Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1916-09-22

her set task and had left its commits
sion to a needless junior.
Il will deliver the flowers" prom
Used Edna and went her way with that
design in view.
Within the hour Edna Brock forgot
Blanche, the doctor and the thorns of
life. All of its sweetness had come to
her in full measure. She had deliv-
cred the flowers at a miserable hovel
to find little child of poverty strug-
Cling against insanitary conditions
and a burning fever. 1t was to her q
privilege to serve, a joy to lift hui.
mainly from the dregs to the higher
levels of hope and faith and comfort.
1t seems as though the sweet influ-
ence of Edna had changed a prison
into a palace. Twice that day she Wis
tied the little invalid. The one fol-
lowing she gathered up from her own
little store and the donations of kindly
neighbors various articles of utility
and comfort in which the humble
home was lacking. The third day as
she entered the tenement room she
came face to face with Doctor Ire
vor, just leaving.
He greeted her with a frightening
eye. In his quiet but earnest way he
commanded her for the marvellous
transformation she had made In the
environment Of the poor home and in
the invalid. His heart warmed to-
wards her and Edna felt responding
thrill.
Once again she met the doctor. 1t
was the day when the little child,
singing happily, was able to sit up in
bed, past all danger.
All the time Edna had been COM
PEELED to keep the thorn-injured hand
bandaged. 1t had panied her at times
and looked red and swollen. Now that
the strain of her nursing was over she
noticed it more closely and realized
that it was a poison or infection in
jury. She applied a soothing lotion.
Blanche had invited her to an eve
ming lawn party. Her hand panied
her so greatly, however, that she
phoned her friend that she would not
be able to go.
What was Edna's surprise about six
O'Clock when Doctor Trevor drove up
in his automobile.
"What is this l hear" he observed
in his clever, pleasing way, about an
injured hand and no complaint to me,
who must be your physician since you
have been my friendly nurse? Dear,
dear! you have neglected this, Miss
Brock" he added, as Edna shyly
showed him her hand.
Doctor Trevor dressed the wounded
member and told Edna he had been
advised just in time. You also need
rest and diversion after your engross-
ing care Of my little patient" hs
said.
And then he suggested that, as she
was not going to the lawn party, and
as he did not care for the function, a
moonlight run around the lake would
delight him, and so it came about.
Blanche Reed quizzed Edna indus
triously after learning Of three of
these auto trips that had taken place
in one week. She upbraided her for
monopolizing this particular star of
the village social life. But Edna was
noncommittal, and only innocent,
happy and contented.
There came the day that called Doc
tor Trevor back to his duties in the
city. Quite an ovation was given him
that evening by Miss Reed and her
coterie of special friends. Edna was
not present at the function. She sat
in the garden OF the little home, feel
ing sure that the last good-by of Doc
tor Trevor would be for herself.
He came swinging along in the mel
low moonlight, CHEEKY and hopeful.
He took her hand, after he had spoken
a few words.
"Dear little handw he said, and
kissed it reverentially-"bea bearing the
thorns, that others may have the
roses. Let it guide me in silent paths
of duty that have made your life so
sweet and true!"