Kitabı oku: «Mildred's New Daughter», sayfa 10

CHAPTER XVIII

“You have been gone a good while, Albert; I hope it was not because of finding the child ill?” Mr. George Eldon remarked enquiringly when his brother re-entered their office.

“She is worn out and a long rest will be very necessary, I think,” was the reply in an anxious tone, “and I for one shall do what I can to make her take it. She is certainly a bright girl and one to be proud of, George. There are none too many who would exert themselves as she has done when they might live at ease, depending on relatives able and willing to care for them.”

“No, I dare say not, but I have sometimes felt that I should prefer to have her a trifle less independent. But,” glancing at the clock, “sit down and give me an account of your visit, and the state in which you found her and the others. I see we have time enough for a chat before starting for home.”

The request was complied with, a consultation held as to how much, and in what way Ethel and the others should be assisted, then, still conversing together on the subject, the brothers started for their homes.

It was the topic of conversation at the dinner table at Mr. George Eldon’s that evening, and Dorothy and the two young men seemed much interested.

“She is a brave, industrious little woman,” said George. “I doubt if there are many girls who would have voluntarily undertaken all that she has.”

“There are certainly a great many who wouldn’t,” said William, “and I own that I am more proud of her than of my very dressy, fashionable cousins next door.”

“Or of the one sitting here, I presume,” laughed Dorothy. “I don’t blame you, Will; but perhaps I might try going into business too if your mother did not insist that she needs me here.”

“Of course she does, and so do we,” said her uncle. “There must be somebody to sew on buttons and strings and attend to various other small matters affecting our comfort.”

“And certainly Dorothy deserves the credit of attending faithfully to those small but necessary matters,” said George.

“That’s true,” said his brother, “and of making quantities of garments for other people besides. She’s a regular Dorcas, as I’ve heard mother say more than once.”

“Be careful, young men, or you’ll have me so puffed up there’ll be no living in the same house with me,” returned Dorothy with merry look and tone, “and then who’ll sew on your buttons and strings?”

“We’ll carry them to mother,” replied William with gravity. “She can’t go round the house and hunt things up, but we will do that part, and she’ll be both able and willing to tack the things on for us.”

“And you, of course, are not likely to tire of your part of the work,” returned Dorothy, “nor ever to forget to hunt up the garments and carry them to aunt in good season to have them got ready for wear when wanted. I should really like to see that poor girl – Ethel,” she continued presently. “I wonder if she would care to see me.”

“I am going round there this evening – in about an hour from now,” said her uncle. “Would you like to go with me?”

“Yes, sir; yes, indeed, if I may.”

“I shall be pleased to have you,” he returned, “as I am partial to ladies’ society and your aunt cannot go with me.”

“Have you told mother of Ethel’s break-down, sir?” asked his son George.

“Not yet, but I am going up to do so now,” Mr. Eldon replied, as they all rose from the table.

Mrs. Eldon heard the story with interest, her husband recounting to her all that his brother had told him of the little home Ethel had made for herself and the younger ones, its comforts and conveniences, and what was lacking in that line; also how completely she had overworked herself in her determined effort to provide for her little family.

“Now what can we do to help her?” she asked when he had finished. “She is worthy of help, for she has shown herself wonderfully brave, self-reliant, and industrious.”

“She has indeed,” he responded, “and must be prevented from beginning work too soon. I am going to warn her to be careful, assuring her that Albert and I will provide all that is necessary, at least until she has fully recovered her health, and strength; and I shall insist that she allows us to do so. Her father would certainly have done the same by my children had the situation be reversed; and so I shall tell her.”

“Yes; and lest she should doubt my willingness to have you do so, tell her I think it no more than one brother should do for the children of another, if he finds himself as able as you are.”

“Thank you, my dear. And now I will go at once that I may get back to you the sooner.”

He found Dorothy ready, waiting for him in the parlor below, and they set off at once.

