Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-04

travel, and he was her loving son, Tommy.
This letter brought a prompt reply full Of
anectionate solicitude for Mothers Tommy"
and inc1osing another letter for Miss Alice
LOUIS" to whom was also sent key of apple
butter, and she was her grateful and obedient
| servant for ever and ever"
Tommy improved rapidly after this home
correspondence. but still he was unable to
| fined to his cot or resting chair. The time to
| the bed-ridden boy, who could not be inter-
ested in books was unexpectedly weary. One
day Sister Aoysa said to him:
Tommy, wish 1 could do something to
help you pass the time. 1t must seem very
tedious to you"
II thank you, Miss Alice" he said Che had
given up his formal Miss Alice Louisa" and
| now habitually called the sister "Miss Alice'').
You are SO good to me, you are, but I'm
"What is it, Tommy
'Tm feared to ask you, Miss Alice" he said,
| and he added, lyon never would 20 for to
play game Of cards long O. me, would you,
Miss Alice? No, OF course you wouldn't Ex-
cuse me for asking you, Miss Alice. must O
been crazy to ask you such thing. Deacon Mar
tin would a turned me out Of church for asking
such q thing" he concluded, with q look Of
genuine modification.
'.Play cards? Why. Of course I will play
cards with you, Tommy, whenever have time.
If you want me to. There is no harm in cards.
They are only bits Of painted pasteboard. The
harm is in gambling. OF course you don't
"Oh, no indeed, don't! But would you, for
true2'
"Yes, Tommy, of course would. It isas much
my duty and my pleasure to play cards with you
IL, by SO doing, can enliven your sick bed, as it
Is to bring you your medicine and broth"
well, l neveri l thought I'd gone crazy
even to ask you! And know Deacon Martin
would turn fellow out'n church for talking
about such thing. shouldn't even think
you knowed how to play"
Il used to play whist and euchre with my
father and mother and brother at home before
entered upon my VOCATION
-Euchre! Amt that a nice game" said the
delighted invalid.
After this a curious sight might be seen in the
ward at odd times. A white-hooded sister of
charity sitting beside the cot of a wounded
soldier boy, with cards spread out on the out
side OF the counterpane, playing euchre with
him. And none were found to object unless
they were the sort of saints who found fault
with the Son of God for eating and drinking
with publicans and sinners, and poor little
Tommy was neither the one nor the other. This
entertainment for an hour or 30 every after
noon did him so much good that his health and
spirits improved visibly. He had something to
and something to do in the afternoon, and
something to look back upon in the evening
Not very high calling. but you must pardon
him for being SO childish, he was only "a poor,
weak soldier boy who had done his duty vail
antly and had been shattered nearly to death,
and whose mind was nearly as much shattered
as his body; and, moreover, you must forgive
the sweet sister for playing cards with him in
stead of reading terrifying tracts to him.
After this he mended 80 rapidly that he was
now, although he was no longer under Sister
Aloysla s special care, yet she gave the boy as
much attention she could without neglecting
her regular duties, but strangely enodgh from
the time OF his transfer Tommy sspirits tagged.
As Sister Aioysia went in and out his eyes fol-
lowed her with wistful earnestness and as she
turned away he would moan and cover his face
with his handD. In vain did his comrades try
TO cheer him up by reminding him that he
would soon be able to travel and would 90 home
in time to spend Christmas with his family,
with an honorable record and a long leave Of
absence. Tommy would only moan in answer
And tie stronger he grew in body and the
nearer the time of his departure approached
the lower Tonmy's spirits fell.
What was the matter with Tommy? Surely
the soldier boy was not In love with the grave
middle-aged sister of charity That idea was
too richly absurd Yet how else was one to
interpret his actions-the way in which his
eyes would follow her; the moan with which he
would turn from the door through which she
would disappear and cover his face.
One day Sister Aloysia coming into the ward
found him sitting at table writing He ceased
as she drew near, and said in the agitated man
ner SO peculiar to him now:
Il owe you 80 much, Miss Alice. 1 owe you
more n will ever be able to pay you in this
world"
You owe me nothing. Tommy It is to our
Father in heaven that you and all Of US are in
debted for all that we are and all that we have
ordered me to do. You must thank Him.
"Yes, 1 know" said Tommy, "but-"
Tommy never got farther than but" on such
occasions. and he would blush and sigh.
What is the matter with you, my boy? Are
you not glad that the time for going home is so
near?'
'Oh, you bet 1 am, Miss Alice! Awful
gladr'
You don't look it, my boy
Tommy fetched deep sigh.
mo, you don't look it! Is there any one
here you are sorry to leave. Tommy
mo, n-n-no, Miss Alice. faint thatr'
What is it then, Tommy, my boy, that
troubles your
Never mind what it is, Miss Alice, I'll do it
1 ought to do it, And shelp me / will /
would be too mean to live ON this earth If I
didn't do it. There
Some duty that lies before you, Tommy?
Some hard duty2'
Yes. Miss Alice, duty I oughtn't to call it
a hard duty, and ought to call it a pleasure
and ought to be glad and happy to have it to
do, but-"and here he ended with his usual
sigh.
But what, Tommy Can't you tell me YOUR
dificultiess Perhaps / could help YOU"
faint that. Miss Alice. There amt no dif-
fculties. / almost wish there WAS But there
How awful mean am to say anything like that
But fellow amt always so thankful for his
privileges as he had ought to be-
None of us are, Tommy
But I'll do my duty and I'll try to be "a
proud and happya man as ought to be! S'elp
me will 1 !" concluded Tommy, gulping down
sob and q tear.
Sister Aloysia was sorely distressed and puz-
zled by fommys condition She had grown TO
have as nearly mothers affection for the bow
as sister Of charity was free to cherish for any
individual. She would have done ANYTHING in
her power to help him, but she was in utter ie-
norance OF the cause of his trouble, which. it
seemed, he could not confide to her. and which
in common delicacy she could not farther probe.
She contented herself now with saving:
well, Tommy. we must all do our duty.
however hard and grievous it may seem to us,
and we must look to the Lord for strength and
comfort" And Tommy would say:
But II seems to me that am such mean
fellow to call it even q duty, when it ought to
be delight and q pleasure"
We'll, Tommy, my child the Lord in His
goodness may turn it into pleasure and de-
delight" said Sister Aloysia.
so He mayi So He mayi And 80 It is
And I'm a mean fellow who ought to have been
let die Of my wounds for ever thinking it was
ever anything else but the most joyful and
happy thing ever could happen to n fellow
like me. Don't you think 30. Miss Alice?'
II think you are a good boy. Tommy
knn lint \