Middletown transcript., 1888-09-13
ONE DAY.

l.
| The sun was very hot as it sent dow1
its unsparing rays to meet the reflected
heat of the scorched paving stones OF
Hicks street. No wonder the postman
as he TUNED into Grace Court, linger-
ed to chat with the red-cheeked nurse.
maid, wheeling her restless little charge
up and down in the shade. It was
never very hot in Grace Court. The
rows of stately elms on either side of
the street bent their tall heads protec-
tingly over the wide, paved road be-
low, and framed in a perfect arch the
love picture at the end of the court,
the yine-hidden gray stone of the old
Chittenden house, with the grassy
slopes at its foot sweeping down to the
very edge of the river-the cool, calm
rivef, with just a lazy sail to mark the
almost imperceptible motion of the air
and water.
| On the bank of the river Ruth Chit
tenden was sitting, idly watching the
sailboat. She rested her head against
the trunk Of tree that hung over the
water, and a stray beam of the sun
light now and then fiickered through
the thick foliage, and sent a little
round or oval dot of brightness to
dance over Ruth's black dress.
1t was the day after her graduation
from school, and the earnest words of
the dear old minister whom she had
known from her childhood were in her
mind. After the giving of the diplo-
mas, when the happy girls and their
proud friends were exchanging intro
ductions and compliments in the
pretty school-parlors. Ruth had waited
few minutes with d.. Lytle.
81 am very impressible tonight"
she said, half laughing. "Do give me
some advice that will help me to com
mence' right
6 You know, in large way, what
your duty will be, my child" he an
sWered. /" You can fill your mothers
place in making homs a real home for
your father. But, with your ad-
yantages, there will be many
hours of your fathers absence, that
will seem untitled. Ruth, don't waste
any time in living. You know how
much the Bible says of the days. Life
comes to us in days, with special
strength and special duty for each,
and with the promise of Christ him.
self with hs-do you remember the
Greek; pontas tas Hcneras-all the
days. Don't waste a day 20
Dear old man % she thought. I
don't believe he's ever wasted any time.
But what can do this summer One
does not expect to do much in a board
ing house and if 1 go to the noun
tains tomorrow, there will be no
chance to accomplish anything in the
way of helping papa's patients, or any,
thing like that, till October. How
ever, l will do something at the Noun
tain House the duty may be expected
to turn up with the day, 1 suppose. :"
And then little Whit of air seemed
to bring with it a swift thought.
" But to-day is day and what am I
doing?
"The postman's whistle-ten
O'Clock, and I haven't even written
that note for father" she said aloud,
as she rose and hurried into the house.
Gathering up the letters that she found
on the library table, she turned to go
up to her room but the stairs were
newly oiled, and on the first steps she
slipped and fell, turning her foot so
that she could hardly stumble into her
room and ring the bell, before she
tainted.
When she came to consciousness,
she found her father leaning over her.
DR.. Clittenden, with all the tender
ness of wise ply ician, had been for
two years. both father and mother to
his only child, " little Ruth,'' as he
still called he-, though to a stranger
she seemed too tall and stately for the
baby name.
He had lifted her up now and laid
her on the sofa, as il. she were indeed
the 6 little Ruth" of years before, and
he was making her comfortable, and
chatting in his merry way, though the
hour of his morning visits was already
past. 5. .--..
SAT last he said, " / must really 60,
dear whom shall I send to youp The
housekeeper is good old soul, but not
over bright for sick room. Can't I
call for one of your school friends on
my way through the city ?''
Just then Ruth's little maid came to
the door with message :" Miss Ruth,
the dressmaker's daughter is he-e with
the ribbon that was left from your
Commencement dress, and she says is
it all right ?''
"Send her up, Margaret" Ruth
said, and then turning to her father
she added, Now you may be sure I
shall have good day, if I can per-
suade Annie to stay she is the besj of
company"
So her father went, and the dress.
makers daughter came timidly in.
You will have to bring that rock
ing chair over here and talk to me,