Wichita eagle., 1888-09-20


ing service, and Sunday school, and the
organ TO play at the Old Ladies' home, and
several sick people to visit No city pastor
! with number Of outlying mission parishes
could be more occupied Aunt Charlotte
suggested that If | were very anxious to ask
Helen anything, / should join her Sunday
school class, that being composed Of boys Of
/ all ages, whom Helen encouraged in CONVEX
sation.
Three months brought no answer to nv
question We lived in a perfect tumble Of
ideas; door bell always ringing, parlor al
ways full Of strange people, all kinds of clubs
meeting in the library, all kinds Of things
given in the house-bazars, readings, con-
certs, charades, operettas, cooking class, Sum
day school teachers meetings, art exhibitions,
loan exhibitions, auctions of CLUB books and
comedies and tragedies in foreign tongues.
The maids in the kitchen joined in this intel
lectual dissipation. Aunt Charlotte, teach
ing Elisabeth Stubs few geographical no
tons, was told three times in one evening
that Cape Horn was the capital of Brazil.
BY way Of explanation, Elisabeth added that
her mind was on her Sunday school lesson:
that she had the whole book of Daniel TO
learn, and that next week she should have all
to books, but, having lost a distant relative,
INDUCED in the elegance of black Grape bon
net, without which she would not even ven
ture as far as the corner letter box Neither
would she use her Christmas present, nice
brown silk umbrella. Being in mourning,
how could shel To keep things pleasant, we
gave her black silk one
And Aunt Charlotte and l, in our narrow
NJ
One day at lunch came the beginning
of crisis; something queer about Heien's
head caught my attention. Either her
bonnet was growing smaller or her
head bigger, OF both Aunt Charlotte
also noticed it; she put on her glasses, and
said, Helen, some one has certainly cut of
the front OF your bonnet it is the smallest
thing ever saw on a wonan's head"
Helen replied that her bonnet was Just the
same as it always had BEEN and if we were
coming 70 the japanese tea, we had better
come between and 6, as then the lanterns
would be lighted, and that was the pleasant
est time for meeting people
BY means Of japanese screens, umbrellas,
rugs, divans, fans and fancias the first floor
Of an old fashioned mansion was transformed
into japanese tea house. 1t was place Of
mysterious with hidden perfume. A Japan
csc page opened the door, japanese maidens
received the American money, and the be-
wildered guest passed from sunlight into
lantern light. More fair maidens in beautiful
japanese dress greeted him, japanese tea
was served in Japenese cups on japanese
trays, accompanied by sugar in japanese
bowls, and, to make the charm greater,
f.a IS - L
moved and talked and smiled with irresist-
ibie American grace. Aunt Charlotte and
l, very much impressed, came home
TO a more substantial tee by our New
England freside. Helen was always careful!
to give US something particularly nice on
those occasions when she could not give US
her society. Or late she had been so much
occupied that her little surprises had taken
the form of canned goods. This evening, we
had canned apricots; pot of white primro.ss
stood on the table Elisabeth Stubbs re-
marked: "lliss Helen said if forgot every
thing else l was to remember the flowers, it
being Mr. Harry's birthday" There was also
a very shining brass lion in repousse work on
the mantel, with a card bearing Many happy
returns Of the day"
"It's very effective, don't YOU think so.
L
Of Helen's doing such things 1t seems as il
hammering must hurt the head She hasn't
the proper kind Of hammer, believe. 1t is
very noisy work though she always
hammers down cellar Don't you think it
rather hard work for q woman, Harry?"
l said it seemed to ne about as hard as
hammering board fence together.
Il know you think Helen does too MANY
iy,.r- =aiJ 4
not speak in that tone, especially after she has
been SO thoughtful about your birthday.
And she has so much on her mind, Door
childi She has everything on her mind. .
can't help worrying about her How much
10 you think q woman can bear1"
| said, judging from Helen, should SUD-
pose a woman's power of endurance was
imitless.
Aunt Charlotte gave me look of reproach.
Harry" she said, don't you think that sis
.ers Of charity live good life7"
This was an unexpected turn Of converse
ion. l said l did not see the connection; that
| thought they were foolish women
They are not considered SO in the Roman
Catholic church. replied my aunt with dig
atty, land am sure your sister leads far
more self sacrificing and higher life than even
/ Carmelte num-"
l said l hoped she did (Which comment nv
iunt left unnoticed, and continued, musinglv:
The nuns do everything by the hour-two
lourS' meditation, two hours prayer. two
ours lying on a wooden bed, two hours
his and two hours that-and all for the sal
alton of their own souls; whereas your sis
er also does everything by the hour, but she
works for the whole world"
1T -, 60
said it in q very unpleasant way. The brass
ion looked ready to tear off my head. and my
unit seemed SO deeply distressed tina recon-
idered and modified my judgment Elisabeth
'tubbs came IN for the dishes, Aunt Charlotte
COX out her silk rug and opened my books
DO you belong to any mems clubs, where
hey write papersl7 asked nv aunt
Il a did not belong to anything but the
hurch choir"
~Then YOU don't know what men write
bout. / notice, IN Heens club, the ladies
ways write about things that happened sew
raj thousand years before Christ. It seems
long time ago
The fire blazad rlerrily on the hearth, the
raSs lion took on more friendly expression,
ur little family alteration had left US feel
lg perhaps more at peace with each other
han an amiable dish of family sweetmeacs
4 MY heart | thought there never was
veerer, dearer girl than my sister Helen
he primrose smiled on the table, Il believe
he German name for primrose means Key OF
Eesven.H said my aunt, Is she shipped an cid !
lack neck ribbon into inch pieces
1t was at this peaceful moment that o ,
ound came through the house-a sound that !
an mean so much, and so little-life, death, {
fortune = valentine, Or a beggar-the ring ,