They were joyfully welcomed on their arrival at their destination. Ethel was surprised and touched at this evidence of feeling for her on the part of her Uncle George and Dorothy. They found her awake, talked very kindly to her, showing much interest in her and the younger ones, but, perceiving that her greatest need was rest and sleep, left early, promising to come again soon. Her uncle bade her an affectionate good-by, telling her not to fret or worry about anything, but to take matters easily, trusting in Providence, and her uncles as His instruments. He took her hand as he spoke and left something in it, which on examination she found to be a five-dollar bill.

“How good in him!” she murmured; glad, grateful tears chasing each other down her cheeks.

“Uncle,” said Dorothy, as they walked along together, “I think those children need some clothes; excepting Harry, perhaps. Did you notice what a neat, new suit he had on?”

“Yes; it was a present this afternoon from his Uncle Albert. It would be no more than my share to provide for the girls whatever may be needed.”

“Well, uncle, if you’ll furnish the money I’ll do the work. Aunt and I have been working for the Dorcas society – helping to clothe the poor – and it really seems to me that the needy ones of our own family have the very first claim.”

“That is my view of the matter,” he said, “and I am ready to pay for all the material you and your aunt may think it best to buy and make up for them.”

“Oh, thank you, sir! Shall we not have a talk with aunt about it when we get home?”

“Certainly. She will be apt to know just what should be bought, and, if you like, you can do the buying to-morrow. I will furnish the funds.”

On reaching home they went directly to Mrs. Eldon’s room, gave a detailed account of their visit and the discoveries made regarding the needs of Ethel and the others, then of their plan for affording relief, of which Mrs. Eldon highly approved, and which she and Dorothy began carrying out the next morning.

The result was a joyful surprise to the three girls and a lightening of Ethel’s burden of care which greatly assisted her recovery. She strove, and with some measure of success, not to think of business cares and anxieties for some days, but as soon as she was able to be up and at work again, she proposed to her partner that they should go over their books, take an inventory of goods on hand, and find out exactly how they stood with their creditors. They did so and discovered to their dismay that, so far from having made anything, they were in debt.

“There,” exclaimed Carry, “I shall just stop right here; for if we go on I’ll only get deeper and deeper into debt.”

“Oh, no!” said Ethel. “I see where we have made mistakes. We’ll avoid them after this and will make something next year.”

“I shan’t try,” said Carry, in a despairing tone. “You, of course, will do as you like, but I’m done with the business.”

“I don’t think I am,” said Ethel.

“Then suppose you buy me out; I’ll sell cheap,” said Carry, forcing a laugh to keep from crying.

“Yes, if you’ll wait a little for your money,” replied Ethel, a sudden conviction coming to her that she could do better alone, as she and Carry did not always agree in regard to the wisdom of proposed measures.

“Yes,” said Carry, “I think it would be only fair that you should settle with the creditors first, and I know you will pay me as soon afterward as you can.”

So it came about that Ethel was soon sole proprietor of the little store, and could manage all parts of the business to suit herself. She bought goods on short credit and was very careful to pay promptly. She did not know that her uncles privately went security for her, and was rather surprised to find the wholesale merchants with whom she dealt so willing to trust her to any amount, though she never bought very largely, being far too cautious for that. She managed so well that in less than a year she was entirely free from debt and had a good run of custom; for so pleasing was her manner, so thoroughly well done her work, her stock of goods so carefully selected, that those who bought of her once were very apt to come again; also to recommend her to others.

Her uncles were kind, though her continuance in business did not meet with their warm approval. Dorothy came in occasionally to see her and her sisters. Harry was given the half-promised place in his uncle’s store, and Miss Seldon was a not infrequent visitor and customer as well. She was very kind, bought of them herself, and recommended the store to others. She would sometimes accept an invitation to stay and take tea with them, all esteeming it a delight to entertain her – she was so kind-hearted and showed such an interest in them and their affairs.

She was in easy circumstances, had travelled a good deal in this and in foreign countries, and her conversation was both interesting and instructive.

One evening a casual mention of having some years before spent a number of weeks on the island of Jamaica aroused a degree of excitement among them that surprised her.

“Jamaica!” exclaimed Blanche. “Oh, Miss Seldon, did you meet any of the well-to-do people? any of the rich planters?”

