The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-12-05

NJ MY +
longed to our friend, whom the elder peo-
pie still call the young doctor. There was
curious dry odor of drugs and Russia
leather bindings. There was a huge wasp S
nest on one book case, and a bust of Dante
on the other, and a beautiful old engraving
of Sydenham hanging the wall. One
could not help finding it charming, schol-
arly sort of a place; there was still a de-
lightful air of sympathy and friendliness,
as of a place where people were sure to
come to tell their troubles, and sure to go
away cOmfOrted
1t was the day before Thanksgiving, and
one of the doctors daughters, who had
oftenest been his companion, was sitting
there alone. She had been looking at the
books and making a list of some of them,
about which one of her fathers friends
had written her. He had made a good Of
fer, out of friendliness, but both DR.. Ash
urts had known what good books were,
and had left behind them some volumes Of
very great value. OF course they must sell
them, and it was a good chance, but Nelly
Ashurst loved these particular books, and
treasured them all the more because her
father and GRANDPA Their had treasured them
too. She took down the old copy of the
Religio Medici, and held it for moment
then she kissed it and put it back again,
and went over to the old desk to lay her
head on her folded arms and cry. The night
before a proposal had come from her
mothers sister in one of the seaboard
towns, that they two should come to her
to spend the winter, leaving the elder sis
ter, who was the teacher, to board some
where and go on with her school. In the
summer they could perhaps let their house,
for Alton was near one of the hill towns
where many people came to pass the sum-
mer "At any rate" the aunt had said
kindly, when you are fairly here, we can
talk over plans and do what seems best"
She was not a rich woman, and Nelly
Ashurst was grateful for such thoughtful
ness, but her mother, who had had many
illnesses, was only we'll among these high,
dry hills and she sobbed to herself over
the old desk: This is an end of our home,
an end of our homer There seemed to be
nowhere else to look, for the winter at
least. Perhaps when summer came they
could indeed come back, and find some peo-
pie who would come to board in the pleas
ant old house. But their independence and
ola free ways We're assailed; they must do
what they could now, and never any more
what they wished. Nelly Ashurst mourned
with the despair of youth She could almost
feel her fathers hand on her shoulder in
kindly reproach, but her trouble was all
the more bitter, poor girl, because it SEEM
ed in some vague way to be a rebuke to
him whom she loved and made her hero.
She had never felt the weight of pain and
care as she felt it now. She thought of
her mothers hopeless face
Nelly, where are you?" said her mother,
suddenly, just outside the door, and Nelly
dried her eyes in a hurry, and crossed the
room to stand before the bookcase in the
shadow. nelly, DEAR" said Mrs. Ashurst,
coming in. Here are some letters, and the
poor old Dent sisters are coming up the
yard to see us--think of this, this cold day!
wish we had something-I really don't
know how to be poor Thanksgiving time, -
and her voice faltered. "They shall have a
pie, 1T any rate and they shall come and
sit in here in the dear study-they will like
that BEST
Mother. mother, quick!' said Nelly.
Don't mind them, let them wait min
ute. Oh, see here!' and she held large
letter sheet before her mothers yes. She
had turned quite gray and pale. Il thought
it was only some circular or something
like that-it was directed to father. Some
body who lived in Cuba-who died last
month, has left father and his heirs she
could not hold her voice steady-'has left
father in kind remembrance of most helpful
services in time of need, $4,000, to be paid
at once according to directions. Oh, moth
er. mother!'
Let me see it, DEAR said the frail little
woman, shaking with excitement and COM
ing back across the room. "Oh, if your
dear father were only here! And how often
l have thought that so many people were
ungrateful,' and he always said that the
poor had the best paymaster, or that he
only asked for happiness enough to get
his work done, and was glad of the liberty
to use what skill he had-and now this
comes, like gift of his provision, for his
girls and me! Why, Nelly, dear, don't
| cry SOP
There are those two old Dents knocking
er?' said Nellie, laughing and crying at
once. ooh what a THANKSGIVING we'll
have! I wish Sister Lizzie would come
What will she say? Fifty thousand dol
lars! Why, father said once that he
wished he had just that for his old age and
for u.s. and no more; it would be all
Her mother, little LACED, had gone to
bid the poor old guests a glad welcome.
Old Sarah, the dependence of the doctors
household, who seemed entirely one Of them
selves, was away that afternoon, and part
Of the sorrow and uncertainty that was
hardest to bear had been in the thought of
turning her out of her home if they them
selves must CO. Now the dear old home
was going on, and the little comforts and
helps for many a poor person who was
sick and old were to go on. too.
The mystery of The legacy was never
made clear. Nelly vaguely remembered her
fathers saying something about a sick, cid
man, a merchant in Cuba, to whom he lent
his thick plaid in the cars one cola day
and to whom he gave advice; and that was
all. The good doctor was always doing
such things, but the fact remained that
one heart. that seemed at the moment to
forget his kindness, had really remembered,
and was grateful for years of health and
activity, which ne had ceased to expect.
Out of his health he had made return not
only for himself, but foz many another be-
side.
And on Thanksgiving day, the doctor s
| children and his wife took double iev in
| doing everything and more that they had
always loved to do in the old days. They
| tried to give all the old patients who were
sick or sorry, something to remind them of
| their friend, but indeed life that shines
| with love and self-forgeifulness is true
| star of light, and cannot be forgotten, no
matter in what part Of our heaven it NAV
| be placed.
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