The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-02-23
TESSIE'S MISTAKE.

"That was the saddest mistake of my
life"
From my lounge in the corner of Aunt
Tessie's room l watch her with half closed
eyes as she draws her low chair before the
fire and takes the knitting from the work.
basket at her side. She is always busy. it
seems to me, and when l think of it, VIC
six are enough to make work constant
with her. First there is Uncle Dan. Aunt
Tessie's brother full of hobbies that re-
quire her constant attention. "lf | can
only prove its worthlcssness before he
mounts it, | can save him good deal of
trouble" she says when n new hobby is
presented, and often she succeeds. And
there il Robert, just starting out for him
self under Aunt Tessie's special guidance
There is Frank, another nephew, generous
and impulsive, a regular tinderbox in
temper, with May, his sister, always ready
in her love for teasing to put the match to
the tinderhox And there is Richard, hap
Ply, rollcking Richard, of whom Aunt
1essie is never quite sure until she herself
has tucked him in bed and sung him to
sleep.
Then here am l, Il cripple, dependent
upon Aunt Tessie for every ray of sunshine
that has cropt into my poor manned ex-
istencc since the day opened my eyes to
the life which hut for her might have in
deed proved II curse to me. go there are
six of us all under her care
She thinks l am asleep, or else she
would not have spoken of that fatal mis-
take which affected the currents Of SC
many lives. She is thinking of the past,
know, aud that "nlistake," while she sit:
there waiting.
Robert is doing some extra bookkeeping
and will not be in until 10 o'clock. May
and Frank are busy with their lessons in
the sitting room. Uncle Dan rode over tC
Covipgton today and did not return until
late. Richard i lsleep, for l heard Aunt
Tessie singing, 1t Is Better Farther On, u
in the boys room, moro than half an hour
before she went down to give Uncle Dan
his supper, and am lying here thinking
over that mistake she made. Indeed | of.
ten think of it, We cripplcs have so little tC
DO except to study books and people, and
all these tedious years have studied hel
until l think l know her great soul by
heart.
II were to tell her that | learned from
her own lips to call it "mistake, " / am
sure that she would think the afflictior
that has dwarfed and tortured my body
for 40 years has attacked my mind al
well, for she does not really look upon il
as blunder. If she ever allows herself &
think of it as such, it is only when she II
troubled and tired. Such moments com,
to the brayest and best of us. But hearC
Aunt Tessie tell Uncle Dan only last nigh
| that "theie ran he no plumbers in God't
PLAN" and If she can stand up so grandly
amid the ruins OF youths promises ant
testify to the perfection of the oterna
place, few indeed have the right to sit IL
! Judgment on it.
When John Davis asked her to be hi
wife, he said she was the hest woman, thu
people said she was the handsomest, ant
she said she was the happiest when JohI
was gone and with him her pledge.
Aunt Tessie was an orphan and hat
been reared and cared for by my mothe
and her only sister and uncle, Arthur, he
Oldest brother Aunt Tessie, always keen
! ly conscientious, felt an immense debt wa
accommodating against her. So that whel
my dying mother placed my hand in her
and with her last breath said, "As l hav
dealt with you, Tessie, there was but on
:hing for Aunt Tessie to do. She accepted
the charge of tho little cripple committed
co her care. When she accepted the charge
she sent for her lover to tell him the mar
rage must be postponed.
He protested, but Aunt Tessie was firm
"Just one yeai, john" she insisted
"Then we shall he better prepared to &C
cept the new charge. She would not sa
burden" but it was burden to lay up
on her young shoulders. But she did no
hesitate. 81 am only paying interest upo
the debt l owe his mother, John; 1 ca
never hope to pay the principal" sh
urged.
John Davis smothered his disappoint
ment and said, at shall be as you wish
Tessie, but it will be long year to me. u
Before the year ended, Uncle George
wife died, and their two children, Rober
and Annie, ere added to aunt Tessie'
charge. She hesitated when Uncle Georg
asked her to come over and take charge G
his household.
"No, George" she said, II cannot"
"Just little while, Jessie, - he begged
"until we can get things in working OF
der-just one year"
"But there is John" she insisted. "
owe something to John.
"And to no one else Tessie?" asked Ur
Gle George "What If Eunice and / ha
not cared for you when you were let
alonef"
She turned pale when Uncle George re
minded her of her obligation. Like man
other debts, whether of money or graft
tude, hers had come to face her Mt the nc
ment when she was least prepared for it,
Her lips trembled when she attempted I
speak. She put out her hand as if seekir.