“Yes,” was the reply, “I had letters of introduction to several families and found them very hospitable; some of them most interesting and agreeable people. I particularly remember one old couple, of English descent, without children, I think – at least I did not hear of any – who made my visit of a couple of days very enjoyable, indeed.”

“What was their name, Miss Seldon?” asked Ethel half breathlessly, for her heart was beating fast between a newly aroused hope and the fear that it might not be realized.

“Eyre,” returned Miss Seldon. “But why do you ask? Oh, what is it?” for every face at the table had brightened visibly, and there was an exchange of rejoicing, exulting, excited glances.

“I think they must have been our grandparents,” said Ethel, scarcely able to speak from emotion, “mamma’s father and mother, whom we have never been able to find because we did not know their address. Oh, how glad – how glad I am!” and she wept for joy and thankfulness.

Harry and the others were scarcely less excited; they could talk of nothing else while together at the table, but soon after leaving it, Ethel, taking Miss Seldon with her, accompanied by Harry as escort, set out for her old home to inform her uncles of the discovery just made, and ask their advice in regard to the best way of opening communication with her grandparents.

“This is good news, Ethel – at least I hope it will prove so,” said her Uncle George when the story had been told; “but I am extremely doubtful if your grandparents are still living; for in that case they would surely have been hunting up their daughter’s children. But we must set on foot such enquiries as will remove all doubt, and in case of their death recover for you and your brother and sisters any property they may have left.”

At that Ethel’s eyes filled. “I want my dear grandparents a great deal more than I do their property,” she said.

“I have no doubt of that, Ethel,” said her Uncle Albert, “but in case of their death the property will be yours by right, and not to be despised; and they of course would have wished it to fall to their daughter’s children rather than to anyone else.”

“I should think so; yes, I am quite sure of it,” she said, adding with a smile, “and it will be a great help to us all in getting a start in the world.”

“Yes,” he returned, “and for that reason I shall be very glad if it turns out that there is a good deal of it.”

“We will make enquiries for you, Ethel,” said her Uncle George, “and set about it at once. So you need give yourself no farther trouble, my dear.”

“Thank you both very much, indeed, uncles,” was her reply in a tone full of grateful affection. “I think, though, that I will write a letter to my grandparents to say how dearly I love them, and how I have longed ever since dear mamma and papa died to be with them in the sweet old home I can just remember, but did not write till now because of not knowing their address. Shall I not do so?”

“I do not believe they are living, child,” replied her Uncle George. “Had they been, you surely would have heard from them in some way before this.”

“But they have not known where we were,” she returned, tears starting to her eyes again. “So I think I had better write.”

“Yes, do so if you wish. It cannot do any harm,” said her uncle Albert.

Blanche and Nannette eagerly awaited the return of their brother and sister, and on their coming besieged them with questions, asking what their uncles thought and said, and what was going to be done to find “Grandpa and Grandma Eyre.” Neither Ethel nor Harry was disposed to keep anything back, but the others were disappointed that there was so little to tell, and were almost indignant that it should be thought that their grandparents were dead. They urged Ethel to write at once and find out certainly whether they were or not.

“It is just what I intend doing,” she said, “and now, if you will be quiet, I will set to work at once. I’ll make my letter short, promising to write again as soon as we hear from them.”

The letter was written, read to the others for their approval, and mailed by Harry before they went to bed that night.

Some weeks of anxious suspense followed, then news was received of the death, some years before, of both Mr. and Mrs. Eyre. They had left property which, their daughter’s children heired, but only a part of it was recovered for them.

In the meantime the young people had talked much together of their dear old home in Jamaica, and the grandparents who had so loved and petted them in their babyhood; Ethel, at the request of the others, repeating again and again all that she could remember of the lovely place, and their life there, so different from that they were now leading, and, as they talked, the desire to return to that beautiful home and those doating grandparents grew apace.

