Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-03-11
get the patient bird. Wait : little long

or and your turn will come, too"
But don't know what to do" said
the girl. sadly. II thought that now
had so many books, could read lit
tie evenings; but Aunt Patty can't bear
to see me reading. She thinks it is
waste of time. It's Of no use for me to
try to think Of anything but mending
and pillow-cases."
But, my little friend" said good Mrs.
Vance, you can make mending and pill
low-cases beautiful. You can have the
most lovely thoughts all the time, while
the sweet flowers of patience are grow
ing up in your heart" Ef9 FL
Patience again." laughed Martha,
adding, soberly, "it's what my mother
told me, too. Well, if that's beautiful,
I'll try TO have one beautiful thing about
me-"
But Martha's great trial was yet to
come. tHht
Mrs. Vance had planned q grand ex-
cursion and picnic for one of the last
days of her visit, and Martha had been
dreaming for week of this day In the
woods, whole, free day.
Her busy fingers were setting the
last stitches in a new muslin dress for
the occasion, and she gave sigh Of
satisfaction as she held it out at arms
length to behold it.
vanity, vanity!" said Aunt Patty,
crisply. II hope you don't forget about
the ornament of a meek and quiet
spirit"
mo, Aunt Patty" said Martha, alb
sently, her mind filed with happy
thoughts of the next days pleasures.
II do believe" said Aunt Patty few
hours later, that one of my bad spells is
coming on. The heat has gone to my
head. 1 guess you'd better make me
little composition tea and I'll go to bed.'
The tea did not prove efficacious, and
the fever grew worse toward night, and
poor Martha was kept up all night to
battle the hot head and bring cooling
drinks.
The vision of the cool woods grew dim
mer and DINNER, but when the morning
sunlight flooded the room, she ventured
to say:
> i
old Mrs. Brent to stay with you to-day?
l do 30 want to go the picnic. 1t 10
Mrs. Vance's last day"
"You know Mrs. Brant drives me
Wild" was the answer; but 60, of
course. 1 can stay alone and you can
think OF me lying here alone and dying
maybe. But then you'll be we'll rid of
me. l shan't trouble you much longer"
"Oh, don't talk So" said the girl, with
tears in her eyes, as the last CLEAN of the
vision faded away and left her with an
aching head, tired feet, and a long,
dreary day in the sickroom stretching
out before her. .....
Another vision came to her. 1t was of
tired, faded face, which she remem-
bered so well, TRANSPORTED in some way
by heavenly glory, and a voice which
seemed like an angels repeated: Prom
Use me to be patient and bear every
thing" and then she thought of the
bird as it flew away from the cage, and
it seemed to be singing, Patience, pa
tience."
II am sorry you missed your merry
making to-day, Matte" said Mr.. Brad
ley, when he came home to dinner, land
rather think you need to be out in the
open air now and then. You've been
looking little pale lately"
"It's only the warm weather." re-
piled Martha, land it's nearly over now.
It's almost the middle of September"
Eyes, yes" said Mr.. Bradley. slowly,
80 it is. You've been a good girl, Mat
tie, and don't want you to wear out.
I'll come home early tonight, and you
must take a walk up the river TO Cousin
Barbara's and see if she can't como
down here for few weeks to spell you
little" r'~
And so the afternoon was not so long
after all, and Aunt Patty had good
nap, which gave Martha an opportunity
for an undisturbed hour with her pre-
cious books.
ut hasn't been such a bad day after
ALL" she said to Mrs. Vance, as she bade
her goodnight at the fence, II had a
real nice read and walk, and / could
almost see what you were doing, the
sky was so clear"
Il believe 1 smell the flowers al
ready" cried Mrs. Vance; "of patience,
I mean," she explained, as Martha
looked wonderingly at her.
A week later Mr.. Bradley came into
the kitchen with a letter in his hand.
''How would you like to go to the
city to school this fall?" he asked.
"Oh, father" cried Martha, "how
could I? What do you mean?"
"Why, here's letter from Mrs.
Vance," he replied, slowly, asking me
to send you to her for the year. She's
taken fancy to you, it seems, and
wants to have you make her long
visit, and she promises to find good
school for you. There's something
about giving bird chance to use its
wings, which can't make out, maybe
you can"
Martha's face beamed with joy as she
read the pleasant words, but q shadow
came over it as she said:
But, Aunt Patty, can't leave her.
OH, dear, I should like to go!" NEs
"Oh Barbara and / will take rood