pleyion, and gentle smile that suited
well her wee round figure and tiny
hands.
Her big, broad-shouldered brothers
laughed at and teased her; her tall,
graceful sisters snubbed her unceas-
ingly.
She was ''only Hope" to them all.
From childhood she grew to girlhood.
"Stand;E< with reluctant feet,
Whore ESe brook and river meet,
WomarAood and childhood sweet"
A. home they gave her up as incor-
ri.ihse, and left her to her own devices.
All those small, apparently useless
things that slip into the DAVIS occupa-
ton of large household fell to Hope.
Up and down stairs went her tireless
feet. performing those duties which
none of the others would do, as being
too mean and trivial for their notice,
vet without which the household wheel
could not have gone round. Ii there
was a catch in the wheel, or the hubs
were loose, it was Hope alone who
could mend and oil the machinery.
Her fingers were the ones that caught
up the dropped stitches in her mothers
knitting; her quaint little ballads were
the music which sCothed her fathers
heart; her soft words healed many
quarrel between her brothers, even as
her needle mended the rents in their
clothes. Still, to herself, as well as to
them, she was ''only Hope" of little
account, and less use in the big, wide
world
Her brothers and sisters married, one
after the other; the oldest sister with
her husband and children came to live
at the old homestead, and Hope lived
on there, too, without any desire to
marry or change her lot. She was
quite contented; of little use, perhaps,
but then it was h0ne-they all knew
her, she did not have to explain that
she knew almost nothing, was not wise
in any way. Yet her brothers and
sisters children seemed to find no one
in whom they confided as in her, even
while they, too, fell in with the general
custom, and called her ''only Aunt
Hope"
Time passed on, swinging his scythe
and, 10, in his path rose war, loosening
the lash from his hounds! In place of
the church-bells Numbered the cannon,
while dense smoke hung, fog-like, over
the hills that echoed back the ringing
of steel on steel, the snorts of the horses,
the shouting of men!
Hopes brothers went ont from the
corn-fields and laid down the plow for
the sword. There were wet eyes and
sad hearts at the homestead, but the
country called out for her sons, and
these broad-shouldered laddieS must 90.
and the wives and daughters, the moth
ers and sisters, smiled bravely through
all their tears.
Hope grew daily silent and thought
full, her blue eyes wide and wistful.
What ails you, child?" asked her
mother one day, as they all sat out on
the shady piazza. busily plying the
shining needles through the bands of
linen that were to go as bandages to
the wounded soldiers far away.
Nothing, mother," answered Hope,
smiling as she turned down hem and
went on sewing.
But something does all you." said
Mrs. Harris, her aged eyes searching
eagerly the fair young face. You are
always quiet, Hope, but lately, stone
could hardly be duller than you"
You don't play with us or tell US
StOIlCS <AuA1S AAOpS- SuAluCO
a childish voice at her knee, IAN
went to your room last night cause 1
couldn't sleep, an there you was at ths
window looking out, so went back ),
bed an didn't 'sturb you, Aunt HopeN
Are you at last in love, Hope?n
asked one of her sisters. laughing.
NO" said Hope, simply. Then she
sat silent awhile.
When she spoke again, her blue eyes
were looking across the wheat fields to
the distant line of hills.
Mother" she said softly, 81 have
decided q question which has troubled
me very much lately. Away off be-
yond those hills lie the battle-6elds and
the camps where our wounded men are
aying. dying day after day because there
are so few to nurse them back to life.
You have my sisters here, can be of
so little use to you or them, and 1t is
NV duty to 60 and do what / csn for
our soldiers. Do not try to dissuade
me- as they started up in surprise and
horror. my mind is made up to do
this thing. and / must go. / have
written to one of the nurses, and she
sells me gladly to go. You can not
miss me, and perhaps as there are so