It was therefore a sore disappointment when they learned that death had robbed them of the dear old people, orphaning them a second time. For the first few days after hearing the sad news they were almost inconsolable in their grief and disappointment, but gradually they recovered from that and felt glad and thankful because of their increased means; for though by no means sufficient to free them from the necessity of exertion, life was made easier and advantages were secured which without it were beyond their reach.

A capable woman was found who took Blanche’s place as housekeeper and cook, so that she could go back to school and resume her studies, and a young girl, who did errands and sometimes waited upon customers, was also added to the establishment.

CHAPTER XIX

Several years had passed, bringing to the members of our little family scarce any changes except such as time brings to the young and growing everywhere. Ethel was more mature in looks and manners, Harry becoming quite manly in appearance, and in character also, the two younger girls were budding into lovely womanhood, Nannette being especially winsome in manner. They were all strongly attached to each other and made a very harmonious and happy little household.

But a change came: Nan took cold in the spring, and all through the summer was feeble and more or less ailing.

The others were troubled and anxious about her, but she was almost always cheerful, said there was not much the matter, she only felt languid and weak, but hoped to be strong and have more energy when the cool autumn weather came. But alas! instead, her feebleness increased till at last she was forced to take to her bed. Then Ethel, greatly alarmed, at once let her uncles know, and without delay the best medical advice was furnished and everything done that loving care and solicitude could do to improve her condition. She grew a little better for a time, so that she was able to be about the house again, but never went out except when one of her uncles or cousins took her for a drive as they sometimes did.

They were very kind and affectionate, coming often to see her, even when the weather was such that she could not be taken out. Dorothy was frequently there too, sometimes in the capacity of nurse, when business or domestic cares kept Nannette’s sisters away from the sick room, and showing herself very kind, thoughtful, and skilful.

Miss Seldon did likewise, evidently feeling deep interest in the young invalid; bringing dainties to tempt the failing appetite, and interesting books to make the time pass pleasantly.

Their pastor came too, and by his sympathy and kindness endeared himself greatly to the little family. He succeeded at length in so winning Nan’s love and confidence that she became very open and communicative with him; talking freely of her thoughts, feelings, and desires, her hopes and aspirations; and very gently and tenderly he, after a time, told her that her physicians thought it very unlikely she would ever be restored to health in this world, but was slowly and surely nearing that blessed land where the inhabitants shall never say “I am sick”; the land where pain and sickness, death, sin, and sorrow are unknown.

It was a new idea to Nannette, for she had looked confidently forward to final restoration to health, and for some moments she seemed stunned with surprise and affright.

“Do not be afraid, dear child,” said the minister in tones tremulous with emotion; “remember those sweet words of the psalmist, ‘Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me.’ Trust in Jesus – Jesus only – and He will be with you, and carry you safely through the valley, and over the river of death, to the beautiful Celestial city, where you will dwell with Him in such bliss as eye hath not seen nor ear heard, nor hath it entered into the heart of man to conceive.”

“And where my dear father and mother are,” she said softly, the big tears coursing down her cheeks. “Oh, I shall not be sorry to go! How good; oh, how good the Lord is to let me go there so soon!”

“Yes, dear child. Is it because He sees any good in you, do you think?”

“No, sir; oh, no, there isn’t any, not any of my own righteousness: but I think, I believe, oh, I know that He has covered me with the beautiful robe of His perfect righteousness, so that when God looks upon me He will see only that and none of the filthy rags of my own. And He will wash away in His precious blood all my sins, all the evil that is in me, and make me fit for a home in that blessed land. With Jesus and like him! Oh, how happy I shall be!” Then after a moment’s pause, “Do my brother and sisters know?” she asked.

“I think not,” he said, “though doubtless they will not be greatly surprised to learn the truth in regard to your serious condition.”

“Then tell them; please tell them,” she entreated; “Ethel and Blanche at least, and perhaps they will tell Harry when he comes home from the store to-night.”

Just then footsteps were heard on the stairs, the door opened, and Dorothy entered.

“How do you do, sir?” she said, holding out her hand to the minister, then turning toward Nannette, “Ah, little coz, you are better, I think! Your cheeks are like roses and your eyes are very bright. What is it, dear?” as the beautiful eyes filled with tears, “are you in pain?” and she bent over her, softly caressing her hair and cheek.

