Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-29
Jelly" he screamed. wiping the blood
from the slight wound. Aunt PHI II

from the slight wound. Aunt Phil 8
would not stem To my explanation,
but. grasping my arm. she shook mo
roughly. and then, after box ne my
ears, showed mo towards the staircase,
declaring, that "a 4 pun shnent for my
ungrateiul conduct. ! would not be per-
mitted 10 speak for "a month except
when answering questions. | crept mp
stairs as fast rs my blinded tears would
permit. and throw myself upon my
bed, gave way TO violent outburst of
grief. Only II fortnight before. | had.
in dumb agony. listened to The clOds
rafting upon the coilin-lid Of my dear
father who all my life. had shielded
me from hardship The dear old par
sonage. with It's vine-clad porch. rose
up before me. and in its shadow ! be-
held my silver haired father doz NJ in
his chair the golden ia of n SUM
mer-sunsot touching his sanled face Is
with the penc of an angel AGAIN.
his gentle voice thr He'd my soul as in
the days and Years gone by.and in fam
cv the magic touch of his trembl ng
fingers cooled the fever of my ach NJ
brow. No doubt m father intended To
prepare me for the shock that had
came suddenly. and while slept the
angels carried him into the great Be-
vOnd. How long | would have wrut
over my crushed hopes cannot tell,
had not Aunt Phil 5 shrill voice called
me back to duty.
Take EN- white dimity curto ns
down from the w ndow. Els e. Like ~
not The master will spattcr 'em with
ter hacker ju &c, she SAID Then
come down and wash the dishes.
obeyed her. promptly. but my heart
ached for Master Neville, who expect
ed to find the comforts of his refined
home in this diminutive apartment
str pped alike of ornament and con-
vcnionce. What different welcome
was my dear old father won't 10 give
10 the stranger within his gate.
That same evening. as | was gather
ing chips for the morn ne tire. John
came unexpectedly upon me-. and re-
newed his attack Of the morning.
so. Miss Stuck-up. YOU are ia he
the lady. and the servant he began.
Really feel proud OF my smart
cousin. How fortunate TO have YOUR
highness counted one of the family.
Shame on on. boy. 10 torment a
girl Younger than Yourself.
1t was Master Neville's voice tha,
started the young coward, caus ng h IN
to sneak around the kitchen ont of
sight. After speaking few kind
words to me. my champion went into
the house, and up the crooked stairs
TO his chcerless room. John taunt
concern NJ m, kiushp neryed me TO
I
nv face tiXedly towards gain NJ "A
place from VIII ch he would feel honor
ed in claiming me aI one OF the fam
liz. This resolution accounted for the
tallow-dip burning IN nv bare room
long after even Master Neville had
extinguished his light and sought re-
pose. Before | closed my eyes on
that first night | had marked out "A
regular course of study which was to
occupy every spare moment. 1t seem
ed to me that / had grown old in the
last two weeks. | could not realize
that was the same happy child who
had danced so mcrrily N and out OF
the parsonage door so short time be-
fore. If | could only have staid with
Margaret, dear Margaret. who had
taken me when an infant from my dy-
ing mothers arms and cared for me
during all the fifteen years of nv life
She would have chung to me faithfully
had not the death of nv father left
her in her old age as helpless and de-
pendent as myself. Dear Margaret.
will yet make home for YOU, and
together we will eat the bread of indie
pendence. y | cried. bitterly. Strong
in my determination TO succeed. |
gathered my school books from the
bottom of the old chest, and took up
the uniin she'd lessons that nv father
had marked ont the day before he
died. Thanks TO his thorough method
Of instruction, and the interesting
manner in WI he strove TO present
the great truths he taught. was not
only well advanced for II Girl of fifteen.
but | possessed that iuOrdinate love
Tor books that makes study pleasure
instead OF Il tHsk.
Much - shall always dcspisc john
for hs cowWdly treatment Of friend
less orphan. | cannot but feel grateful
to him for utiering the singing words
that aroused me from M stony grief,
aud opened up a new source of enjoy
ment to M staryn soul. Every mo-
mrnt | could steal from aunt's watch
ful eve was devoted TO nv books.
One evening she happened 10 come
into the pantr, when | was replen-
ishing my light Taking the old saul
cor from my hand. she said sharply:
Seems TO me. Elsie, you use
mighty sight of tallow. Mind. it costs
like sixty. Miss Jones rot seven cents
q pound for bern. There is no sense
in great girl like vou havin' to carry
a light upstairs everr night. Betty
Robbins told me that she had seen
light in your window all hours of the
night. and that folks sar. you set upto
study II | catch YOU ,tcalin' your
time TO pour over books I'll burn 'em
every one
She set the old cracked dish on the
upper shelf, and crawled up stairs. dis
couraged but not conquered. just at
this time ! WAS wholly absorbed in
Geometry. | made ii n point TO learn
one new theorem every dav. which
mentally worked out at night. In this
. I.