Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-10-05

for Thus died the great millionaire,
Charles Il. Sterling and, verify. he died
as the fool dicth. for what is the gain
or the loss of money compared with the
unsearchable riches OF eternal life, which
are far beyond the reach of worldly
speculation, loss or change2
Mrs. Sterling's death was the result
Of shock. She had not been taken into
her husbands confidence for years, but
she knew that the source Of his wealth
was precarious. Her life for several
years had been death in life. The
Rolfes always give the impression that
they could endure moro disaster UNI
moved than any one else. Mrs Sterling
/ illustrated the old fnmily tradition
when she was carried into the room
| where her husband lay, but the feeble
tenement could not hold the spirit and
1t gave up the ghost, torn and weakened
/ by long years of suffering and disap-
! pointment.
The effect of this triple blow, the
/ death of father and mother and the loss
Of property, was instantly apparent in
the sisters. The horror of events stupe-
fed Rose for weeks. She lay unmoved
by sympathy or any effort to rally. She
did not seem yet to realize that tho
money which had been SO large part
Of her very existence was gone. Even
when she was told that she and Felicia
must leave the house and be dependent
upon relatives and friends she did not
seem to understand what it meant.
Felicia, however, was fully conscious
of the facts She knew Just what had
happened and why. She was talkin1
over her future plans with her cousin
Rachel few days after the funerals.
Mrs Winslow and Rachel had left Ray
mond and come to Chicago at once as
soon as the terrible news had reached
them, and with other friends of tho
family they were planning for the fu-
ture of Rose and Felicia.
Felicia. you and Rose must come to
Raymond with us. That is settled.
Mother will not hear of any other plan
at present, Rachel had said. while her
beautiful face glowed with love for her
cousin, love that had deepened day
by day and was intensified by tho
knowledge that they both belonged to
the new discipleship.
UNLESS l could find something to do
here" answered Felicia. She looked
wistfully at Rachel, and Rachel said
gently;
"What could You do, dearH'
Nothing. l was never taught to do
anything except little music. and l
do not know enough about it to teach
it or earn my living at it. Ihave learned
to cook little, " Felicia answered. with
a slight smile
Then you can cook for us Mother
is always having trouble with her kitch-
en-. said Rachel, understanding well
enough that Felicia WAS thinking Of the
fact that she was now dependent for
her very food and shelter upon the kind
ness of family friends
It is true, tho girls received a little
something out of the wreck of their ia
Tiers fortune. but with a speculator's
mad folly he had managed to iavolve
both his wife's and his children s por-
tions in the common ruin.
Can |? Can II" Felicia repiied 70
Rachel's proposition, as if it were u 5c
considered seriously. II am ready TO do
anything honorable to make my living
and that of Rose. Poor Rosel She VIII
never be able to get over the shocl Of
our trouble"
I'VE will arrange the details when
we get to Raymond, " Rachel said, smi..
ing through her tears ct Felicia ; eager
willingness to care for herself.
So in few weeks Rose and Felicia
found themselves part1f the Winslow
family in Raymond. 1t was bitter eX-
perience for Rose, but there was Moth
ing else for her to do, and she accepted
the inevitable, brooding over the great
change in her life and in many ways
adding to the burden Of Felicia and her
, cousin Rachel
Felicia at once found herself in an
atmosphere of discipleship that was Ike
heaven to her in its revelation Of COM
partnership. 1t is true that Mrs Wins
low was not in sympathy with the
course that Rachel was taking but the
remarkable events since the pledge had
been taken We're too powerful in their
results not to impress even such wom-
an as Mrs. Winslow With Rachel Fe-
licia found perfect fellowship. She at
once found a part to take in the lew
work at the Rectangle. In the spirit Of
her new life she insisted upon helping
in the homework at her aunt's and in
a short time demonstrated her ability
As cook SO clearly that Virginia sag.
gested that she take charge of tie cook
ing class at the Rectangle.
Felicia entered upon this work with
the keenest pleasure For the first time
in her life she had the delight of doing
something of value for the happiness Of
others. Her resolve TO do everything
after asking, "What would Jesus do?"
touched her deepest nature. She began
TO develop and strengthen wonderfully.
Even Mrs. Winslow was obliged to
acknowledge the great usefulness and
beauty of Felicia character. The aunt
looked with establishment upon her
niece. this city bred girl, reared in the
greatest luxury, the daughter of mil
lionaire, now walking around in her
kitchen. her arms covered with -four
and occasionally streak of it on her
nose-for Felicia at first had a habit Of
rubbing her nose forgetfully when she
was trying to remember some recipe
mixing various dishes, with the great