The minister had slipped away unobserved. Nannette put an arm round Dorothy and drew her down closer. “I – I know it now,” she panted. “He has told me, and – and oh, I – I’m afraid Ethel’s heart will break, for – for she loves me so dearly!”

“What is it, dear? You haven’t told me yet,” returned Dorothy in half tremulous tones. “You – you are not worse?”

“I shall never be any better,” faltered Nannette; “never till – till I reach that land where the inhabitants shall not say ‘I am sick.’”

“O Nan, you don’t know! I – I think you are getting better,” Dorothy returned, tears streaming from her eyes. “And how could we ever do without you? I have grown to love you very, very dearly since I have been with you so much, seeing how dear and good and patient you are in all your pain and weakness. Cheer up, for I do think you will be stronger when the warm weather comes.”

But Nannette shook her head. “No,” she said, “the doctors say I will not be here long; that I am going home to heaven to be with Jesus and the dear father and mother who went so long ago. O Dorothy, though the news was like a shock at first, I am very glad now, if – if only I did not have to leave Ethel and Blanche behind; Harry too, and you and my uncles and cousins. Oh, how sweet it would be if we could only all go together!”

“O Nan,” cried Dorothy, weeping, “I can’t help hoping the doctors are mistaken; you know they sometimes are, and perhaps you will get well yet. I’ll tell Uncle George, and perhaps he will take you south to Florida or the West Indies. I think it would do him good to go himself, for he has a cough of late.”

“You are very kind, Dorothy,” Nan said with a grateful look up into her eyes, “and so are my uncles. I believe they would do anything in their power to save my life; but I fear it is too late, and if I am to die I’d rather die here at home with all the dear ones about me.”

“But, O Nan, we can’t go with you!” exclaimed a voice half choked with grief; “and how can we let you go alone!” for Ethel had come in unperceived and dropped on her knees close by the bedside. “Oh, my darling, darling little sister, what can I ever do without you? You have been my special charge almost ever since you were born. I don’t know how I can live if you are taken from me!”

“You know the others will need you, dear,” said Nan, clinging about her neck, “and papa and mamma and I will be waiting for you all on the other side of the river; and oh, what a happy time it will be when we are all there together!”

“But oh, darling, it seems so long to wait!” groaned Ethel, holding her close, and weeping as if her heart would break; “so long to live without you!”

“Maybe it won’t be so long; perhaps He will soon let you follow me.”

“When her work for Him on earth is done,” said Dorothy, weeping with them. “But, Ethel, dear, you know He never sends a burden without the strength to bear it. Don’t forget the sweet promise, ‘As thy days, so shall thy strength be,’ or the sweet assurance, ‘We know that all things work together for good to them that love God.’”

“Oh, it is so easy to forget!” sighed Ethel. “I am glad you reminded me. I have need to pray as the disciples did, ‘Lord, increase our faith.’”

A moment’s silence, while the sisters, closely clasped in each other’s arms, mingled their tears together, then Ethel asked, low and tremulously, “Nan, dear, you are not afraid?”

“No, sister, dear, for though you can’t go with me, Jesus has said that He will. Don’t you remember those lovely texts in Isaiah, ‘But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.’ I was reading those verses only this morning, and they seemed so sweet.”

“They are for us both,” sobbed Ethel; “for when I think of parting with you, my darling little sister, doing without you all the rest of my life – the waters seem very, very deep, the floods overflow me. Oh, what should I do if I had not Jesus to cling to?”

“‘And a man shall be as a hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest,’” repeated Nan in low, tender tones; “‘as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.’ I know it means Jesus, and if we cling close to him he will be all that to us.”

“Yes; oh, yes! and you are clinging to him, Nan, dear?”

