Warren sheaf., 1898-11-24
marked to its understood impossible

marked to its understood impossible
ity. t<.5
''Do you make many of these gar
ments?'g,g #e9s s2 IT, ..ss7s2#
t.sFor all the sisters. We are bout
rs" was the absent-minded answer
With unconscious wistfulness the
nun glanced out the window at the
gorgeous, brilliant flower beds. 1t
strengthened her to look on this brave,
perfect and beautiful Development
few men attained such.
Hester's dry remark: "You have
enough to do," was met with glance
that seemed to take the girls measure,
and the way was cleared.
"This,' referring to her occupation.
''has been my work ever since came to
the convent" proffered Sister Euphe-
mia, in the quiet, spiritualized voice
that comes inevitably to the inmates of
the cloister. Hester Strengthened up in
surprised interest-her favorite was
venturing beyond generalities for the
first time in their long acquaintance.
Euphemia already suffered atthe expo
sition of her own life, but the girls
conclusions almost demanded refuta-
ton, and for all her perversity Hester
seemed one of their blood.
Il loved all that" said Euphemia,
nodding toward the brilliant splotches
Of color outside, ''but this is my forte,''
indicating the garment in her lap,
through which the needle piled rap
idly.
"Fifteen years." she murmured. In
her habit of sitting alone. she had in
voluntarily uttered her thought,
a"You haven't been in the convent that
long. surely!" exclaimed Hester.
ooh, mol" flurried at the inadvertent
speech, sewing that long. Il was a
seamstress," she said, with some re-
straint; then went on as if she might
as well finish. There could be no van
ity in revealing her past. my father
was dead and my mother helpless. I
was the only one to keep our little
house out on the common, and then l
did plain sewing at the window all day
long for months, just as 1 am doing
now. Some day in Gods own time
will be nun kept measure with the
rolling wheel. There was no hurry,
and on Sundays afrer mass l used to
go to the convent. It seemed like
great castle rising high above the side
walk, and within the nuns, like noble
ladies, came SO kindly down to me-,
Sister Euphemia turned toward the
window once more. How tired she
was then, and she. had never grown
rested; but what matter? It was in
Gods service, and what a recreation
those few minutes of sweet atmosphere
had been in her blank existence. She
heard droning of voices in the room
beyond, and a memory came back of
rare embroideries that ravished her
eyes and moved to such passionate de-
sire as was never before known in her
arid life. Oh! to evolve beneath her own
fingers such miracles of the needle. She
seemed to feel anew the great inf1u-
ence working in her, flushing her veins
and injecting great vigor into her
being, but suddenly control walled
back the forbidden flow as canal gates
close against the rush of hurrying Wa
ter, and she went on in her usual cool,
quiet voice:
"There I saw such exquisite finger
work." she said, slowly and with
timid kind Of hesitation; "it seemed
a wonderful gift and privilege to paint
such pictures with the needle, to be
able to buy materials and work out
ones own beautiful designs. The great
value of those magnificent vestmen ts.
representing months and months of pa
tient labor, held me awe-stricken. All
at once 1 realized could do this-that
my artistic and theoretical equipment
were simply seconded by my skill in
fine stitching. was happy thinking to
what great purpose should live. The
nuns would not find me wholly use
less" Sister Euphemia seemed hurried
on in spite of herself. my machine
ran on through many long seasons"
she continued, land all the while 1
dreamed of bright silks, and jewels and
cloth of gold for the church, fair out
line took form in imagination, to be
laid aside in my ntalistorehouse for.
futuresuse. The simple JOY OF handling.
those rainbow tints for God seemed to
me the crownings glory of religeusse:
life, and little pride suggested that
some day might take my place among
the nuns as the first embroiderer."
'Did you ever crafty your bent?"
asked Hester, quick understanding.
and suspenseAdisturbing her hear; z" !: and 2 q
mind. =
S'Well = after we received the white
veil the novices were assigned certain
duties; and had no time for fancy work.
Then great pile of habits needed
mending and making over They were