The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-17


black birds and thrushes, and far away
there was sweet ana holy sound Of
children singing. The sick girl sat i'm a
chair heaped with pillows and looked at
her thin hands, which lay on her lap, Ian
guidiy She was so tired now that she felt
rs IL she must slip away out of the chair and
huddle to the ground. She kept her eyes
half closed now and again she nodded in
her chair
She had a pretty wrap of pink flannel
and lace about her shoulders, which
seemed TO say that somebody thought Of
her and loved her; gayly colored shawl
was wrapped around her knees and tucked
under the footstool On which her feet were
resting. Some one had plated her long
fair hair; II came down in one gllttering
strand over her shoulder and lay on her
lap. where the loose ends curled and
caught the sun.
Mother. dear, " she said in thin, fee
BILE voioe. why ara thechildren singing?'
Because IL is the first of May, my
dearie. Didn't you notice that Herself has
her altar finer than other daysy"
The girl looked over at the statue Of
the Blessed Virgin, which rose out of
a heap OF wall flowers and lilac.
"Sc she has 1 AIN not good At noticing
now, though 1 smelled her flowers all the
time"
Ihe mother came from the inner room
and stood bv the window. she was "A
brown.skinned woman, with pleasant
expression. Alter standing minute she
sn- oothed the rug over her daughter
knees and pstted the thin hands alice
tlonately.
did the doctor say might go out
when the east wind went awayY
when it was warm, my dearie. He
said il could do you no harm. The first
ftan Aux 4 astf fha. ahnip
and you shall sit in the sheltered corner
near the beehive, with tho iyied wall he
hind you. and the broad beans smelling
so sweet at your hand. F"
THE hum Of the bees will make me
sleepy. II is so pleasant IA sound, mother
dear, that | shall feel as IL l
must sleep and sleep forever"
The mother WINGED Then. recovering
herself. she said: 'Shall / SIT by you,
dearic, for while and talkg Shall ~
Then i must fetch my kuitting."
She sat looking down at the bright
lug incessnntly. Once more there came
the distant sound of the children's
hymns.
'Ahl" said the sick girl: sit Is Hail,
Heavenly Queen They will he by the
pond in the wood with the water lily
leaves tioating. l can see them in their
white musliUs and wells, with the wreaths
of flowers upon their heads. How rosy
their faces will look through the wells.
They will walk with their heads down
and their hands clasped, and the ones
that carry the banners will be proud.
wonder who hos my banner this year,
Annie Lavelle.
"She will not lead the singers as used.
1 have almost forgotten how To sing. Yet
they make me feel as IL wanted To sing
with them. only | am SO tired. When 1
shut my eyes now and look up fancy
can see the banner over mo, and feel its
stremers blowing by my cheek. can see
the wood and feel the sun on my hair. -
E'Annie was here this morning with
message from Reverend Mother, asking
how you WERE The nuns think deal of
you, my bird. "
The girls large white lids dropped over
er heavy eye and her finger picked at
the rug upon her knee.
They wouldn't tif they knew every
thing. IL l live / should have to tell
them, l should have to stand cut before
them all-before the sisters ana the school
girls and tell them that l. IA chIld
of Mary l whom they selectedito
carry the banner in front Of the process
sion / was.
"Whisht. my dear. Didn't Father John
set your nina NJ rcsty Didn't he tell you
t was between yourself and God. That
once you had spoken To HIM YOUR secret
might be kept to the end of the worldy"
good To me. But l should DO the tainted
sheep IN the flock, and could not endure
their eyes. On, mother, mother bs glad
I'm going To think that all this life
could never unao that one hour. Why,
even eternity couldn't make me like
tb,m."
"whisht, my dearlo. God can do every
Not even He can sot me back where I
stood
"Do Won remember that His friend on
earth was 49,. -
EDO not say il mother q mother, |
woulu rather be ike Anne and the OF hers
once again than be high among the
saints in heaven.
You have reponted, my lamb. God
loves tho renilent -
TnsrS was silence for n few minutes.
and tie longs of the chi ldren came nearer.
"Troy are at tho altar now. mother;
all krecling or the moss and wood sorrel,
and Father John will bo v,sting for the
bcnediction. 1 can sea the WAY the leaves
dance, and the sun shines between them,
ana the candles on tbe Bltar looking so
faint in the daylight. All there is the
bell Jhe renediction has begun.
lhere was silence again, and the lips
of mother ana daughter moved in prayer.
Tbey were in spirit kpeeling before the
altar in the wood. Quite n long interval
pissed tefore either spoke. ihcn il was
the mother.
Gould you doze. alanna? I'm thinking
you've talked long enough Youll be
overtired, I'm fearing"
LET me talk. I'm going 20 have a
long, long silence presently
The mother put her hand to her side
with gesture more eloquent than words.
Now, in the evening sunlight you could
sec tie silver in her brl hair ana ths
lines in her comely face Of trouble and
pain,
Pm fretting YOU, mothercen. lis yeu
was ths good little mother TO me, only
tco fond, toe fond.
II often reproach myself. child. -
Why. little moJhery You wnyld have
saved mo If you could. And alterward"
the girl shudderci--" there was Rose
Moran that her mother turned from tho
door with curse. | nave thought of her
tights rs thev brought her ont OF tne
river. dripping, n tie men carries her. "
"Ilon't even Yourself with Ros' Nor IN.
INV lamb. You were only an innocent
child, and the sin was on them that led
you astrsy. May they answer TO God for
il. - -
"Whisht, mother dear You promi sod