The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-07-04

S Dismal faces all over
the city looked out on
the dismal day. Saturday, and no
outdoor fun, after week in school,
was indeed serious matter.
cit is just as mean as it can be,
said Harry Armstrong Grossly, glow
ering angrily at the leaden sky, while
baby Maude echoed the sentiment,
and puckered her sweet little face
into frown. 81 say, isn't it mean
that it's got to rain todayi" he re-
peated, as his sister Helen came into
the room.
"Oh, don't care much" said she,
carelessly. "I've got the loveliest
library book, and I've hardly had
moment to read it. 1t can rain If 1t
wants to-" And Helen went gaily
away to her favorite seat in the coy
library
Yes, indeed-Helen was right. 1t
might snow or blow, hail or rain, for
all the heed she would give it. Her
book held her spell bound. With
flushed cheeks and bated breath she
read how brave men died to save life,
not to take it; how tender women
dared the dangers of the pestilence
to care for the plague stricken. Her
heart beat hard and her temples
throbbed as she turned page after
page.
Harry peered in at the door. "Come
on, Helen" he said, coaxingly. cts
too bad not to play with a fellow
when it rains"
ooh, l can't Harry" answered
Helen. Il want to finish my book.
How | WISH" she added, looking up
with shining eyes, "that l could do
something brave and grand"
But the door shut with decided
slam, and the would be heroine was
alone with her dreams.
Grandma" said Helen, as she
fingered by her grandmother's side
after dinner, ''I'm reading the lowell
est book. 1t tells how in shipwrecks
men save others instead of them
selves, how ladies take care of the
sick when almost every one is afraid
and runs away. Do you think l can
ever do anything like that?"
Grandma drew the little girl to-
ward her and stroked her hair with
loving touch.
''If you are ever in any place, may
you be the brayest of the brave; but
hadn't you better be practicing for it?
You have to do the easiest examples
in your arithmetic before you can do
the hard ones. You can't read Caesar
before you have had your easy Latin
lessons"
"Practicing, grandma? How can
l do that?" said Helen, looking
puzzled. "No one is sick with any
dreadful disease that l know Of
And we won't be shipwrecked on dry
land, even if it does rain hard"
''Use your eyes, little daughter,
use your eyes," said grandma, nod
ding her head. Remember it is
doing that counts, not dreaming"
q Twas NJ syraaf mon oil ,a,,,tna
We can make our lives sublime.''
quoted Helen, softly, just as Harry's
voice penetrated the quiet room: "Let
me, motherl Please let me-" he said,
pleadingly. And then: 81 tell you,
I'm going anyway"
Harry" said his mother, sternly.
well, mother, didn't mean that;
but I'd rather be wet through than
to stay cooped up here all the after
noon. Ny throat is most we'll. Please
let me have one good run even if it
does rain"
81 don't dare to, my DEAR" said
his mother, sadly.
Helen glanced at grandma, but
she knitted quietly without raising
her eyes. A flush stole over Helen's
face. Could this be what grandma
meant9 Was this rainy day the
time, and this dull, quiet house the
place, for her to forget self and think
of others. Was sheonly dreaming of
golden deeds and letting her chance