The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-12-27
lX.
Continued.

30 on sewing with a sort OF autcmaton
patience very touching to witness; n
then Miss Lynch would see the work
lying on her lap, and her fingers play
ing mechanically with the thread, and
her eyes staring fxedly, and with no
thought in them, upon the opposite
wall of the room. And then something
like the following dialogue would take
place daily:
Jane, dear, are you tired Of work
ing?"
Tired? No-not more than usual"
"Do you think you will do any more
work today"
81 will try if you like"
do, my child. Mr.. Foilett thinks
exertion so good for you"
And then the automaton sewing
would begin again, and the hands sink
again in listless apathy upon her lap;
and, after two or three repetitions OF
this little scene, Miss Lynch. in despair,
would take the work away, quite un-
noticed by Jane, and all attempt Mt
occupation for another four and-twenty
hours was over.
One day the Tenants called to in
quire after her (for they, in common
with nearly all the people in the neigh
borhood, showed real human sympathy
with the poor girl in her trouble), and
Jane, through the closed Venetians OF
the parlor window, happened to watch
the faces of the two Tenant girls as
they sat, blooming and placid, in the
carriage, leaving their mother TO do the
sympathetic in their inquiries of the
little maid. When they had driven
away, she turned round, and for the
first time for weeks, volunteered a re-
mark to Miss Lynch.
"Auntie, I think the world is very
nnjustly governed"
Poor Miss Lynch was so delighted to
hear the sound of her voice that she
did not for q moment understand her;
whereupon Jane repeated and ampiifed
upon her former observation. Il think
the world is very unjustiy governed.
I think my troubles are u~njustly laid
on me. The Tenants father was to
the full as dishonest, only more for
tuaate, perhaps, than mine, and they
are happy, and in a good position, and
sought after. What have I done more
than any one else to deserve such a
bitter, miserable life as this? 1t is
unjust"
Then she sunk back into almost sui
len silence, and gave no more heed to
any of her companions mild little apol-
-Ogies respecting the mysterious deal
ings Of Providence than she did to the
wan clouds as they went and came
upon the cold November sky.
But such an awful state of mind
made Miss Lynch tremble in her bed
as she thought we it; and the next
day found her early in her accustomed
place of confession-tle wears study.
81 am glad to think poor Jane
mends," was Mr.. Follett's remark
when he had heard Of her speech with
regard to the Miss Tenants and her
self. I'm another week or two we may
look for her to take something like in
terest in common things again. This
remark of hers is the first symptom of
coming back to life that you have told
me of. Till now, Jane has been
stunned"
"Oh, MI. Follett, say resigned!'
my dear Miss Lynch, ever to please
you I cannot say things that I don't
believe to be true. Resignation is
never the first feeling of bereavement
not the first, nor the second, nor the
third. Resignation is grief, worn very
mild indeed! You must wait a great
many long weeks, 1 fancy, before such
n state comes. to Jane. IN the mean
time, let US be glad that she is going
through her trouble naturally. I was
beginning to feel anxious at the length
of time her stupor had lasted. You
may be thankful at.this first symptom
of a change. for the better"
Miss Lynch was dumb, but uncon-
WINGED. She looked upon the human
body, and upon the human soul, as
upon puppets-of which clergymen and
doctors held the strings-and felt it a
sort of obstinacy that Jane would not
be strengthened by tonics, or comforted
by good books. When she was i'll, doc
tors did her good; when she was IN
happy, parsons. She told Mr.. Follett
so.
MY dear Miss Lynch, if you had
been in trouble, I should have offered
to visit you from the frst!" the vicar
answered, with a half smile. Dear,
angelic man. murmured Miss Lynch's
hearty "But before people can be con-
soled. you know, they must wish for
consolation, and whoever wishes for
consolation is already half cured. Ma
ture works quickly in some constitu-
tions. You would pass through the
stunned stage, and the despairing stage,
In half q day, perhaps, and then all the
TEST of your Affections would take that
t<flder form in which good advice is, /
believe, palatable. But we are all as
God made Us. you must remember,
Miss Lynch"
"And as the desperate d~epravity of
our own hearts mars u.s. put in Miss
Lynch, deprecatingly.
"And He has given Jane Grand 4
nature as strong in its capabilities for
misery rs for happiness. Let us work
with Him, not against Him. unless we
wish to keep back the cure
"And 1 am to encourage her in rail
ings against Providence, as I have al
C-1dy given up reading the lessons to
heri' thought Miss Lynch during her