The Florence daily tribune., 1899-01-14

Ity IN revealing fnr tsst. My father
was dead aud my mother helpless. /
was the only one 10 keen our little
house out on the common. and then l.
did plain sewing At the window all day
long for months. just as | 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 after mass | used TO
20 to the convent. II 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? II was in
Gods service. and what a recreation
those few minutes Of sweet atmosphere
had been in her blank existence. She
heard a 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
seemed to feel anew the great influ
enee working in her. flushing her veins
and injecting a 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 | saw such exquisite finger
work" she said. slowly and with
timid kind OF hesitation; lit seemed
a wonderful Gift and privilege to paint
such pictures with the needle. to he
able to buy materials and work out
ones own beautiful designs. The great
value of those magnificent vestments.
representing months and months OF pa
tient labor, held me awe-stricken. All
AT once | realized | could do this-that
my artistic aud theoretical equipment
were simply seconded by my skill in
fine stitching. | was happy thinking &c
what great purpose ! should live. The
nuns would moi find me wholly use
less" Sister Euphemia seemed hurried
on in spite of herself MY machine
ran on through many long seasons,
she continued. "and all The while ]
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 mental storehouse for
future use The simple JOY of handling
those rainbow tinis FOR God seemed to
me the crowning glory of religeuse
life, and a little pride suggested that
some day might take my place among
/ the nuns rs the first embroiderer."
"Did YOU ever CRAFTY your bent"
asked Hester. II quick understanding
and suspense disturbing her heart and
mind.
.'Well. after we received the white
veil the novices were assigned certain
duties; and had no time for fancy work.
Then u great pile of habits needed
mending and making over, They were
given to me. did them all rapidly.
thinking little fancy sewing might
be apportioned me. but the cloaks
seemed to multiply" she said, with an
amused lighting OF the face. Some
way | got on faster than anyone else.
Reverend Mother was pleased. but n
| little fright seized me lest this should
90 on indefinitely Then hope urged,
it is only n test for the novice: think
| of the years to come when you will be
mistress OF all those dazzling skeins;'
| but have been here ten years now and
| no colored thread has ever strung my
needle" She finished with a smile that
seemed angelic in its utter disclaimer
| of any complaint. Would Hester still
mink them limp and soulless COM
| munity? Was her illustration small
and weak to the gay-lived birding of
| the world?
But Hester was speechless with her
different emotions. Under such con-
ditions how could the nun thin her
voice to utter colorlessness? and when
ment. Yes. they were terribly human,
and what vast proportions little de-
sire might assume within contract
ed circle.
"Why didn't they allow you con-
genial employment, at least occasion
ally?" asked the girl, indignantly.
| She could not stand such constraint for
herself. Her impetuous nature would
tear down and toss right and left all
the distractions in her way.
They did not know" was the sim
| pie answer; 1--WE are here to do our part,
and this is mine. The other was only
my plan
The folding doors swung back be-
tween the sewing and adjacent rooms,
and one of the order appeared in the
| opening.