Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-05-21
CHAPTER IX.
Continued.

Continued.
In pursuance of the wears advice,
Miss Lynch tried every morning to get
her to work at her needle; and she
would obey passively, and for time
go on sewing with sort of autOmaton
patience very touching to witness; and
then Miss Lynch would see the work
lying on her lap, and her fingers play
Ing mechanically with the thread, and
her eyes staring fixedly, 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
lng?"
"Tired? No-not more than usual"
"Do you think you will do any more
work to-day"'
II will try if you like"
"Do. my child. Mr.. Follett 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 I'M
noticed by Jane, and all attempt at
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 Nenetians OF
the parlol 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.
"Auntic, think the world is very
unjustly governed"
Poor Miss Lynch was so delighted to
hear the sound of her voice that she
did not for moment understand her;
whereupon Jane repeated and amplited
upon her former observation. II think
the world is very unjustly governed.
l think my troubles are unjustly laid
on me. The Tenants father was to
the full as dishonest, only more for
tunatc, perhaps, than mine, and they
are happy, and in good position, and
sought after What have done more
than any one else to deserve such
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 over it; and the next
day found her early in her accustomed
place of confesSion-the Wears study.
Il 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. "In 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, Mr.. Follett, say resigned"
"AIy dear Miss Lynch, even to please
yon | cannot say things that l 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 great
state comes to Jane. In the mean.
timc lot us be glad that she is going
through her trouble naturally. / was
beginning to feel anxious at the length
of time her stupor had lasted. You
nay be thankful at this first symptom
or II cllanpe IOr tHe Detler.
Miss Lynch was dumb, but uncon.
vinced. 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
sort of obstinacy that Jane would not
br strengthened by tonics, or comforted
by good books. When she was i'll, doc.
tors did her good: when she was un.
happy, parsons. She told Mr.. Folett
so.
my dear Miss Lynch. If you had
been in trouble, I should have offered
to visit YOU from the first" the vicar
answered. with half smile. Dear,
angelic man." murmured Miss Lynch's
hearth "But before people can be con.
Solnd you know, they must wish for
consolation. and whoever wishes for
consolation is already half cured. Ma.
turc works quickly in some constitu.
tions. You would pass through the
stunned stage. and the despairing stage.
in half day, perhaps, and then all the
rest of your afilictions would take that
mllder form in which good advice is,
believe, palatable. But we are all rs
God made us, you must remember,
Miss Lynch"
"And as the desperate depravity Of
our own hearts mars us"' put in Miss
Lynch, deprecat tingly.
"And He has given Jane Grand a