The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-04-05

sS,sIOBO66 66OOOsvs
-
How Aunt Ellen Was PunIshod. for
NegloctIng q Promise.
Daisy Gordon was fond of procras.
tination. and her Aunt Ellen, in order
TO cure her Of it, told her how she her
self had received a bitter lesson with
regard to the same bad habit in her
%girlhood. She said:
II was eighteen then, Daisy, as hap
py and careless as you are to-day, as
apt to procrastinate or to find pleas
nre more attractive than duty. But
during that year therecame to Easton
q 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 q young man, twenty-six
or seven, and very handsome; a thor.
ough Christian gentleman, whose heart
was in his work. Little by little, by
gentle counsel and mild ex%hortations,
he reused me from girlish frivolties to
take a more active interest in the du.
dies Of life, the duties that !, the
daughter of a man OF wealth, with am
pie means and leisure at my disposal,
owed to the poor around me, and to
the neighbours on all sides.
After trying various self-impo sed
plans for doing some good in the
world, I 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 vas caused by the de-
sire to win my cousin Ray Halford's
smile OF appreciation, or word of gen :
tie encouragement. Praise he seldom
gave, regarding all self-denial as a
positive duty.
zone OF my favorite contributions
to the hospital was q basket OF choice
fruit, for at that time we had the only
hot house. as we'll as the largest Or
chard, in Easton, and ! was allowed
perfect freedom in selecting and pluck
ing what I wanted for my :avorite
patients.
"For I made that mistake from the
!. first, Daisy. I had favorites who had
the choice of my contributions, while
fforgot that suffering gave to each
and all an equal right.
zone of those who did not hold q
special place in my favor was Mari
anne Doyle, who had been injured in
the machinery of one OF the factories,
and lay in q crowded ward, growing
slowly but surely worse every day.
Her injuries had disfgured her shock.
ingly, and I, in my heartless love of
beauty, avoided the sight OF her tace
as something loathsome, and was in
the habit of hurrying past Marianne's
cot, though I often va her sad, pa.
.tient eyes follow my basket longingly.
"One day, early in the fall. / was
carrying the first ripe grapes from the
hot-house to the hospital. when I met
Ray H afford, who turned to join me.
'"I was going this afternoon he
said, pleasantly, but 1 car as we'll 60
now "
HE admired my grapes, arranged
in a shallow basket upon fresh green
leaves, but would not be persuaded to
touch one.
"'Tlley will refresh so many fevered
lips he said, that I should hate to
take even one, but l will call to-mor-
row, if nothing prevents. and gather
some for myself
ri 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.
aAt the hospital my basket was
soon emptied, and I fingered by the
j 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. .
81 am sorry your grapes are all
gone said he, as he glanced at my
empty basket. 4 wanted one bunch
for patient whose needs will be very
few in this life she is fast leaving
who is it?' I asked.
!" Marianne Doyle, the most patient
of sufferers; whose lips make no COM
plant over the greatest agony +
II was ashamed to lingsr as he
moved toward the bed evidently ex-
pecting me to follow him. The poorgirl
looked surprised to see mt voluntarily
coming toward her; but I spoke gen.
tly. :,
as I am sorry that my grapes are all
gone,' l said; but I. can bring you
some, lfyou would like them this aft
ernoon. !
"Her poor, patient eyes frightened
with feverish longing. :
"'You are so kind she said, q
should like some so much
/" You shall have them this after
noon, ) / said, and, after a few more
words I left her.
"Ray walked home with me, and
never had-he been SO gentle and ten.
der, never had l seen the love of his
heart in his eyes SO clearly as I saw it
that day, for the last time. We part
ed at the door, and ! had just time to
lay aside my hat, when / was sum-
moned to dinner.
1T was an progressively wa1m day,
and had been twice over the hals.
mile lying between the hospital and
my home. So after dinner Itook a
nap, waking refreshed and cool, more
ready for a. fresh dress and some trif1e
nfcou;no thon4o snc0nd 10no h0f wn1kr