The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-20
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Oe an active SAINT imam Il listening
one, especially in warm weather"
81 always felt sorry for poor
Martha" said the young girl, paus-
ing in her work, 81 suppose she would
rather have been sitting down listen
ing; but somebody had to get the
supper"
''But the legends tell us that she
did most glorious deeds for the Lord
afterward, when she became mis-
sionary, and she has been the pat
roness of good housekeepers ever
since. You must come over and sit
under the trees with me this after
noon when your work is done, and |
will read you some of the tales Mrs.
Jameson gives us OF her holy life"
Thus Martha's acquaintance with
the summer boarder began, and it
grew to be the brightest thing in
her poor, barren life.
The pleasant conversation under
| the elm trees, the fresh papers and
magazines, opened a new world to
this hungering soul.
There was not much that was in
spring in Martha Bradley's life.
The death of her mother two years
before, when Martha was only four
teen, had obliged her to leave school
and take upon her shoulders all the
care and work of the little house
hold.
"Dont neglect Aunt Patty" was
one of her mothers parting injunc-
tions. "She has been like my own
mother to me ever since l was a
helpless child, and now that she is
old, and sick, and feeble, could not
die easy to think that anybody could
ever be unkind to her. Promise me
to be patient and bear everything,
Matte"
Martha promised, and never had
BIG UIOkou HoI WOIu, uOWONOi VI tiAS
and exacting Aunt Patty might be.
1t was a hard and combining life
for young girl, and often her whole
being seemed to cry out for some
thing more.
II like to think of the robins that
Tom caught last year" she said once
to Mrs. Vance. "He shut two half
grown birds up in cage, and one of
them beat and beat itself against the
wires, and in the morning it was
dead on the bottom of the cage, and
the other one never struggled bit,
out just hung it's head and moped on
the perch. Tom felt so sorry when
he saw the dead one, that he opened
the cage and let the mate go, and it
flew straight up toward the sun and
sang the gladdest song. wonder if
it knew the trees and the sunshine
were waiting for it, even when it was
in the cage. think that was why it
was so patient"
"And do you want to spread your
wings. too, and fly into the sun
shine?" asked Mrs. Vance. "Well,
never forget the patient bird. Wait
little longer, and your turn will
come, too"
"But | don't know what to do
said the girl, sadly, Il thought that
now l had so many books, could
read little 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 pillow-cases beautiful. You can
have the most lovely thoughts all the
time, while the sweet flowers of pa
thence are growing up in your heart"
patience again." laughed Martha,
adding, soberly. Its what my moth
er told me, too. Well, if that's beau
tiful, I'll try to have one beautiful
thing about me"
But Martha's great trial was yet to
come.
Mrs. Vance had planned a grand
excursion and picnic for one of the
last days of her visit, and Martha had
been dreaming for a 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. 81 hope you don't forget
about the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit"
'No, Aunt Patty" said Martha, alb
sently, her mind filed with happy
thoughts of the next days pleasures.
81 do believe" said Aunt Patty