Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-27

That he must try to improve in waiting at
table before that time somehow. had stolen
all those hours nightly from his rest. to
practice with whatever substitutes were at
hand for the usual table requisites.
Here every night, when those who had
worked far less during the day were sound
ly sleeping. had that anxious, striving little
heart shaken Off fatigue, and the big blue
eyes refused to yield to sleep, in order to
fight with the nervousness that alone pre-
vented his willing hands acting with their
natural cleverness. I felt choking In my
throat when saw the thin. pale little face
that should have been on the pillow hours
before, lighted up with triumph as the sup
posed guests departed. the dumb show of
folding the dinner napkins belonging to
myself and the master, and putting them
| In their respective rings, told us the ordeal
was over. What weird scene 1t was! The
dim light, the silent house. the spread ia
Bile and the empty chairs. One could i'm
aSfne ghostly jewellers, visible only to that
| one fragile attendant who ministered SO
willingly to their numerous wants. The
| sort of nervous thrill that heralds hysteri-
cal attacks was rapidly overcoming me,
and whispered to my husband, Let go
now" But he fingered yet few seconds,
and silently drew my attention again to
| the window.
Joe was on his knees by his bedside his
face hidden in his hands. What silent
prayer was ascending to the Throne of
Grace, who shall say? I only know that it
| were well If many kneeing worshiper in
| Of being heard as Joe did when, his victory
won. he knet, in his. humble servant
garb, and said his prayers that night in
| spite of the aching head and weary limbs
that needed badly the few hours rest that
remained before o'clock, the time Joe al
ways got up.
Silently we stole away, and in my mind
from that moment my faith in Joe never
Wavered. Not once. in spite of sad events
that came to pass later on, when even ],
his stanchest friend. had to recall to MEM
ory that kneeling little form IN the silence
OF the night, alone with his God, in order
| to stif1e the cruel doubts of his truth that
| were forced upon us all by circumstances
| must soon relate
The famous dinner passed off well. Joe
was splendid; his midnight practice had
brought it's reward, and he moved about go
swiftly, and anticipated everybody's wants
SO WELL that some of my friends asked me
where l got such a treasure of page; he
| must have had good butler or footman to
| teach him, they said; he ID evidently used
| to waiting on many guests. 1 was proud Of
Joe.
than sovereign in silver. and told me the
gentlemen had been so very kind to him.
and Almost every one had given him some
thin, tho he never arst or waited about
as some fellers did, as if they wouldn't lose
sight of a gent till he paid 'em. But" said
Joe. they would Civ it me; and one gent
he follered me right up the passage, he did,
and SEE, Ere, you small boy he seq, and
| he give me a whole 'arf-crown. Whatever
| for, don't know"
But l knew that must have been Dr. Lor-
ing, celebrated physician, and my hus-
bands dearest friend We had told him
about Joe's midnight self-teaching and he
| mad been much interested in the story
You little thought Joe, the hand that
patted your curly head so kindly that night
would one day hold your small wrist and
count its feeble life pulse beating slowly
and yet more slowly, while we, who loved
you. should watch the clever handsome
j in aiv, 70
blessed word Hope"
| Go be continued)