“Yes; oh, yes! I have no other refuge; and what other need anyone want? for ‘He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.’ You remember that Jesus said, ‘And this is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone which seeth the Son and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.’ I believe; oh, I have not the least doubt that Jesus is God, that He is able and willing to save, for He invites all to come to Him for salvation – ‘Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.’ ‘Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.’ I know I cannot do anything to deserve salvation – that all my righteousness is as filthy rags; but He has offered me His, and I have accepted it, so that now it is mine and I feel the truth of what the Bible says, ‘And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever.’ Oh, I am full of joy at the thought that I am so soon to be with Jesus and to be like Him.”

“Yes, I am glad for you, dear Nan,” Ethel said, amid her fast falling tears, “but my heart is almost broken for myself and our brother and sister; for we all love you so dearly that it will be terrible for us to see you go.”

“Should we not let her rest now?” asked Dorothy gently. “She is looking very weary.”

“Yes, I fear I have talked too long,” returned Ethel, with an anxious look at the face on the pillow, “and it is time she had something to eat,” and with that she left the room.

She found Harry seated in the little parlor below, looking over the evening paper.

“How is Nan?” he asked, glancing up at her as she entered. Then noticing that she had been weeping, “O Ethel, is she worse?”

At first Ethel answered only with tears and sobs; then in low, tremulous tones she said, “She is nearing home, Harry. The doctors say she can be with us only – a little longer – a few weeks or – perhaps but a few days.”

Harry had dropped his paper, and tears were coursing down his cheeks. “I don’t believe it! Dear little Nan! we can’t let her die. What could we ever do without her? something must be done to save her.”

Blanche had come in just in time to hear Harry’s last words, and was standing as if struck dumb with astonishment and dismay. “What is it? oh, what is it?” she asked wildly. “Nan can’t be so very ill with that lovely color in her cheeks and her eyes so bright. Oh, I’m sure she’ll soon be better! quite well, perhaps, when the warm spring days come and the flowers are in bloom.” But tears fell fast from her eyes even as she spoke.

“It’s an old saying that while there’s life there’s hope,” said Harry, trying hard to make his tones steady; “so we’ll just hope on, at the same time doing everything that can be done to – to prolong her precious life; for she’s just the loveliest and dearest little sister that ever anybody had.”

“Yes,” said Ethel, “and nothing is impossible with God. Oh, let us all three pray that she may be spared to us if it is best for her and for us. I must go now and get her supper ready and carry it up to her.”

“It is ready now; broiled bird, toast, fruit, tea, and cake. I thought they would all taste good to her, and you know the doctors say she may eat anything and everything she fancies.”

“That seems to show that they don’t consider her so very, very ill,” remarked Harry hopefully. “Let us all go up with the supper. I haven’t seen her since morning, you know.”

They did so, and were so cheerfully and pleasantly greeted by the dear young invalid that Harry was more than ever convinced that the doctors had sounded a false alarm.

The sisters too grew hopeful, Dorothy also, and they made quite a cheerful little party about the tea table; the maid-of-all-work sitting with Nannette while they all ate.

But not so with the uncles, to whom the same report of the doctors’ opinion had been carried. They came in together just as the young people rose from the table, and though they did not express their fears, something in their air and manner remarked those of the others; Ethel’s especially. She knew they had come to see Nannette, and quickly led the way to her room.

The face on the pillow brightened visibly on their entrance. “Oh, Uncle George and Uncle Albert,” she exclaimed, holding out her hand with a bright, sweet smile, “how good in you to come to see me to-night! I’m so very glad to see you.”

“Are you, dear?” said Uncle George, bending down to kiss the sweet lips. “I think not more glad than we are to see you – our own dear little niece; and if there is anything you want – anything that would add to your comfort – you must tell us so without the least hesitation.”

“Yes, indeed, dear child,” added Uncle Albert, caressing her in his turn, “we are ready and desirous to do anything and everything we can to relieve and make you better.”

“Thank you, dear uncles,” she returned with a very grateful look up into their faces, “you are both so good and kind to me always. I don’t know of anything more that I want, but I love you both so dearly, dearly. Please remember that, whenever you think of me after – after I’m gone.”

“We won’t think of that; we will hope to keep you for a long time, dear little Nan,” returned her Uncle Albert, his voice betraying some emotion.