Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-11-07
NATURES MIRACLES


blame her very much as she was a
bankers daughter. Her father was
the president of the largest bank In
ksntucky. and besides. she was the
darling and pet of the household.
Alice was an invalid and had been
so for seven short years She was
fretful child. and always found
fault with her govcrness or nurse.
One very fine day. when all the world
should have been happy and gay. tho
maid entered Alice's nursery and an
honnced visitor. to whom Alice had
n great liking. This visitor was an
old !ady. who was very religious,
anu u constant visitor OF the Hold
ners.
After hearing thousands OF com
plants from Alices lips. this lady
decided to change Aiice's nature.
Alice's shoulder and said, "My child.
true in ali details" Alice WAS de %
Lighted and sat UP eagerly. The
Far away ma quiet little town.
there once lived in IA rirkeiy snantv,
u small grit Little Mabel lived " N
an aunt. My Meswnr;hy Mabel
confined 20 her dirty !ittIc cot Ia an
old attic. LltN. Mabrl could not
see IN" hriGht sunshine that stream,d
ana played across the fair little IN so.
Maucl was not SO very pretty either,
nut when one looked at her closely,
one On, would observe q glorious sonlt-
grave iitii. face would rippie int
SMILES. th.f" would be- a surprising
beauty about her. a peuccfulneSs that
one couid not understand. She could
"a n.
and pick tempting flowers along the
waySide. nor even see the tall green
Ire ,heeS n MnieA $" rronhiy swayed IN
ties. But Mabel was content
She used to listen to the children =
voices ANA TO their games. and know
eaeh nan. or voice. She felt rs
.hiind excited as ,he children whcu
the fox and The goose" and lay
smiling. Some days when Mrs. Me-
Swarthy used To- come In and find
Mabel In this peaceful attitude. her
hard heart would soften and SHE
would ID" extra Kind TO Mabel
one bright summer day. when Ma
pei mad very vioicu; headache. She
heard SOFT twittering OF bird on
this. ana stretching out her tiuny
hand, whispered softly. come little
oird anu sinn me song TO hrigh.nn
my dark life ana ii remnrkabIc
thite No NiOntE ma Al0nt
gotten The words out OF her month
when the bird lnRtantly alighted on
MaheFs tender palms. Then II began
To sing. Oh. how sweet and sai /,
sang, us IL il had lost it's mate
Then u SET IN !; gay little song. 1,
told Mabs! OC til. trees and flowers
and the bright sunshine 1t told h.r
or the gay world and merry children
side world
A last 1t New away. and ina; night
Mabel sent un a prayer {" God. thank
ing Hin for that happy day. Then
she SANK into delicious slunther
until the singing of bird awukc
her.
Thus In. little bird came every
day to cheer Mahc! up. all throir !,
winter came with it's icy wind and
snow. Mabevs window was shut, and
m" bird had flown South. At first
Mabel sulked. but when she found
down in her humble mood. and
begged forgiveness OF her one
friend.
So each dreary day passed and Ma
ter changed into spring. and spring
into summer. But the seasons had
wrought aren't change in Mabel
but The next day the fever wore on
and Mabel lay in quiet attitude
wishing in, her hungry little heart
lor the Diru.
One day. late in June. n twittering
was heard. and the bird few In and
sang glccfully. then sadly. Little
Mabel seemed to gather strength with
and surprised that lady by putting
two tiny arms around her neck and
said. "Auntie. II have been any
trouble tn you, forgive me-"
no trouble. only a pleasure in my lie
and vii. b. SO uriii my DEATH" said
AIRS, McSwarthy.
eoin n9, aear aI [a cad Msbs I'm
these words she fell hack. And then
with new strength. she arose and
cried, 81 can see. aunt!". see every
Thing" And then = chang- cane over
III face and she WAS lead. 9
ticre TIC visitor stopped and said:
Alice. nay child. ,,u yuu understand
wealthy ANA r"!upIa!n: Mabel was
poor and cun;rntrd. You are lame
and gan S.- all. but Mabel was blind
and hai TO use her mas inat.on. She
through her minds eye and was con
tented hut although YOU have II
coverings yc, YOU are Sill isn"-
an Vel ! must 80 and hole Io
that come. Think this over dear,
and bending, he Kind lady Kissed
Alice's brow
In a few Digs .Nl.cr was chau.ed
enid. Everybody noticed the change
ana coinTa Ut"d on il. She was vrl
lHict now and ansW crcu politely. Lu.
ate Vrrs little. She surprised her
mother ~ asking for a bible. ana
she would pore over il day aud night.
sometimes tiny tear trickled down
htr cheek and fell on the little red
Eibie. She. sVent all day In this
way emitting food and fresh air.
Her mother became alarmed and
summoned the doctor, hut II was TOO
late
one morn!n:; when Alice's mother
came INTO the room she uttered
Il shrek. for half way on The moor
lay the cold. rigid body OF Alice. \
nan smile was on tne rnsebiil lins
ana peace was in the room.
Death had done lis work
TILE END.
COriginaD BY ESTHER GOLDBERG.
A