The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-03-02

words Of mine: Forgive, If you would
fiud peace. Forgive, if you would have
your wounds healed and feel the soft
touch of Christ's finger on your sore |
heart"
Olive was silent; but she drew near
and took Lucy's hand. The leaf
whispers filed up the pause, the room
was full of the rich scent of jessamine,
a flower that Lucy loved; and long af-
forwards its perfume brought back to
Olive a memory of her friends last
words and looks. Some sprays were
scattered over the coverlet; some of the
white, star-like blossoms had drifted
down on the floor. Lucy had never
told why this flower was so dear to
her, but Olives quick womanly instinct
OWNED that it was one of the links that
bound her to the past Such links are
often hower-links, fragile and sweet,
yet strong as q chain Of steel, and last
ing unbroken through all the chances
and changes of time.
'You must never think sorrowfully
Of me, Olive" Lucy went on. 81 have
read somewhere of one who CLEANED in
haste and snatched all the richest
grain. Here, in this quiet village, i
have gathered all the blessings that ]
missed when lived in the world. In
these last days have reaped all, and /,
too, shall be gathered into the garner.
Do you not see that mine is happy
fateP l have done nothing to deserve
these royal compositions. these outpour.
ings Of Fathers loving kindness, and
yet they are mine"
Thus Lucy talked, and Olive listened;
and in the growing amber light the
woods and meadows stretched softly
away, showing dimly through glo-
rious mist that slowly faded into dusk.
They heard the last goodnight Of the
birds and felt the first cool sigh OF
night before the lattice was closed. 1t
was then that Lucy said a silent fare
well TO earthly things. The quiet night
passed away in peace; the sun rose and
the village awolSe TO its daily labor, but
the jessamine blossoms lay upon a
pulseless heart, and on the still face
! there was an ideal beauty, faint smile
! of unutterable peace.
! Long afterwards Olive was glad that
! she had watched by the side of her dead
! friend; glad that she had woven chap
. let Of feathery ferns and jessamine fol
, Lucy's last resting-place. There are
times when to each one of us comes the
= thought Of those who have taught US
:. by their words and deeds; and we FIND
a their traces in other lives, and light
q upon their footprints in strange paths
4 which we never expected to tread
They laid Lucy in the breezy ole
a churchyard under the high hill, among
. the graves which Olive had known from
a childhood; but IL was not here, in thii
a quiet nook, that the clear echoes O.
a Lucy's voice would come TO her from
the past.
After her niece's death Mrs. Hoppe
pined for companionship, and dreade'
the long winter spent in the little cot
tage alone. She begged Olive to sta.
with her till the spring came again
and, in truth, the girl was too tired ant
worn to begin a new life at once. Blu
she wrote TO Mr.. Wake, and wrote ais
to the florist in Regent street who ha
employed Lucy, inclosing q letter Q
recommendation which had been writ
ten by Lucy herself. The answers t
these letters were more satisfactor
than she had expected them to bC
Samuel Wake was man who never di
things by halves; he was ready not onl
to receive Olive, but TO give her heart
welcome. And the florist wrote to sa
that he was willing to let her come an
try her skill, adding that he had nevt
had an employeso clever as Miss Crome
:. So the way was made clear for Olive
feet; but before she ventured out int
the new path IL was we'll fcr her
a pause and rest.
=. It was stormy autumn; the last re
~ tatters Of the Virginia creeper were tor
. from the cottage walls, and no gold ar
"A russet leaves were left for Olive
"a weave into garlando; but there was q
- - ways plenty OF ivy fsr her quick finge
~ ~ TO practice upon. And then, too, the
- :. was other work to be done; in the lor
~ evenings Mrs. Hooper and Olive sat ar
y, ~ sewed together, and grew fond Of ea'
"a other in their loneliness. The win
~ ~ moaned and whistled round their lit
" dwelling; by and by the snow fell, a
they felt themselves cut off altogeth
from the great world But these drea
Id days passed away, and Olive woke o
nd morning TO find that the wintry ear
va was full Of promise OF spring
ad Michael was looking forward eager
"a. TO her coming, His letters spoke OF
~ glorious future that was opening out