The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-02-17
HER DIARY.

have ones time to ones selfl-such
a luxury just to sit idly and dream
over the pictures on Uncle Aristot
les walls, where I'm spending a
happy holiday | wish vacation
would last foreyerl Lena reproaches
me With my want Of energy, but l
tell her she has enough for both.
She hardly gives herself time to eat
OF sleep, while | allow myself q
I generous margin for both occupa-
tions. / insist that Lena Is prepar-
ing herself for country parish or a
mission to the Feiees; and she as
sures me with a grim face that every
one has a mission if she chooses to
/ discover il. / wonder what mine is !
/ In the morning, when I'm in that
pleasant state betSeen sleeping and
waking, | hear Lena starting off to
read the Bible to old Mrs. Haddock,
and I feel very wicked for half a
minute. She never seems TO have a
moment to spare for what she calls
friyoiities I've been IN the house a
fortnight, and I've never seen her
stroll into the garden nor sit on the
veranda to pass the time o. day
with Dame Nature, nor idle in the
hammock. I've never seen her
waste q second before the engraving
Of Turner in the library or the AIRY
ScheGer over the mantel, which
have sent me dreaming away half
hours by the score. Every one of
Lena's days has its appointed task.
She reads theology to two blind
ladies Of decaying fortunes, and the
church papers to a bedridden old
man she is president ofthe Society
( for Aged Women, and treasurer of
the Dakota League to send tracts
and blankets to the Indians she be
longs to half a dozen Bethels and
foreign missions and societies for
the education Of indignant young
men for the ministry, and she is al
ways seeking out destitute families
and invalids to whom chicken broth
and calls foot Jelly are providence.
She does q world of good !" Os-
trauter says to NE, as he sees her
going out like my Lady Bountiful
and he SAYS it with a sigh.
L don't ike goody-goody people,
I reply Just to vex him, and because
] must speak my mind for though
l ike Lena herself-I used to love
her when we played dolls together
ten years ago-yet | don't fancy the
Lena who has wrapped herself
away from ali home sympathies and
innocent pleasures.
You will learn to like her" Os
lrander insists. But | wish she
would remember that there are hun
grv souls without going into the
highway and hedges to find them"
l'm afraid he thought me stupid
enough, for ! did not understand /
him al once.
You mean that she could do
some good at home, toe? ? She might
read to her mother, who Is an inva-
la herself, or to Uncle Aristotle,
whose eyes are failing him =? and |
teach the maids their work and en- |
tertain you and me ?" l questioned,
gIhly
No" said he, most charitably. |
'' Those are things to which she will /
awaken one day-all in good time. /
( was speaklng of myself.
"Of yourselfl repeated. do |
you mean and then | couldn't
help laughing. if / were to die for it. /
why. ar. Ostrander, she hasn't
half q minute to waste OH love, If
that's what you mean.
You've bit my meaning exactly" /
he answ " 1t seems to amuse
YOU
To tell the truth, it does amuse
me. Osuauder is so handsome, and
In love with Lena, who is so prim,
and thinks of nobody but the bed
ridden and poverty-stricken; very
good Of Ler. no doubt, but not halt
so natural as caring for Ostrander
would be
Svadqy.-Ostrander overlook US
coming home from church, and /
wanted to walk round by the haun-
ted mill. but Lena was going to hear
the lessons Of her ragged school at
Poverty Point. 0strander said he
hoped she would teach them to love
one another. He and | walked on
together over the crazy bridge By
the deserted mill. where the river
slides by, reaching an arm toward
the distant sea, and the trees bend
over to look at themselves on either
bank til their tops interlace. | felt
almost sinful to be there enjoying
myself in the Sunday stiffness, with
the perfUmed fields stretching away
In the -un. and the river rippling at
my feet, and Ostrander repeating
suatches from the poets that pain
ted that scene to perfection, while
Lena was doing a good work at
Poverty Point believe | confess
ed 10 the sensation, for Ostrander
said
I suppose every one must do ;
good in his or her own way"
But it seems TO NE. replied,
that Leua's method Is to do Just the |
10 what she would like to i
DO. \
Do you think she would prefer /
with Us to teaching those {
ragged urchins ~ he asked, bright ]
ening.
haven't doubt but she would l
prefer walking with you,' | assured &
aim only Lena is perpetuaIly S
the flesh" {
Upon my word, couldn't help (
at her when he sighed I
and looked away across the rivers |
lin expanse, and forgot me for {
half an hour If any one loved me
ike that. | should be ashamed to '
make 10 return. bGt-nobody does. ]
Tuesday =" suppose" said Cs- a
rander last night, that if | were an '
invalid, or a fellow with a cataract a
,r q hump, Lena would be devoted v
o me-"
"Can't you pretend to some mis- s
ortune?' | asked.
"'wiD, if looking well can't move her, o
Looking i'll prevail?'" b