Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-04-05
d CRUEL LESSON
How Aunt Ellen Was Punished for
NegIectIng a Promise.

self had received bitter lesson with
regard to the same bad habit in her
girlhood. She said:
81 was eighteen then, Daisy, as hap
by and careless as you are to-day, as
apt to procrastinate or to find pleas
ure more attractive than duty. But
during that year thereca to Easton
new clegyman-Ray Halford-a sec
ond cousin OF my mothers, who nat
urally visited frequently and upon the
most cordial terms at our house.
He was a young man, twenty-six
or seven, and very handsome; thor
ough Christian gentleman, whose heart
was in his work. Little by little, by
gentle counsel and mild exhortations,
he reused me from girlisn frivolties to
take a more active interest in the du-
dies OF life, the duties that !, the
daughter of man ofwealth, with am
pie means and leisure at my disposal,
owed to the poor around me, and to
the neighbors on all sides.
After trying various self-imposed
plans for doing some good in the
world, l finally concentrated my ener-
gies upon the hospital, and became
quite skilled in the preparation Of
strengthening broths and appetizing
custards, jellies and other dainties.
II thought, dear, that my heart was
in my work, not realizing how much
OF my devotion was caused by the de-
sire to win my cousin Ray Halford's
smile OF appreciation. or word OF gen.
tie encouragement. Prasie he seldom
gave, regarding all self-denial as a
positive duty.
zone OF my favorite contributions
to the hospital was basket OF choice
fruit, for at that time we had the only
hot house, as well as the largest Or
chard, in Easton, and was allowed
perfect freedom in selecting and pluck
ing what l wanted for my savorite
patients.
"For made that mistake from the
first, Daisy. had fayorites who had
the choice OF my contribution s, while
/ forgot that suffering gave to each
and all an equal right.
zone OF those who did not hold a
special place in my favor was Mari
anne Doyle, who had been injured in
the machinery of one OF the factories,
and lay in a crowded ward, growing
slowly but surely worse every day.
Her injuries had disfigured her shock
ingly, and |, in my heartless love OF
beauty, avoided the sight of her iace
as something loathsome, and was in
the habit of hurrying past Marianne's
cot, though often saw her sad, pa
tient eyes follow my basket longingly.
zone day, early in the fall. was
carrying the first ripe grapes from the
dollhouse to the hospital, when met
Ray Halford, who turned to join ME.
az was going this afternoon he
said, pleasantly, but / can as well 60
now
"He admired my grapes. arranged
in shallow basket upon fresh green
leaves, but would not be persuaded to
touch one.
'''Tlley will refresh so many fevered
lips, he said, that | should hate to
take even one, but l will call to-mor-
row, if nothing prevents. and gather
some for myself
81 think he knew / was glad to hear
this, for we were something more than
friends at that time, although there
had been no spoken word OF love
between US.
"At the hospital my basket was
soon emptied, and | fingered by the
cots, reading to one, chatting with
another, jotting down wants to be
supplied; busy and happy, though full
of sympathy, when Ray, who had
graver and more painful duties to
perform, Joined me.
/" i am sorry your grapes are all
gone said he, as he glanced at my
empty basket. i wanted one bunch
for a patient whose needs will be very
few in this life she is fast leaving
"'Who is it?' l asked.
"'Marianne Doyle, the most patient
of sufferers; whose lips make no COM
plant over the greatest agony
al was ashamed to linger as ne
moved toward the bed evidently. ex-
pecting me TO follow him. The poorgirl
looked surprised to see me voluntarily
coming toward her; but / spoke gen.
thy.
"1 am sorry that my grapes are all
gone l said; but ! can bring you
some, If you would like them this aft
ernoon.'
Her poor, patient eyes frightened
with feverish longing.
"'You are so kind she said, Il
should like some so much
"'You shall have them this after
noon / said, and after a few more
words ! left her.
Ray walked home with me, and
never had he been so gentle and ten.
der, never had / seen the love of his
heart in his eyes SO clearly as / saw it
that day, for the last time. We part
ed at the door, and / had Just time to
lay aside my hat, when l was sum-
moned to dinner.
cit was an oppressively VAIN day,
and had been twice over the hal:-
mile lying between the hospital and
my home. So after dinner 1 took
nap, waking refreshed and cool, more
ready for fresh dress and some tri6e
OF sewing than a second long hot walk
to the hospital.
81 dressed slowly, debating the
point with myself, for my prom
Use weighed upon my conscience,
though l tried to think
of it lightly. ! was tired, argued
with myself. and the grapes would do
just as well the next day; so spent
my afternoon in embroidering
dress, and the evening in receiving
some callers.
"My broken promise troubled me
but little, yet in the morning did re-
solve to make amends to Marianne
Doyle.
81 took small basket into the gar
den, and made q beautiful border OF
leaves and late flowers, filling the GEN.
ter with both purple and white grapes,
with one large, yellow pear IN the mid
die. 1t was very tasteful and tempt
ing, and | was well pleased with my
work as it stood upon my bureau.
while | dressed for my long, hot walk
over the dusty roads. could have
had the carriage at any time, but
liked TO fancy my offerings were more
acceptable charities if they involved
some personal sacrifice and inconven.
fence.
cit was quite late in the forenoon
when took up my dainty basket
and started upon my walk. As it was
not nay regular visiting day, had on
ly Marianne Doyle's grapes to carry.
walked along very leisurely, think
ing far more OF my unfinished EN-
broidery than of the suffering girl
was going to visit. In the vestibule of
the hospital l met the matron. who