The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1902-06-13

worth Of Gcrtic Gray realized, for she
became the mainstay cf the afflicted family
Her mother being invalid, the care Of
household affairs had early deyefved upon her
and consequently she had become skilled in
the culinary arts. Poor girl, she had enough Il
break her spirit had she possessed less heroic
nature. just her uncle beginning Il
convalezce her Aunt was taken sick aud while
she was delirions. Grace succumbed To the
Unsuitable disease. DIR. Randall did all in his
power Ia help and encourage her and sent her
the best nurse hc could find among those who
had now arrivcdlrom New Orleans.
Gertie's mother. already invalid, fell an
easy prey to tine mercilcss disease. From the
first the ply stefan had little hope of her re-
covery. On the third day tine faithful pastor, a
Presbyterian minister, came into the room
where the sick mother lay followed by DR.. Ram
dali. Gertic trying to give her some medi-
cine.
You must not try 10 give it tn her, she can
not swallow now said Dr. Randall sorrowfully.
% sir. j. my mother dyingf' asked Gcrtic in
a choking voice. DR.. Randall turned away. he
could not command his voice TO tell her.
II am afraid She is. my child said the
minister tenderly.
Gertic sank ON her knees by her mother
bedside and her frame SHOOK with strong. un-
restrained. passionate grief Of young heart :
first sorrow. Mother, mother she cried
don't leave me in this world alone As the
palor Of death began 10 steal over the thin
features. the poor girl sobbcd in agony mother.
% my mother she i gone.
DIR. Randall motioncd to the minister To lead
her into the next room.
For "A time he silently allowed the young,
heart to unburden its grief in tears. then
very tendcrly and soothinesy he talked to her
striving to comfort and strengthen. He called
that she must learn of the Great Comforter
through human love and sympathy.
My poor child you cannot bring your Mother
back. but you can 20 to her some day
%. but am not good like Mother said
Gcrtie.
''Ali have ~inncd. Miss Gertie. aud fallen short
Of the glory of God. None can be saved through
personal merit therefore jesus Christ came
into the world and died tn save sinners. IL We
repent of sin and accept Him our Saviour.
then He becomes int.rccssor. both Ia save
from the power and dominion of sin. Do
you not wish to become a christianl
Yes, want to 90 where Mother Is" said the
weeping girl.
Then he knelt down aud committed the
orphan to the loving care of the Heavenly
Father. The prayer comforted and Gained her.
When they arose from their knees she asked.
suppose die now
He understood her meaning and replied. yes
il God takes you now He will prepare you for
the change, you shall be washed and made white
in the blood of the Lamb. Only pray, wash
me and l shall be whittier than snow.
One of the sad things about an epidemic is
the hurried burials. Regard for the living COM
pels n hasty burial of the dead. After her
mother had been laid away. Gertic found little
time to give way to her grief. necessity compel
xs..,l
the comfort Of the family. Very sweet To her
sore heart the praise Of her aunt, ''you
dear unscifsh child don't know what We
would do without you" But when keeping the
lonely midnight watch beside the sick. memory
approached her with how she had distressed her
mother by her careless and incorrect speech.
o treacherous memory! Why did il not bring
to mind the many times she had unsclishly re-
nounccd youthful pleasures to minister to her
sick mothers wants. This fault had been the
only one that she had not really tried to over
come for her mothers sake, and yet il only was
now remembered. while all she had done for her
mother was forgotten. Since the dag 1T Lump
kins Mill she had rcsolutely striven to overcome
her bad habit with such success. that now she
rarely made u mistake In conversation. Why
she had not done this long ago for her mothers
sakcr There il much in the training Of children.
hut not everything, the child must co-opsrate
with the parent n success Il attained. The
parent can only By cultivation improve what
nature has given her 20 work upon. She has