[figure description] Page 077.[end figure description]

In fact the apartment presented a sufficiently marked
contrast to the poor and cold abode in which Joe Lacklitter
lingered out the melancholy days of his fever and
sickness.

A good warm fire was blazing on the hearth, and the
old woman was already up and busy at her ironing, which
she performed upon a large table, at one end of which stood
a tub full of rough linen. Aunt Phillis supported herself
by washing, and she boasted a large and respectable
“connection” who depended upon her. The variety of
garments which now hung upon a “horse” in a corner
would have proved this; and the commingling of ages
and sexes in these garments was almost bewildering.

“Bless de Lord,” said Aunt Phillis, who was a comely
matron of sixty, “why if tain't little Ellie. How come on
dis cold mornin', chile.”

“I am very well, Aunt Phillis,” replied Ellie, “only
Uncle Joe is sick.”

“Sick is he? De Lord! Why he strong as Sampson,
when I see him. Well, well!”

And Aunt Phillis, not forgetting work, tried her iron
to ascertain its amount of heat, and plunged it into the
heart of a prostrate shirt.

Ellie blushed, and hesitated, so great was her repugnance
to what seemed like begging.

[figure description] Page 078.[end figure description]

“I thought I'd come over, Aunt Phillis—and—and—
that is—”

Ellie's voice died in her throat, and her eyes filled with
tears.

Aunt Phillis paused in her work, and looked at the
child.

“What, cryin' chile?” she said.

“Oh, no! I'm not crying,” said Ellie, with the tears
running down her cheeks; “only Uncle Joe is sick, and—
and—we have nothing in the house,—and—I thought
if you would—lend me a little tea—”

Ellie stopped, overcome by the effort which these few
words had cost her, and, bending down, cried from
emotion and weakness.

“Tea!” said Aunt Phillis: “you want a little tea?”

“Just a little, if you please,” sobbed Ellie.

“Jest as much as you choose, an' more too,” said
Aunt Phillis, laying down her iron heartily; “somethin''
sides, too.”

And going to her cupboard, she brought out an old
battered teapot, and some bread and cold ham.

“There chile!” she said; “you jest take whatever you
want: and don't you mind 'bout 'turnin' of it tell you's
ready.”

Ellie looked gratefully at the kind, good face, and that
face was really exceedingly handsome at the moment, for
it was full of warmth and affection.

“Jest take what you want, I tell you,” said Aunt
Phillis, “an' welcome.”

Ellie thanked her gratefully, and poured some tea and

[figure description] Page 079.[end figure description]

sugar into a paper. Then she took some bread, and being
pressed by Aunt Phillis, added a little bit of ham.
Refusing to take more, the child then thanked her warmly
again, and returned home.

Uncle Joe was looking for her, and she assumed her
cheerful smile, and soon made some tea, and prepared
breakfast. The invalid ate a small portion of the ham,
the rest being consumed by Charley; and thus the day
commenced.

But the fuel: that was now the child's thought. It
was absolutely necessary that the room should not be
without fire, and where to procure the smallest stick of
wood, Ellie could not think. The snow had covered up
every chance bit and chip; and she well knew that she
could not hope for anything there. Where should she
go?

As the fire gradually dwindled down, the child's
anxiety became greater and greater; and when Charley
shivered and drew nearer, and Uncle Joe drew the cover
faintly over his head, Ellie's eyes filled for the third time
that morning with tears. She felt, too, that this nervous
feeling arose from her weakness, and the anxiety she had
undergone for days, and the still darker prospect opened
upon her, of her own sickness—the very thought of which
made her shudder.

She opened her Bible, and looked at it wildly. Her
eyes fell upon what she had often read before, but it had
never impressed her so wondrously—with such profound
reality. “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy
laden, and I will give you rest.... for I am meek

[figure description] Page 080.[end figure description]

and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your
souls.”

To the mind of the child, agitated and rendered nervously
sensitive to emotion, it seemed that He who
uttered those words stood before her, with a sad smile of
infinite love and pity on his countenance; and that he
bent towards her, holding out his arms with unspeakable
tenderness and goodness. So carried away was the
child by this vision, that the Bible fell from her hand,
and sinking upon her knees, she prayed with clasped
hands and moist eyes raised toward heaven; and so, slowly
felt her fear and nervous tremor leave her; and rose up
with a warmth at her heart which melted every fear, and
banished all anxiety. She felt around her that arm which
is stronger than life or death, than things present or
things to come.

She picked up her Bible, and as she did so, the card
given her by the stranger, which had caught in its leaves,
fell on the floor. Ellie looked at it for a moment
strangely, took it up, and went and put on her bonnet.

She approached the bed, with her sweet smile, and
said:

“I'm going to run out for half-an-hour, uncle. Cover
up well, and I'll soon be back. Charley will stay with you.”

And not waiting for a reply, the child hastened out,
and set forward resolutely, toward the office of Mr. Sansoucy,
who had told her to call on him when she wanted
a friend. That time had come, and repressing the blush
of shame which dyed her cheek as she thought of her
errand, the child hastened on.

p506-086

Previous section

Next section