Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-28
ABIT OF HEARTWARK


highlands I was wee bit lassie then.
but remember II a. still.
Our nearest neebor was proud Dame
Aiken, her bra hoose being Just a stane's
throw frae mither's ain, which was sma' an
shabby enough 4 contrast She would ride
by a wrapped up 4 her rich furs. wi rib
bons an feathers streamin DOT TO the ad-
mirin gaze o. us BARNS at the cot door.
But never smile or glance wad she gle us.
Mistress Aiken In one o. the lilies l. the
guide beuk," mither wad say smilingly.
"She has nae need to toll or spin, an she
tries TO ootshine the great Solomon 4 a. his
glory. But we mauna envy, for IL ainly
brings discomfort and unhappiness"
Brither Neil wad laugh at the thocht o.
envying wealth an fashion, but sister Mar
jory an me would often sigh 4 secret.
"Mither Is mooch the greater lady o. the
twa," Marjory would say, "but she will
never hae cooch an pair o. her ain or gae
up to Edinburgh when she wills for baubles
an trinkets like Mistress Aiken"
But oor rich neebor at las bro't some
thing hame frae town that never a soul 4
Inverness envied her the possession o. For
II was the awfu' disease OF smallpox.
Neil cam 4 WI the unco tidings as we
sat down TO oor parritch one winters nicht.
"An who has Mistress Aiken to nurse
her" spiered mither ut ance.
"Nane hae ganged near frae fear o. the
disease" said Neil "She IL lying alane Wi
ainly Dr. Dunlop to visit her."
1T mauna bel'' cried dear mither indig-
nant. Il will gae to her mysel'P'
But Marjory an me were 4 tears at the
very thocht- "Dinna gael dinna gaei' we
pleadit.
We all still tried to dissuade her, but she
stood firm as oor forbears at the famous
battle o. Culloden Moor, an was soon
startit for Dame Aiken's bra hoose. which
loomed up dark an ta' enough T. the
solemn munelicht. She had kisst us at
pairtin', WI mony caution about what
we should an should not do T. her absence.
mistress Aiken Is like to die" said
brither Neil as we turn'd back to the warm
LIGHT o. oor ain chimna lug.
"But mither is a guide nurse" / ven
tured, tho sair fasht myself
AYE, Jean, ken 1t weell We may a.
hae the smallpox thegither. but we'll still
hope for the best, am
II fear maist for mither herself" inter-
rupted Marjory. "Sin' puir daddie's death
she hasna been over strong We women
maun a. help her by doin our parts here
at hame."
IAN God will TAX guide care o. mither,"
put In Neil, his blue cen shinin brecht an
clear.
"She goes to TAX care o. Mistress Aiken
because her warm heart bids her." smiled
hall sister Marjory. AYE, aye, Neil, the
watchfu' e'e o. God is indeed upo' her."
The February days that followed were
lang an unrestfu' enough for sweet Sister
Marjory an me. Indeed It was a. that
Neil could do to keep us 4 guide heart.
Mither sent US daily messages, but they
were nought to her ain helpful presence an
tender guiding han. Dame Aiken's loath-
some disease ran It's dreadful course NTH
er kept up strength an courage, an at las
oor proud neebor kennel her face an thankit
her for her kindly unselfsh service.
An 1t was then that DIR. Dunlop bro't us
the lines that treasure still:
my DEAR BAIRNs-Just n wee bit lang
er, an mither will be WI you again. /
often leuk across an see you at your wark
or play. ~Asuir Mistress Aiken Is gainin
slowly. Her wonderful beauty is gone for
ever, but strength an health are surely re-
turnin. God has been vera guide to US
bath. A. Inverness should thank him,
yoursel's includit, that there has been nae
spread o. the dread disease.
Mistress Aiken is now calm an humble.
God has gied her resignation for anger an
despair. She was mad WI the loss o. her
bonnie hair an beautiful complexion. l
didna chide, but fstead did a. could to
comfort. An she has wept ON my breast,
like bairn, every NIGHT SIM. Many pre-
cious lesson hae tried to print on her bro
ken, contrite heart She has gied me a
heavy purse o. gowd, but 1t is naething to
her sincere, thankful words. Use 1t for
the BARNS, she says, 4 Der weak, thin voice.
Sac Neil shall gae back to the school he
loves an my Marjory an Jean maun hae
new clothing Moo dinna greet mair.
Mither will soon be hame."
An ane morn, though it was ainly a step
or twa TO walk, DIR. Dunlop bro't her 4 his
ain conveyance. Neil threw up his worn
hat 4 the biting cold air "Mither, mith-
eri" he cried. You're sure come hame to
stayp'
AYE, laddie," she answert, wi hug and
kiss, my bit o. heart wark Is ended. I
medina gae back, but Mistress Aiken may
come to oor cot Pstead."
Mallory an / were soon sobbing on NTH
er's loving shoulder. Her dear facs was
! thin an white frse long confinement. We
had got the foolish BARN notion that It
| Dame Aiken's, and we were over pleased
to see that 1t wasna. Her very first act on
entering the house was to kneel 4 thankful
| prayer, an we a. knelt wi her. The long
nursing had been a sair trial, but never
ance did she murmur. "Ah, my bairniesi'
she cried, "heart wark Is hard wark, but Il
pays the warker we'll"
| Dame Aiken journeyed down to Edin-
burgh soon after. But she didna forget
that dear mither's care had saved her life,
for one nicht l. early spring time there was
loud knock at our door. Brither Neil
sprang TO open 1t, an we saw Ia woman
wi long black veil She flung IL back at
ance, an mither cried DOT, 1T is dear Mis-
tress Aiken"
Her puir face was marked as we had new
er seen another, an her gowd colored hair
was short an curling a aroun It, She kisst
Marjory an me, an then twined her thin
arms aboot mither's neck.
II hae come hame again." she sid wi q
half sob. Here 4 auld Inverness, where
God an you showed me the error o. my use
less an we'll nigh forfeited life mean to
remain an wark for him. But owe you
debt Gamma repay. Sac you an your BARNS
maun come an dwell wi me 4 yon great,
empty hoose. We are bath widows, an
surely God bro't us tergither for this vera