The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-06-04
HIS LIFE FOR ANOTHER.
Noble Sacrifice Godfrey Owen
Made for the One He Loved.

1t was when Alma Bentley was only
six years old that her father wrote to
me, asking me to come to Startled and
take the place of governess to his
motherless girl. Amos Bentley was a
far-away cousin of my own, and he had
heard of my recent widowhood, my
anxiety to find some employment. And
out of the goodness of his heart he
offered me position in his own luxuri-
GUS home that gladly accepted. was
received like sister, and, indeed,
Alma has always called me Aunt Susie.
AS she grew older, masters in music,
drawing and languages assisted me in
her education, until, at eighteen, it was
decided that she was to spend winter
in New York with her aunt, Mrs. Win
ship, and be introduced to society.
1t was natural that girl Of eighteen
should be excited and eager over such a
prospect, but Alma dreaded it with a
strange fear for one so young. Had she
been a French girl of two centuries
earlier, she would, most assure6ly,
have been "a nun, and often told her
SO in jest Yet, in most serious earnest,
l knew that I had never seen or heard
of girl in this bustling, busy age of
ours so pure of heart, SO deeply devout,
so modest and tender as Alma Bentley
She was very fair, rather pale than
rosy, yet not sickly-lool1ing. with wav-
ing hair of light brown, and large blue
eyes, slight in figure, and with look
of perfect serenity and peace.
"Allie looks like a saint" her father
said to me. ''She seems to have none
of the brightness of girlhood. Is she
happy"
eyes. l think she is happy, as far
Us such plying nature can be. But
the sorrow of others, the crime, the
misery, the poverty she sees press upon
her.
"Why need she see?" he asked quick
ly. 'You do not let her go into the vii
lage?''
''She goes every day. think the mill
hands look upon her as upon an actual
angel"
Mr.. Bentley frowned heavily, walk
ing up and down the long drawing
room.
something ought to be DONE" he
said but what? What can be done?
When Mr.. Rogers built the mills and
houses for the hands he was a rich
man with every prospect of success
before him. For nearly ten years the
mills prospered, but when he failed it
was utterly, hopelessly. No one else
took the place; tho mills were closed,
and here are some six hundred fami-
lies, too poor to get away, out of work,
their savings spent, sickness every
can, but am not rich enough to support
whole colony"
"Your name is in every prayer they
atter," l said, emphatically. ''Allie
goes where there is siclxncss-where
poverty presses hardest. AS you say,
you cannot support colony, but
Allie gives sympathy, tenderness, time,
advice, and puts her hand to every
thing. She makes soup and tea for
the sick; she washes and dresses the
babes whose mothers are ill; she
speaks words of comfort and hope in
her sweet, tender voice, and she
takes flowers to put. in the humble
coffins.''
onote the &C lversation to show
what Alma Bent,ey's claim to saintli-
ness consisted in. Not that she made
any such claim, for she was as modest
and shy as she was good, but the char
acter was given to her by all who knew
her.
- It had been decided to take her away,
for several months, from her poor, suf-
fering charges, to go to the city to
dance, to sing, to enter society, wear
fine dresses and give herself up to fash.
ionable frivolity. Mr.. Bentley, most
,ndulgent father, was resolute about
this.
's9he will be an old woman at TWEEN
ty, if she stays here" he said to me.
II wish her to go to her Aunt Harriet. u
Twas to remain at home, having for
many years been housekeeper, as we'll
as governess, and needed in my own
place. 1t was the first time Alma and
had been separated for twelve years,
but she was good correspondent, and
letters came frequently; letters that
were like conversations, they were so
full of every detail of her new life. TO
my surprise, she entered into every
pleasure heartily, her desire to please
her father being the duty that sus-
tanned her. Alma must have a duty to
make every act of her life pleasant to
her, and so for flial obedience she sub.
United to deck her fair, delicate beauty
in dainty fabrics, to go to society's
gatherings and win position there by
hsr gentle sweetness, ~ sure as she