Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-24
aaruERED FROM LIE.

voted to the interests OF the shut-ln
society, gives such a lovely picture of
the leroism displayed in one sick-room
that help and comfort must follow it's
reading:
an her shadowy sick-room / found a
patient sufferer lying alone. 1t was an
hour when her son could be away from
his business and with her, and all
the week she waited for this time Of
enjoyment of his society and for the
comfort of his presence.
But where is Henry?' / asked, look
ing about the chamber.
:" 4 sent him away said the mother,
with smile.
"'Sent him away, when you have
waited all the week to have him with
you?'
Yes she answered, gently. Sun
day is his only free day, you know. and
he has so little sunshine and fresh air
that J. thought walk would do him
good ......
But I am almost surprised that he
should be willing to CO. answered, in
disappointed tone, for this sweet in
valid had so many lonely hours that I
coveted for her the delight she had so
unhesitatingly put aside.
He would have staid, she an
swered gently. He is always willing
to stay, but Mrs. Hunt sent me such
delicious mould of jelly that wanted
old Hetty Grant to have some of it, so
i persuaded Henry to take it to her
=" Yes, I understand; "two birds with
one stone" Old Hetty Grant and the
boy must both be made happy, but
how about yourself' confess wanted
you to be happy to-day and I touched
the pale checks playfully, surprised to
see her eyes slowly filling with tears.
But you mustn't make me selfish,
dear, she said in voice that tried to
be CHEEKY. The fact is, know COM
plants are hard for any one who is
young and strong to hear, and Henry
is young and strong, and I must not
complain before him. 1t isn't that he
does not feel for me; he feels too much.
lie feels helpless and perplexed, and.
of course, he does not know one thing
to do to help, and sometimes he goes
away half vexed, and with o feeling
that is anything but submissive to God.
When this happens, 1 fear my illness
is becoming harm instead of bless
ing to him, as of course 1 want it to be-
"'And so you send him away when
you sul1er?'
"'Yes, and partly for that reason I
sent him away to-day. My head was
so full Of pain that could not bear the
light, neither could bear to shut him
up here in the shadows. Then I want
his recollection of me to be sweet after
L am gone, not painful, and how can it
be so if he sees all I have to bear?
And SO the dear soul was bearing
her own load Of physical distress, and
making at the same time the effort to
conceal it, that the one dearest to her
might not be saddened by her pain.
And as I looked at her, I could recall
many another sufferer who is doing the
same thing day after day, and week
after week And 1 wished some of the
people who feel so sure that invalidism
always makes people selfish could see
this loving mother quietly putting
away the thing she cares most for in
life, knowing all the time that she is
moving slowly and swiftly beyond the
sight of her boys beloved face.
1--WE little know the heroism prac-
tised in many sick-room. We count
the tears, and the means, and the com
plants, but it must be God keeps that
swecter record of the tears that are
suppressed, the means that are checked,
the impatient words that die unspoken
on the lips. His infinite tenderness
must surely supply what human tender.
ness fails to give"