The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-08-23
HELEN'S SACRIFICE.
How She Was Amply Repaid for
Her Self-Denial.

aOW one ~ as ALnEAy 4v0RSASA ~
Her Self-Denial.
Helen Howard stood on the piazza,
1atching the cloud of dust following IN
the rear of DR.. Hastings carriage, as it
whirled rapidly down the street. Her
face wore a troubled look, which deep
ened as she caught sight Of her father
coming up the sidewalk. AS he drew
near he coughed slightly, and she no.
ticed with pain that he was pale and
thin, and that his hair had grown gray
very fast of late.
..What is DR.. Hastings verdict" he
asked, anxiously.
HE orders rest, freedom from all care,
and all kinds of delicaoies to tempt the
appetite. He says the two months at the
sea-shore would accomplish wonders. =
''He might as we'll order trip to the
moon and a diet of greenbacks; one
could be accomplished about as easily
as the other,'' said Mr.. Howard, bitterly,
as he passed into the house.
Helen looked after him in astonish-
ment, it was so unusual to hear him
speak bitterly or harshly. For the first
time she seemed fully to realize what 1t
meant to be poor.
The tinkle of piano came from the
open, lace-curtained window across the
way, and Helen forgot her troubles for
moment as she listened ato the merry
tune. Helen was passionately fond of
music, and the one absorbing ambition
of her life had been to have a piano and
to receive course of thorough instruc-
ton in the one art for which she felt in
her soul she had a special talent. Her
father was book-keeper in the factory at
the other side of the town; he received
a liberal salary, but with family OF
six to be fed and clothed there was lit
tie margin for extras. He had given.
her the advantages of three years
course At Elmville Seminary, from
which she had graduated with honors;
but he had never seen his way clear to
crafty the desire Of her heart. She had
been employed as teacherin that same
seminary for the past two years, and al
though she had supplied the family
with many little luxuries she had
economical closely on her own account
that she might save every penny toward
her cherished scheme. She was near
the realization of her hopes, for she had
been engaged for another year at the
seminary, and had deposited so large a
sum in the bank that she felt that it
would be safe to purchase, although she
could not pay down the entire amount.
So it is not strange that she was inter-
ested in the music across the way, and
wondered if she would ever be able to
play like Carrie Ki=nble, and if her
piano would have so fine tone.
A spray Of pale roses hung temptingly
near, and as Helen turned to enter the
house she picked them from their stem.
A pale lady reclined upon a sofa in the
sitting groom; Helen placed the roses in
her hand, shook up the fir pillow, gave
the thin cheeks loving caress, and, bid
ding her to ''try and Sleep she coaxed
the children to her favorite retreat, a
pine grove behind the house. She kept
them there for nearly two hours, and
when she returned to the house was
pleased to find that the invalid had just
awakened from a most refreshing nap.
Her father had long ago returned to his
office. Helen brought her mother sau-
Ger of Strawberries, slice of bread and
cup of tea, daintily arranged upon a
tray.
''Ah, Helen, you are always my good
fairy. Whatever could / do without
you? I feel quite rested, thanks to
your fir pillow and the perfume Of your
roses"
This step-mother of Helen's was only
ten years older than herself, and al
though devotedly attached to her, she.
seemed more like an elder sister than q
mother. Over-work and the care of
three little children had reduced Mrs.
Howard to her present state Of nervous
exhaustion.
Helen went about two or three days
in a brown study. Her mother noticed
her unusually quiet manner and she
said to her one day:
''You are working too hard, I fear; 1t
is too bad, and in your vacation, when
you ought to have rest. It seems very
hard to lie here 80 helpless when I am
needed so much. feel very anxious
about your father, too. Have you no.
ticed hoW poorly he is looking?"
1.-THE hot weather we have had Of late
is very exhausting. Of course 1T affects
father; he ought to have vacation. It
is shame that Forest & Wakem do not
give him one, after he has worked for
them SO long II - am going to tell
them SO this very minute she ex-
claimed, hastily leaving the room.
That evening, after the children had
gone to bed, she spoke suddenly:
'sWell, father, well, Alice, when will
you be ready for your trip to the sea-
shore?''
"Trip to the seashore!" they ex-
claimed, simultaneously. What are
ypa talking about??' u.
4 81 mean that Forest q Wakem have
made arrangements u give father q six
weeks vacation, and that N deference
- his long service his pay is 70
eontinue - usual. haye planned that
ysu ~ Altos - to staEt next Tuesday