Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1908-01-23


pressure of the burden-began to ask her
self if she could live thus always, or at
least for many years-as long as either Of
the two helpless men was spared. Maddy
was young, and the world as she had seen
it was very bright and fair, brighter far
than life of laborious TOLL and for a
while the idea that the latter alterna-
tive must be accepted made her dizzy and
faint.
AS if divining her thoughts, poor old
grandpa, in his prayers that night. ask
ed in trembling tones, which showed how
much he felt what he was saying, that
God would guide his darling in all she
did and give her wisdom to make the
proper decision; that if it were best she
might be happy there with them, but If
not, "Oh, Father, Father he sobbed,
help me and Joseph to bear it," He
could pray no more aloud, and the gray
head remained bowed down upon his
chair, while Uncle Joseph, in his pecu-
liar way took up the theme, begging like
a very child that Maddy might be inclined
to stay-that no young men with curling
hair, diamond cross, the smell of musk,
might be permitted to come near her with
enticing looks, but that she might stay
as she was and be an old maid forever
This was the subject of Uncle Joseph's
prayer. prayer which set the little hired
girl to tittering, and would have wrung
a smile from Maddy herself had she not
felt all the strange petition implied.
With waywardness natural to people
in his condition, Uncle Joseph that night
turned to Maddy for the little services
his sister had formerly rendered, and
which, since her illness, Grandpa Mark
ham had done, and would willingly do
still. But Joseph refused to let him.
Maddy must unite his cravat, unbutton
his vest, and take off his shoes, while,
after he was in bed Maddy must sit by
his side, holding his hand until he fell
away to sleep. And Maddy did it cheer
fully, soothing him into quiet, and keeping
back her own choking sorrow for the sake
of comforting him. Then, when this task
was done she sought her grandfather, still
sitting before the kitchen fire and evil
IDENTIFY waiting for her
"Maddy," the old man said, come sit
close by me, where l can look into your
face, while we talk over what must be
done"
With a lf-shudder, Maddy drew a
stool to her gra andfathers feet, and rest
ing her head upon his knee, listened
while he talked to her of the future; told
her all her grandmother had done; told
of his own helplessness Of the trial 1t
was to care for Uncle Joseph, and then
in faltering tones asked who was going
to look after them now. I'VE can't live
here alone, Maddy. We can't. We're
old and weak, and want someone to lean
on. Oh why didn't God take US with
her, Joseph and me, and that would leave
you free to 90 back to the school and the
life which | know is pleasanter than to
stay here with us. Oh, Maddy. it COM
forts me to look at you-to hear your
voice, to know that though | don't see
you every minute, you are somewhere,
and by and by you'll come in. | shant
live long, and maybe Joseph won't. Gods
promise is to them who honor father and
mother. It'll be hard for you to stay,
harder than it was once; but, Maddy, oh,
Maddy stay with me, stay with me -
stay with your old grandpa "
Maddy had a brave young heart, and at
last. winding her arms around her grand
fathers neck she whispered: Il will not
leave you, grandpa. I'll stay in grand
mothers place
Surely Heaven would answer the bless
ings whispered over Maddy by the delight
ed old man, and the young girl taking
so cheerfully the burden from which many
would have shrunk, should be blessed of
God
With her grandfather's hand upon her
head. Msddy could almost feel that the
blessing was descending; bl when, in
her own little room. the one where she
had lain sick for SO many weary weeks,
her courage began to give way, and the
burden. magnifed tenfold by her nervous
weakness, looked heavier than she could
bear.
II will, | will" she cried, while into
her heart there crept an intense longing
for the love of Him who alone could make
her task light one. IF | were good
like grandma, | could bear everything"
she thought. and turning upon her pill
low, Maddy prayed an earnest, childlike
PRAYER. that God would help her do right,
that He would take from her the proud
spirit which rebelled against her lot be-
cause Of its loneliness. that pride and
love of her own ease and advancement in
preference TO others good might all be
subdued in short, that she might be Gods
child. walking where He appointed her
to walk without a murmur, and doing
cheerfully His will.
1t was broad noon ere Maddy awoke,
and starting up she looked about her in
bewilderment. wondering where she was
and what agency had been at work in
her room, Transforming it from the cold
comfortless apartment she had entered
the previous night into the cheery-looking
chamber. with a warm fire blazing in the
tiny fireplace. a rug spread down upon
the hearth. a rocking chair drawn up be-
fore it, and all traces of the little hired
girl as completely obliterated as If she
had never been. In her grief Maddy
seemed TO have forgotten how to make
things cozy and as, during her grand
mothers illness, her own room had been
left to the care of the hired girl, Nettie,
it wore a neglected, rude aspect, which
had grated on Maddy's finer feelings, and
made everything so uninviting. But this
morning all was changed. Some skillful
hand had been busy there while she slept,
and Maddy was wondering who it could
be, when the door opened cautiously
and FIora's good-hu1nored face looked in