The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-13
ut IS MORE BLESSED

.Well. don't know what we can do
next" Bertha Adlcrcxclaimed, despair
inglv. her pretty, dark eyebrows drawn
together with perplcxed wrinkles.
We've read to her, sung for her and
told her stories by the hour, and yet.
though she seems as grateful as can be,
she isn't bit happy under it all, as any
one with two eyes could seo."
'''l'he fruits and flowers are no novel
ty," Emily Perry sighed. ''She is used
to Injuries of all sorts"
''Anl even good stories and books
must get tame when there's nothing
else to amuse, and fellow can't help
herself" Dot Dillon said. soberly.
Tho other girls laughed. "A fellow
with broken ankle-bone isn't in a very
nice fx." ono of them assented, land
suppose that orr best efforts to please
her must sometimes tire her out"
'Girls!' 1t was Kitty Carroll's voice
this time, and little infection Of hope
fulncss began to spread through the
group. We've been following beauti-
fIl truth in dreadfnlly one-sided way,
that's what's tho trouble. We've all
been saying: 1T is more blessed to give
than to receive and have blessed our
selves by showering time and oranges
and half our pocket-money on dear old
Blanche. Now suppose we give her q
chance to win similar blessings, and do
little Of the giving herself. ] don't
suppose it has ever occurred to her, ly-
ing there, tired, little invalid. day
after day."
"Why. what an idea! What could she
give, and how?'
''Innumerable things, and in many
ways" Kitty answered brightly. ''lIer
wrists are not broken. you know, If her
ankle is. She can learn to crochet
warm baby-sacks for that blue-looking
little baby OF Mrs. Wade's. She can be
we'll propped up with lap-board before
her. and cut out work for the Saturdays
scwing-class. Oh. there are dozens of
little things she can do; one will lead To
another! Then farewell to boredom,
and hail to fresh interest in life, and
the blessing Of giving, for invalid
Blancle.'
what head you have.' Bertha said,
with such honest admiration that a gen.
eral laugh followed.
.'.ut it mustn't seem a cut-and-dried
sche me-" Kitty warned. ''The idea
mutt occur to the child herself. Dot
and ! arc going there after school.
Trust Us to manage it," and here a
sharp little bell scattered the smiling
group. and sent them to books and
classes.
That evening two bright checked
maidens entered the pretty sick-room,
taking with them breath of fresh Oc-
tober air. and an added air of girlish
brightness.
How goes it, patient one?" Dot
asked, kissing the fair cheek of her
friend.
.'Oh! very well. thank you. Every
day is day ended, You know!"
''And you are glad to have them go?''
''Why, yes, Kitty, how could it be
otherwiseo Every body has to bother
with me. and I'm only . nuisance N.Y.
SELF
blessed be nuisances." Kitty laughed.
THAT vas what Rob called himself last
night, when he tried to wind my wool
and got into such muss. Boys are SO
funny, anyway! You see | was in a
frantic hurry. for / did want to get
some crocheting begun. and yet there
were all my lessons to get; and Bob
tried to help me out by getting the
wool ready"
"Well. he must be more interested in
cheeseman's and hair-pin balls than most
brothers!. Blanche exclaimed, laughing,
too.
'Oh! but it wasn't to be hair-pin balls
or any thing of that Sort" Kitty inter
rupted, eagerly, lust comfortable baby
sacks Tor the most frozen up little
bit Of humanity you ever saw-Mrs.
Wade's baby-such poor, miserable
ed over its case"
Blanche was sitting up against her
pillows with an unwonted glow in her
face. Kitty" she exclaimed, why
did | never learn to crochet! ! might
make those baby sacks! 1t would
warm me more than the baby
We'll. say now, fellows'-Dot's long
association with six brothers Of assorted
sizes had made her speech shockingly
boyish-.this looks like an opening fol
me. have absolutely nothing to en-
gage my valuable time for days t.
come. Why not let me teach you Il
crochet"
.'Oh. you dear! You may talk base
ball and cycling club all you please, i
you'll only Gomez
..Happy IT, sighed Dot, with sauc.
little courtesy toward Lady Blanche.
I'll be- on hand at Ave O'clock to-mor
row. armed with balls and needles
Come Kitty! II l don't actually dra,
you off you'll be here till that charme,
hour tomorrow. Don't you see no,
dark it's getting?" and Dot, Juggling a
her friends sleeve. blew shower of lii
tie kisses toward the invalid. and in an
other minute both girls we're gone.
When Mrs. Rhea entered the room
half an hour later. she looked in som
surprise at the sunshiny face Of he
small daughter. did the girls brin
you something quite new?" she asked
wonderingly.
..Yes'm," with a soft laugh. "A
idea! Mamma."-with impulsive carr
estness--''Which ought to wear bette
for ,,aby, blue, or brown, or gray?'
"Wear better? Baby?" and Mrs. Rhe
looked SO dazed that Blanche laughe
as she hadn't ''since the siege began.
But all that Mrs. Rhea did not kno
about that poor baby of the Wido'
Wade's she discovered very completed
during the next week; and she an
blanche speedily found themselves
small cooperative society for the distr
button Of crocheted comfort.
..Is." she said. coming in one ever
ins. "all my heart hadn't been with m
Gagged birding here, surely should ha,
noticed sooner the distress of that po'
little woman. Positively they are ha
frozen down there. I've had papa ord
. cosl sent right over. She can't refu'
, il: she'll not know whom to refuse; AZ
, I'll take good care she doesn't suspe
rcs. The sacks. told her, were ju
an inyalid's pastime, and she took the
....taf,lly Wonder ~ n crocheted ski