The Iola register., 1901-10-25


as woman to woman that they were
related now in their common anxiety
for Carl. And Barbara tried to cheer
the mother by every word OF encour-
agemcnt she could think of while she
busted herself with the necessary de-
tails of the kitchen work.
In the afternoon she went over TO
her mothers and told her what her
decision was. Mrs. Clark s0dly con-
sented, and did not make so strong
an objection as Barbara had feared
So the little trunk was carried again
to the old room, and Barbara real
ized that her career had received a
new beginning in some sense, she
hardly knew how. One thing she felt
very strongly, however. And that was
that under the stress of need at the
Wards she was doing exactly the
right thing in going back to her life
of service there. Whatever the days
might have for her Of opportunity
in the future for large service in the
greater problem. it was go her mind
very clear that her immediate duty
lay within the circle of this one fam
lily that needed her.
She realized this more and more
strongly as the next few days
brought to her and the family new
and sad experience. As Carrs con
dtion grew worse, she spent more
and more of her time with him. Mrs.
Ward secured n 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
he 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 n hand
\
/ frail body to God who gave it.
! Mr.. Morton. who had been a 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.
so our Father" he cried and his
voice brought n 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
caughtupinto 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 Mr.. Morton was
present rs pastor anE friend, Mrs.
Ward broke down completely and
went to bed, lcayin~ the care Of the
house and the family rr0n Barbara.
The girl bore mp undcr the respon-
siblity b"dycly. she was conscious
of the fect that size was necessary to
the comfort Of home. The bonds
of her service rested liphtly on her,
because She knew she vas of use in
the kingdom OF God
The relation beuNeen Mrs. .N, I'd and
Barbara during those days ,i grief
became very close and aTcc,ionate.
Through ali the older woman's nerv-
GUS and even irritable illness Barbara
nursed and attended her with adj
mirable 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 Carts
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. l have
liked to believe that l have been
needed"
"You have been a wonderful com
fort to us. You are like one of the
family since Carrs leaving us, We
shall never forget how he loved you.'
1T will always be 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 MIR, Ward came
up after his supper with Lewis (for