The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1901-09-27
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

brought to her and the family a new
and sad experience. AS Carl's con-
dition grew worse, she spent more
and more of her time with him. Mrs.
Ward secured good nurse, but Carl
cried in his delirium for Barbara, and
she sat with him many hours of every
day. She was with him when the
end came which they had all come to
know was inevitable. 1t will always
be one of the comforting thoughts of
Barbara's life that she won. and held
the love of this child. All that came
to her long after. But, as this little
life slowly breathed itself out in
the early gray of that morning, with
the weeping father and mother and
the two boys as they gathered
around the bed, she felt tender
sympathy for them all as if she, too,
had been one of the members Of the
family. Carl had insisted to the very
last on clinging to his mother and to
Barbara. Each woman held a hand
as the child's soul went out of the
frail body to God who gave it.
Mr.. Morton, who had been fire.
quent visitor at the house during the
trouble that had come upon it, was
sitting by Mr.. Ward that morning.
When the end finally came, he
kneeled down by Mr.. Wards side,
and Barbara was conscious that the
minister's strong, right hand was laid
in compassion on the bereaved ia
theirs hand as he prayed for conso-
lation.
30 our Father" he cried, and his
voice brought a relief even in that
moment of sharp sorrow to the fam
lily, "mercifully reveal to us the hap
piness of the soul Thou hast just
caughtupintoT Thy bosom. We know he
is safe in Thy arms. Comfort us with
the comfort which earth does not
have to give; take us also into the
embrace of love which gave an only
begotten Son for dying and mourn
ing world. The God of comfort bless
this household. In the name of Christ,
Amen"
Two days later, after the funeral
service, at which M. Morton was
present as pastor and friend, Mrs.
Ward broke down completely aud
went to bed, leaving the care of the
house and the family upon Barbara.
The girl bore up under the respon-
sibility bravely. She was conscious
of the fact that she was necessary to
the comfort OF a home. The bonds
of her service rested lightly on her,
because she knew she was Of use in
the Kingdom of God.
The relation between Mrs. Ward md
Barbara during those days Of grief
became very close and affectionate.
Through AN the older woman's, nerv-
Gus and even irritable illness Barbara
nursed and attended her with adj
mfrable patience. giving her the best
possible care and trying to relieve
her of every possible anxiety as to
the affairs of the house itself.
"You have been like daughter to
me, Barbara" Mrs. Ward said to her
one day three weeks after Carl's
death. 81 do not know what would
have become of us if you had not
come back" Barbara was arranging
her pillow; and, as she stopped down
over her, Mrs. Ward put an arm
about Barbara's neck, drew her down,
and kissed her. When Barbara raised
her head, the tears shone on her
face.
Service has been very sweet to me,
Mrs. Ward, since / returned. 1 have
liked to believe that 1 have been
needed"
You have been a wonderful COM
fort to us. You are like one of the
family since Carps leaving us. We
shall never forget how he loved YOU"
1T will always be n very tender
memory to me-" Barbara replied, and
the tears of the two women flowed to-
gether, tears that brought comfort to
them and at the same time united
their sympathy for each other.
That evening, when Mr.. Ward came
up after his supper with Lewis (for
Alfred had gone back to college), Mrs.
Ward said, after expressing her
thanks that she was recovering
strength rapidly: Richard, we owe
Barbara a great deal for all she has
done for us in our trouble. Isn't
there something we can do to show
it?"
eve certainly feel grateful to her."
Mr.. Ward said, with thoughtful eager
ness. what do you think we can
do?"
There's that money Aunt Wallace
left you in trust two years ago to edu-
cate Carl when he should be ready to
enter college," Mrs. Wards voice
faltered. "By the terms of the trust
the money can now be used for any
benevolent or philanthropic purpose.
/ have heard Barbara mention a plan
that might succeed if it were wisely
carried out. She thinks that if
building were put up in Crawford and
dedicated to the training of young
women for domestic service, prepar-
ing them for competent cooks and
housekeepers, that a great deal might
be done to elevate the labor Of the
kitchen and bring intelligent Amer
lean girls into it. What do you think?"
81 think il is highly probable. AT
any rate, anything is preferable to the
condition of things we endured before
Barbara came. Anything is worth
trying that will by any possibility tend
TO help matters"