Indeed, without giving the matter special
thought, she was surprised to discover that, with one or two exceptions,
the people Miss Ercildoune sent her were of the peaceful and quiet
sect. This bird of brilliant plumage seemed ill assorted with the
sober-hued flock.
She found in this same bird a helper in more ways than one. It was not
alone that she gave her employment and paid her well, nor that she sent
her others able and willing to do the same. She found Frankie a good
school, and saw him properly installed. She never came to them
empty-handed; through the long, hot summer-time she brought them fruit
and flowers from her home out of town; and when she came not herself, if
the carriage was in the city it stopped with these same delightful
burdens. Sallie declared her an angel, and Frank, with his mouth stuffed
full, stood ready to echo the assertion.
So the heated term wore away,--before it ended, telling heavily on
Sallie. Her anxiety about Jim, her close confinement and constant work,
the fever everywhere in the spiritual air through that first terrible
summer of the war, bore her down.
"You need rest," said Miss Ercildoune to her one day, looking at her
with kindly solicitude,--"rest, and change, and fresh air, and freedom
from care. I can't give you the last, but I can the first if you will
accept them. You need some country living."
"O Miss Ercildoune, will you let me do your work at your own home? I
know it would do me good just to be under the same roof with you, and
then I should have all the things you speak of combined and another one
added.
Pages:
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84