Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1915-07-21


Miss Rebecca stood in the middle
OF her kitchen. silent. with doWncast
eyes. The room was inmaculately
clean Things were always in order
in Miss Rebecca's house-but It was
so emptyl-at least so it seemed to
chairs were in place, the table,
secured white. the shining stove. the
pump-but the large easy chair by the
window was vacant. that was what
gave o dreariness and emptiness 70
the whole place.
had not been unoccupied before for a
single day. For twenty-five long
years Miss Rebecca had cheerfully
and lovingly cared for the mother
who had sat In that chair, patiently,
hopefully, never moving from her
chair except to be lifted to her bed at
night. Her face was always bright
and happy, her voice sweet and gentle:
there was never a sigh of WEAKNESS
from her lips, though the pain was
her loving trust and faith she was an
inspiration to all who came into her
presence. But today that patient, low
ing spirit had gone to its reward, and
the tired, aching body was at rest Was
1t any wonder that the faithful daugh-
emptiness that couldn't be filed? The
neighbors had gone home after their
kind services had been rendered.
mo. don't stay" Miss Rebecca had
answered their well-meant offers to
remain. for she felt almost oppressed
by their presence, however kindly
meant. She longed to be alone with
her grief 1t seemed to her that the
whole OF life had gone out-every-
thing worth living for had been taken
away.
Once there had been a time when
Miss Rebecca had had longings and
aspirations, like other girls. She had
looked forward, through rosy colors,
to life opening before her. She would
see the world some day, and would
band and children, and time to do the
things she wished. Most of all, she
longed for music. She was born with
a love for it, and had some talent that
might have shone could it have been
cultivated. She wanted piano and
to learn to play. From a child she
had begged for this, but her father
put her off. saying he would buy it
some day when money was a little
more plenty, but that day never came.
Rebecca was but Is when the great
trouble came. the double blow, when
her mother was stricken down by her
lifelong illness, and her father was
suddenly taken away. Then the girl
knew her life work was before her,
that she must be content always to
live in the little country house, must
give up hopes and aspirations and de-
vote herself to her mother; and cheer
fully she did. AT first it was strug-
gle for the girl, young and full Of life,
but the call of duty and love for her
mother conquered, and her mothers
sweet patience through the. years
helped her, SO she forgot to think of
what she never could have in life, and
was happy But now all was changed
there was no one to devote her time
to-no one to care for. Her time was
her own to do what she liked.
At first the full force of this didn't
come to Miss Rcbecea's mind. Indeed,
nothing seemed quite clear to her.
Then gradually it came to her. Oh,
If she were but twenty-five years
ounger!-But-why not go back and
pick up the threads of life, do the
missed in life? She was still a young
woman; could she not make up a little
for the things she had lost? Music
was what she most desired-Was
it too late-could she learn now, she
wondered-There was money now,
doubt, but then she could do some
thing, she was sure. So the decision
came, she would buy piano and
learn to play.
It would be. company for her and
she would love it. And one day Miss
As they sat in the sunlight and
talked. Miss Rebecca could no longer
resist her longing for help, and asked
suddenly.
do you think-am too old. Miss
Brooks-is it foolish for me to want
Ia piano-and to-learn to play?
why. you dear SOUL" cried the
sympathetic visitor, "of course you're
not too old! Nobody's too old to learn
to do anything they really want to do.
I'll help you buy the piano, and I'll
teach you to play. I'm going to the
city in two weeks. You can go with
me and we'll buy the best piano we
can find-you'E be musician yet!'
Happy Miss Rebecca felt her youth
come back. She seemed again a
young girl and could hardly wait for
the two weeks to pass Night and
day she dreamed of the new piano.
1t was not often that Miss Rebecca
received letters. so it was a surprise
when a week after Miss Brooks call,