The Forrest City times., 1899-12-15

asking the favor. and Ruth hastened to
show her willingness.
rs the needle here? Oh. yes. Run
along, Bess, and it will be ready when
you are"
But it had been finished for some time
when her sister claimed il. There was
dreamy look in Ruth's eyes when Ress
thanked her and kissed her good-by
that made the older girl, even in her
excitement. feel thrill of pity for the
helpless little sufferer she had Just left.
But Ruth was not thinking of this.
The envy she usually felt when the 9th
ers went out for their pleasant times
had passed away. and she was having
struggle with herself
She had not been brave. They had
called her that. but she had been cross
and fretful all the time since that dread
full morning so long ago She had made
people uncomfortable by looking un-
happy when they we're cheerful. and
they had never reproached her for it.
but forgiven ii all because she was suf
fering anu unhappy. But was it fair
that she should make others unhappy
L cause snc was? OF course they al
ways would feel that way, and the best
thing for her TO do was to be cheerful
herself. Bess had asked her to mend
her glove just now; that was surely
what she was good for. There were
many things she could do as she Law
there, for she never was in hurry now.
tear came with the thought, but was
hurrledly brushed away as another idea
came to her that made her smile.
That was just what the dear old
grandmother next door did for the
large family there. She was too feeble
to move about much, but she was al
ways in her room ready to help if help
were needed, and always had a cheerful
word for anyone in trouble or pain. A
grandmother was what the Morris fam
lily had always lacked, and Ruth had
often envied her friends next door be-
cause they had one, and had sometimes
pretended to herself that the dear
grandmother for whom she was named
was really living, and could console her
for her troubles.
Why, now. couldn't she be little
grandmother to her brother and sis
| ters? There were often times when
some one was needed to speak the pleas
ant word, to do the little deed which
was so small that no one had time to
notice it. Then everyone would like
to come to her room, instead of shun-
ming it, as now. She clapped her hands
joyfully.
I'll do it.' she said. ''I'll begin right
to-day and surprise them ALL
She did. 1t was Charley who first
discovered it, when he came home from
school, and stuck his head through the
doorway for an instant, to see if she
wanted anything he could do for her
YES" she said, nodding gleefully
'yon can. Come here
The surprise on his face when she
asked him to kiss her showed her more
plainly than words could have done how
careless she had been about such little
things before. Even Baby May was
gladly welcomed and amused in a de-
| lightful fashion; so delightful that she
cried when taken away When Ruth
fell asleep that night her head was full
of plans for the future.
1t worked beautifully; so beautifully
that it surprised even herself. She kept
her brain hard at work devising new
schemes to make people enjoy them
selves when in her room.
Her 1bom was the chief part of her
plan. Her mothers favorite chair was
brought in there; her fathers favorite
sofa, so that after his days work he
could lie down for brief rest in this
quiet haven, where everyone was al
ways pleasant-for Ruth would have
it so. No cross words were ever spoken
there, and the curb they learned to put
on their tongues when in her presence
became great help to the children,
whose voices were softened even when
at play around her. Gay Sister Bess.
who was something of butterfly. al
ways brought in the best part of her
day to Ruth, who listened with never
failing interest to all that interested
her sister; and many bit of advice was
so uneonsciously given in her quaint
way that it was almost unconsciously
received. Bess never knew until later
yeats Just how much she owed to that
still little figure with the deep thought
full eyes and the soft, gentle ways, who
was always so grieved at the thought of
anyone being made to suffer by care
less word or action.
Her work basket with needles. thread
and colored silks. stood close by her
couch, and was called upon many times
day for a stitch TO be taken. or a
button to be put in place. just at the
last moment, when everyone was busy:
and Ruth would smile, enjoying the ex-
citement of finishing in time. which
after awhile grew TO be almost as much
fun as hurrying to be dressed in time to
go ont had been in the olden days
Then there was her embroidery. the
work she loved the best of all and which
she did so well, making the home beau
tiful by the dainty centerpieces. bu-
reau scarfs and other pretty things that
always kept the thought of her before