The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-10-18
LUGRElIA'S GOOD time.

nature was marvel To the wise
women. II time she grew 10 bee little
girl who never tore her plnafores ana
who "practiccd' faithfully, although
other children lurked beneath her win
dow daring" her TO come out and play
kongalow. Her brothers aud sisters
asked her to do their tasks and So
cretly regarded her as soft for her
pains.
During her short married HE she
fetched and carried her husband rs
would a spaniel and took his rough
words with the same doglike submls-
slveness When Mark Farley died
frank people said none too soon-her
youngest sister, Maud, came 10 live
with her. Maud was big and raw
boned, with ashy blond hair and
temper which would have tried the
meek 81. Francis. At first Lucrctlas
friends hoped that SHE would be emnn-
cipaled by her sisters marriage, hut
a. Maud Slipped from twenty 10 thirty
unwcd the hope died.
Meanwhile Lucretla continued 10 do
her duty. SHE visited hypochondrincs
and cross old people. who poured Into
her patient ears all their symptoms aud
complaints. She really felt guilty
when she made call at pleasant
home where the family asked after her
health aud how her flowers were
blooming.
When her neighhors were III Lucrc-
tia sat MP with them every third night,
and II they died she put the house In
order for the funeral and lent her
Grape bonnet TO the chief mOurner. In
fact, II grew NJ shabby she had 70
have Il made over before she let Mrs.
Ransom take II 10 Kansas for her soil'
in-law's 0hsequies,
She was president Of the Dorcas so
clcty and many a time she wore
shabby shoes ana cotton gloves that
she might give a child cloak. She
made a special effort 10 20 to prayer
meeting during very wet or very hot
| times. when less conscientious people
/ thought up an excuse for staying at
home.
There came a spring when she felt
strangely weak and llstless. Her feet
| Jagged as " she were dragging a hall
| aud chain and her hands wcrc so thin
that her rings dropped from her
| fingers. She stopped az nr. Spurgeon's
office one day ON her way home from a
church meeting.
lie pushed his glasses mp on his fore.
head aud looked at her attentive.y. hc
felt her pulse and asked her many
questions which seemed 10 have NO
bearing on her ease.
Nothing much the matter, Is there
she asked
"Oh. no" he said hriskly. writing a
few hlerugliphics on his paper pad.
"Ill give you tonic aud ! want you
Ia promise 10 do what tell you to-"
"All right" said LucWtla, Tor she
was used 70 Obcylng his orders
Have q good time" he began; stop
visiting Mary Nost and those other
sick folks. Buy some good clothes. ilc
In bed Of a morning let Maud see 90
the house. Play cards Say mean
things about your nelghbors. BE as
selfish rs you can. Don't put yourself
cut FOR anybody"
is that quite right, DOCTOR Lucrc-
tia objected.
1T il q pres, riptlon." Dc returned
"lust a. tell one person 10 take hot
baths, | tell you 10 bc selfish and lazy
though you haven't much natural
ability"
Poor little l.ucrctla." the doctor
thought. when she was gone. lie had
known her since a child and he recog-
nlzud IN her recital of symptoms the
beginning of a hopeless disease.
Mark Farley was a brute aud Maud
Is a tyrant aud the whole town Inn.
, poses on her III try To give her a It,
, tie good time, though MS a late start.
iucrtia cndeaVorcd 10 obey the
doctors orders as Ia taking life easy
, Just as conscicnilously Ne she took her
= tonic before mpals. hut Il was hard Ia
1 reverse the habits OF lifetime The
first morning when she heard thl
rising bell she thought Of the doctor
command and concluded she would
have her toast and coffee brought IA
her. She was half terrified 40 her an
daclly. Maud came IN. her face reddei
. than usual from recent scruhhug.
Z Aren't you ever going To get up
. IMcrctlaT she asked. sharply. aud
I, poor l.ucretla huddled on her clothc.
and went down 10 breakfast like d
naughty child.
: Tut during the day she made som,
I progress. MIS-. Lynn sent word thai
= Jimmy Is having fits aud would Mrs
4 Farley come oyerf'
b. Il am very sorry" she said u M,
messenger. hut I'm not well. ~
cant 60" Her conscience hurt he
: sorVly aftcrward FOR she had sccI
2 Jimmy drought all his previous liti
q aud u seemed cowardly 10 desert hin
Q now. In the afternoon. however. shl
h went 20 Miles Dry Goods Palace
, and bought herself iva silk gowns an,
4 pair Of high-heclcd slippers. Ia he
heart she had always loved Frencl
2 boots. but she had mortified the nesl
. by wearing broad toes aud common
Q sense heels,
n She had also read literature Of an Nh
d lifting tendency. not 50 much hcrnus
y she enjoyed Il as because she though
she ought. Now she read the STILES
novels un which she could las hands
and even subscribed Tor a paper givcl
?. up 10 Jokes aud glbcs
n She spent long afternoons playm
l. casino with Jimmy of the Fits. Zoo
n Jimmy was not an accomplished
= player. and he sulked when be- wa
= beaten. 80 here l.urrctla ahd q chanc
y a. De msplnsh while pursuing plea,
u ure aud she always lcl the hoy win.
a As time passed even Maud could sc
q thai her sister was very 49, hat eve
r. after she was Obliged to lic all day nj
her sofa LucWtia continued tn cnlo
;, herself. GmdUally the practice a
y sclnshness grow easier and She foun
% she was as anxious 10 have her ow
u way as she had formerly been ~ civ
10 q up. one day when Mrs. Wllkin
q called she felt that she ont did herself
. Mrs wilkins was not pleasant PEI
I, son; She had cultivated the virtues {
u the neglect of the graccs. Evcryhod
said they respected her hut they wer
very apt 10 slip out the back dec
when they saw her opening the gate.