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

the rural delivery left letter at her
door II was postnarked Westfore.
Indiana Her brother had lived there,
but he had been dead 10 years. and
his wife never wrote. indeed. she had
never seen her. Her brother met her
live. Then the news came Of her
brothers death. that was all she knew
of them. With trembling hands she
opened the letter and read;
Dear Aunt Rebecca:
81 know you are my aunt, though
I've never seen you. I'm all alone.
Mother died suddenly last week and
the moneys gone. for some men got
1t all away from her. She told me
before she died I must go to you IL
this world. I'm IA years old and /
can't do much, but III try to help you
and not let IL be too hard Tor You. or
cost you too much. for / don't want
to trouble you, Aunt Rebeccas but ]
know shall love you. IL you're like
what shall do if you don't let me
come-please say may, dear Aunt
Rebecca.
Your poor little lonely niscs,
Miss Rebecca looked long at the
childish writing. Her heart went out
to this lone little orphan. OF whose
existence she had hardly been aware.
OF course she would let her come, her
brothers child. And in her mind she
began to make plans for her coming.
She would fit up the little room next
her own for the child, they would be
company for each other. She must
make some changes in the house
Then all at once it came to her-the
expense!
member to the household, child with
no money and the long years Of school
before her-a girl to bring upl Her
music!-her loved pianoi-she must
give it up. 1t took but a moment to
decide. Her life had been one long
sacrifice; could she hesitate now?
Yet there was pang way down in
her heart, one last gasp of longing,
then she put it away from her and
took up her pen and wrote two let
tiers. To her niece she wrote:
Yes dear. come to me. Your aunt
loves you and wants you"
To Miss Brooks, she wrote: I've
given up the idea of having a plano.
circumstances have changed. 1t will
be impossible for me now to have it."
After the decision was made Miss
Rabecca thought no more of her sacri-
to her niece's coming, and forgot the
long years of work before her. She
must go on as she had done, living
her shut-in life, giving up the things
she lOnged Tor most.
Miss Rebecca met the western train
at the station. A slight figure in
black sprang upon the platform and
threw her arms about her neck.
'AOh, know you're my aunt Rebec-
cal" she cried, and I'm so happy to
be herei Pm so glad to have some
one to love-mama was always busy,
you know, she had so many things to
do. clubs and lectures and like that,
there wasn't much time-but I loved
her just the same, you know, only I
missed my papa; now you're going to
be just like himi-and mama went
away so sudden, you see"
All the way home, the little tongue
chartered. She should love the coun-
try, she knew it; it was so nice to be
out doors. away from the noises and
people, and it was such dear houseI
It was a week after Gladys arrived
that they were standing at the win
dow. Miss Rebecca suddenly exclaimed,
looking out,
What's the strange looking object
coming up the road? I wonder what
it can be? Why. it's stopping herei
Why, it's a piano!"
ooh. Aunt Rebecca," cried Gladys,
that's my piano-it's just come. I
forgot to tell you about it, there was
couldn't take that coz twas mine-I
hope you don't mind, dear auntie. /
want it sol"
mind, child" cried Miss Rebecca,
tears rolling down her cheeks, why,
it's the very thing I've longed for all
my life, to have a pianoI Now it's
come. and have you, tool The Lord
knows how to send blessings in this
world."-Boston Record.