The national leader., 1889-03-09

'fOor things, suppose Cney don't
know whether to have their wrappers
cut with a V.front or square neck
The sick in hospitals speedily became
real people to Eleanor Woodworth.
Before long. while caught in shower
at the station, she noticed the hungry
look of the iron mouth and the plethoric
state of the neighboring bookstand.
They don't seem acquainted she
thought. 'I'll introduce them,' which
she did by feeding one into the other.
1t was delight to see the unthumbed
publications slipping down, and to
think.
Poor dearsl for once in their lives
they shall have something besides other
persons leavings for their mental food.
and have the pleasure of cutting the
leaves Of magazine;' and in went a
fresh Harper's and Century.
at the end Of month or so it had
grown to be one of Eleanor's habits to
put something into the hospital box.
She settled that she remembered it on
Mondays, because, she reasoned:
1T is then that go into the gymna-
sium and feel so well that l should be
likely to forget the sick except that on
no other day am so sorry for Them
'My invalids must keep up with the
times she would think, and slip in a
dainty souvenir program, libretto of
the latest opera, recent sermon OF
Philips Books. a book catalogue con-
tanning cuts of the new authors, a
circular picturing the manufacture OF
exquisite china, seaside advertisement
aglow with real seal.mosSes, and in
paper covers so light that the frailest
hand could hold them. The Christmas
Carol and other stories that turn tears
to smiles. When December 25 came.
she had ready for the box dozen
Sunshine calendars, 1t being the year IN
which that CHEEKY compilation was
made; but no one knew who thus
vivaciously said II times 365 comforting
things to the sick IN hospitals, for she
kept her little mission to herself.
Less honorable was the secret which
her father was keeping. and which
came to light when the bills poured in
at New Years. He could not pay
them. He knew it in the fall wht n he
surprised Eleanor by saying that he
thought one hundred and fifty dollars
was a gOOl ''el to pay for travelling
dress. But lie lad weekly put of the
evil day of settlement until after the
happy holiday season and until he had
once more given gifts which no one
knew how to thank him for so charm
ingly as Eleanor. When the failure
came, those involved In it said to those
who were losers, urging the excuse that
has seen hard service since it was made
for Charles I, But he was such good
husband and father
Is it good, thought To let the wife
and daughter be thought extravagant
by outsiders who judge that the women
Of a household know as soon as the
town does when the tide turns in the
family's prosperity, while generally the
women know of business affairs only in
season to beg that the failure be made
at least an honorable one. Such, GER
tainly, was the case with the Wood
worths. Mrs. Woodwork bravely gave
over her home and her husbandlngs to
the auctioneer before sweetening the
bitter cup by telling about it to callers.
Her first wOful recital Was also her last,
however, for Eleanor entreated.
Mamma, II trouble has come to
them. they know what we undergo. If
it has not, no words can tell Them
Then the parent obeyed the child in
the good American fashion, but her
eyes grew older with the tears she
repressed, and it was to exchange some
new Opera-glasses for a stronger pair of
spectacles for her motn er, that Eleanor
in lnUQrinn dow Sho
had found herself, after the failure, too
poor to wear her rich clothes, and not
rich enough to buy poor ones, so on this
occasion she donned her waterproof as
the least conspicuous wrap she owned,
and in its pocket her fingers touched
the program of 1.-The Tanning or the
Shrew.' Her Quondam escort came to
her mind.
The lad has more brains than l
credited him WITH she mused. He
cOmprehends what difference there is
between asking me to furnish wedding
CAKE and Offering to provide me with
bread and butter. Is anything or any
body the same as on that careless
afternoon. l wonder? Yes, my in
valids are still in the box,' glancing
OOWdLu OLC UlS nun OuCou oLlO oUOPPOu
from the Car. I've nothing but myself
to Lut In this morning. she added rue
fully Il shall fill the place and stick
with half-conscious comparison of her
size and The opening. The place, her
nimble thoughts ran on. The place of
nurse, why not? and stick to my post.
Father acknowledges though he will
manage to give me my daily bread,
must work for my daily cake, and what
can do better than nurse the sick in
hosptalS?'
1t is not easy nowadays, however, to
secure even All unenvlable situation. 1t
seemed to Eleanor as if all the invallds
In Boston were belng pulled along TO
cOnvaIescence In an ambulance, at
whose rope so many hands were tugging
that there was no room to get in her
fingers, even if she were willing TO
exchange her diamonds for bllsterS.
But after cutting an amount of red
tape that outran the yards OF ribbon on
her dressiest gown, Sue obtained the
place of nurse she coveted. Her face
was her fortune, not in tue sense of the
song, for it was not handsome enough
to win her laird and lands, but in the
ninatpanth cAntnry Way for il was