A Garland for Girls
Being Boston girls, of course they got up a club for mental improvement, and, as they were all descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, they called it the Mayflower Club. A very good name, and the six young girls who were members of it made a very pretty posy when they met together, once a week, to sew, and read well-chosen books. At the first meeting of the season, after being separated all summer, there was a good deal of gossip to be attended to before the question, "What shall we read?" came up for serious discussion. Anna Winslow, as president, began by proposing "Happy Dodd;" but a chorus of "I've read it!" made her turn to her list for another title. "'Prisoners of Poverty' is all about workingwomen, very true and very sad; but Mamma said it might do us good to know something of the hard times other girls have," said Anna, soberly; for she was a thoughtful creature, very anxious to do her duty in all ways. "I'd rather not know about sad things, since I can't help to make them any better," answered Ella Carver, softly patting the apple blossoms she was embroidering on a bit of blue satin.
which she could hear without any semblance of vainglory; for her soul
was too deeply impressed with the magnitude of her mission to allow her
to be elated or depressed by any remark that might be made.
Faith's eyes followed the dying boy far into the realms of light. She
wiped the mother's tears away, and disclosed to her sight the way the
soul had fled, while Hope stood by to assure her that the parting was
not forever. The two tarried through the night with the mother, and when
friends came to bury the dead form she had learned that "the grave is
not the goal."
The sisters toiled together many years. They wove beautiful truths
into the minds of the people, till the once dark condition of earth
seemed passing rapidly away. People grew trustful, and less gloomy: yet,
with all the teachings of Faith, and the cheering words of Hope, they
failed to exercise the right feelings at all times towards each other.
The sisters sat by the wayside one evening, after a hard day's toil,
their eyes lifted to the stars, which seemed to look lovingly on them.
They sat without words, while each possessed the same unspoken wish. They
both longed for their sister, who at that moment was thinking earnestly
of them.
Faith glanced from the stars to the scarcely less brilliant eyes of Hope,
and a few tears fell over her face. Even Hope sighed, and almost wished
herself back to her starry home with her father.
Being Boston girls, of course they got up a club for mental improvement, and, as they were all descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers, they called it the Mayflower Club. A very good name, and the six young girls who were members of it made a very pretty posy when they met together, once a week, to sew, and read well-chosen books. At the first meeting of the season, after being separated all summer, there was a good deal of gossip to be attended to before the question, "What shall we read?" came up for serious discussion. Anna Winslow, as president, began by proposing "Happy Dodd;" but a chorus of "I've read it!" made her turn to her list for another title. "'Prisoners of Poverty' is all about workingwomen, very true and very sad; but Mamma said it might do us good to know something of the hard times other girls have," said Anna, soberly; for she was a thoughtful creature, very anxious to do her duty in all ways. "I'd rather not know about sad things, since I can't help to make them any better," answered Ella Carver, softly patting the apple blossoms she was embroidering on a bit of blue satin.