Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1890-04-12

OOOu-Dy!
agree with her, neverT Margaret
exclaimed impetuously to Adele, as
Grace passed out of the church.
perhaps we are too hasty," Adele
said, quietly. "You know, Margaret,
you are to impulsive to be just, and l
really believe Grace has some good
reason for refusing her flowers"
In the largest ward of the children's
department in the C Hospital, the
ward of the incurables, that Easter
morning brought with it something
marvellous to the patient little sufferers
lying on their clean white cots. A large
pyramid of flowers rose in the center Of
the long room. At the foot of each cot
was a suitable motto of leaves and flow
ers spread upon the ceiling. By each
pillow was laid a bouquet of roses,
lilies, violets, filling the air with de-
licious perfume.
"Oh, is it Heaven?" said one thin,
wan little creature in the last stage of
consumption, raising the flowers in her
wasted hands and pressing them to her
lips.
"Oh, I've seen them often before"
said her neighbor, girl with spinal
complaint I'VE used to live in the
country, and we had garden with a
c,root roco Inch -, - rod rooop 4bot
smelt so nice, and my ma used to let
me pull them. could run about then
as well as anybody. 1t makes me feel
good to see roses again. Somebody
must care for us to take trouble and
send them here" And the girl smiled,
the first smile any one in the hospital
had seen on that pain-drawn face.
YES said one of the good sisters
who stopped to listen. 1t was good
young lady who thought of you. She
said: See, here are some dear chill
dren who are not able to see the flowers
blooming in the gardens, nor even go
to church and see the flowers there.
will bring them some, and then they
will remember what a great day Easter
is to them and to all the world, and
they will try to be patient"
The little consumptive clasped her
flowers in her hot hands and said: Il
would like to see the good flower lady.
| want to thank her"
"You will see her. She promised TO
come to-day"
The services at R Church were
unusually impressive that Easter morn
ing. ] cannot say, though, that Mar
garet King heard one word of them, so
engrossed was she in watching the eff
feet of the decorations on every one who
entered the church, and in recalling the
compliments that she, as chief worker,
had already received on her success.
Her anger against her friend burned
holly ever time her EYES fell on Grace's
calm, absorbed face.
ooh - now she can sit there so
quiet and SERENE" she thought, after
such unfriendly conduct. wonder she
don't vince while Doctor M is
preaching against self-seeking and ex-
horting us to bring our best to the altar
as thankoffering I declare, he seems
to be preaching at her and she doesn't
seem to know it. If were in her
place should feel like hiding my
face"
Come with me, Margaret" said the
soft voice of Grace, as the people were
leaving the church. II have an APP
pointment and l wish you would go
with me-"
Margaret's first impulse vas to re-
fuse, but curiosity, and some constrain-
ing influence in Grace's voice and look
silenced the words on her lips.
I'VE are going to the c. Hos
pital," said Grace, as they took their
seat in the street car.
ITO the hospital! What on earth
takes you there to-day?"
you will see when you get there, .
Grace answered smiling.
"The children are just longing for
you, Miss Nugent," said one of the
nurses who met them at the door.
They're more reused up than I've seen
them for many a day. We've given
them the fruit and cake you sent, but /
think the flowers pleased them best.
They've been chatting and laughing
over them, and it isn't often you hear d
augh in this ward"
90 Grace, understand now" wills
pered Margaret, as her eyes fell on the
stately white lilies which crowned the
pyramid, and which seemed TO nod a
welcome to them as they entered. Can
you ever forgive me?'
Hush" said Grace. What is there
to forgive? l had my own idea to carry
ont and you had yours-both good in
their way