Elsie's Womanhood by Martha Finley
CHAPTER TWENTY-SECOND.
"Calm me, my God, and keep me calm While these hot breezes blow; Be like the night-dew's cooling balm Upon earth's fevered brow." --H. BONAR.
"Fear not; I will help thee." --ISAIAH xiii. 13.
"Dear old auntie! to think how hard at work for her country she is, whileI sit idle here," sighed Elsie, closing the letter after reading it aloudto the assembled family. "Mamma, papa, Edward, is there nothing we cando?"
"We can do just what they are doing," replied Rose with energy, "I wonderI had not thought of it before; shirts, stockings, lint, bandages, we canprepare them all; and send with them such fruits and delicacies as willcarry from this far-off place. What say you, gentlemen?"
"I think you can," was the simultaneous reply; Mr. Travilla adding, "andwe can help with the lint, and by running the sewing-machines. I'd be gladto add to the comfort of the poor fellows on both sides."
"And money is needed by their aid societies," added Mr. Dinsmore.
"And I can send that!" Elsie exclaimed joyously
"Yes, we all can," said her father.
Several busy weeks followed, and a large box was packed and sent off.
"If that arrives safely we will send another," they said; for news hadreached them that such supplies were sorely needed.
"What! at it again, little wife?" queried Mr. Travilla, entering Elsie'sboudoir the next morning, to find her delicate fingers busy withknitting-needles and coarse blue yarn.
"Yes, sir," she said, smiling up at him, "it seems a slight relief to myanxiety about my country, to be doing something, if it is only _this_."
"Ah! then I'll take lessons, if you, or Aunt Chloe there will teach me,"he returned, laughingly drawing up a chair and taking a seat by her side."Mammy, can you supply another set of needles, and more yarn?"
"Yes, massa;" and laying down the stocking she was at work upon, away shewent in search of them.
"Papa, see! so pitty!" cried a little voice; and "wee Elsie" was at hisknee, with a diamond necklace in her hand.
"Yes," he said, gently taking it from her, "but rather too valuable aplaything for my little pet. How did she get hold of it, dearest?" heasked, turning to his wife.
"Mamma say Elsie may. Please, papa, let Elsie have it," pleaded the littleone with quivering lip and fast-filling eyes.
"I gave her leave to look over the contents of my jewel box; she is a verycareful little body, and mammy and I are both on the watch:" answeredmamma. "It is a great treat to her; and she takes up only one article ata time, examines it till satisfied, then lays it back exactly as she foundit. So please, papa, may she go on?"
"Yes, if mamma gave permission it is all right, darling," he said,caressing the child and returning the necklace.
"Tank oo, papa, mamma; Elsie be very tareful mamma's pitty sings," shecried with a gleeful laugh, holding up her rosebud mouth for a kiss, firstto one, then the other.
"Let papa see where you put it, precious," he said, following her as shetripped across the room and seated herself on a cushion in front of thebox.
"Dere, papa, dus where Elsie dot it," she said, laying it carefully backin its proper place. "See, so many, many pitty sings in mamma's box."
"Yes," he said, passing his eye thoughtfully from one to another of thebrilliant collection of rings, brooches, chains, bracelets, and necklacessparkling with gems--diamonds, rubies, amethysts, pearls, emeralds, andother precious stones. "Little wife, your jewels alone are worth what tovery many would be a handsome fortune."
"Yes, Edward, and is it not really a pity to have so much locked up inthem?"
"No, it is a good investment; especially as things are at present."
"I could do very well without them; should never have bought them formyself: they are almost all your gifts and papa's, or his purchases."
Aunt Chloe had returned with the needles and yarn, and now Elsie begangiving the lesson in knitting, both she and her pupil making very merryover it. Rose and Mr. Dinsmore presently joined them, and the latter, notto be outdone by his son-in-law, invited his wife to teach him.
Horace was at his lessons, but Rosebud, or Rosie as she had gradually cometo be called, soon followed her parents. She was a bright, merry littlegirl of six, very different from what her sister had been at that age;full of fun and frolicsome as a kitten, very fond of her father, liking toclimb upon his knee to be petted and caressed, but clinging still more toher sweet, gentle mamma.
Mr. Travilla and she were the best of friends; she was devotedly attachedto her sister, and considered it "very nice and funny," that she was auntto wee Elsie and baby Eddie.
"Oh," she cried, the moment she came into the room, "what is wee Elsiedoing? Mamma, may I, too?"
"May you what?" asked Rose.
"Why, what is the child doing? playing with your jewels, Elsie?" asked Mr.Dinsmore in a tone of surprise, noticing for the first time what was theemployment of his little granddaughter.
"Yes, papa; but she is very careful, and I am watching her."
"I should not allow it, if she were my child. No, Rosie, you may not; youare not a careful little girl."
Rosie was beginning to pout, but catching the stern look in her father'seye, quickly gave it up, her face clearing as if by magic.
"Papa," Elsie asked in a low tone, "do you wish me to take away thosecostly playthings from my little girl?"
"My dear daughter," he said, smiling tenderly upon her, "I have neitherthe right nor the wish to interfere with you and your children; especiallywhen your husband approves of your management. I only fear you may sufferloss. How easy a valuable ring may slip through the little fingers androll away into some crevice where it would never be found."
"I'm afraid it is rather hazardous," she acknowledged. "Mammy, sit closeto Elsie and keep a careful watch, lest she should drop something."
"I begin to think there's truth in the old saw, 'It's hard to teach olddogs new tricks,'" remarked Mr. Travilla, with a comically rueful face."I've a mind to give it up. What do you say, Dinsmore?"
"That you wouldn't make a good soldier, if you are so easily conquered,Travilla."
"Oh, fighting's another thing, but I'll persevere as long as you do;unless I find I'm wearying my teacher."
"Perhaps you would learn faster with a better teacher," said Elsie, "I'msure the fault is not in the scholar; because I know he's bright andtalented."
"Ah! then I shall try harder than ever, to save your reputation; but takea recess now, for here comes my boy, reaching out his arms to papa. Bringhim here Dinah. Papa's own boy, he looks beautiful and as bright as theday."
"Mamma thinks he's a very handsome mixture of papa and grandpa," Elsiesaid, leaning over to caress the babe, now crowing in his father's arms.
"I'm afraid he inherits too much of his grandpa's temper," remarked Mr.Dinsmore, but with a glance of loving pride bestowed upon the beautifulbabe.
"I, for one, have no objection, provided he learns to control it as well,"said Mr. Travilla; "he will make the finer character."
Little Elsie had grown weary of her play.
"Put box way now, mammy," she said, getting up from her cushion; "weeElsie don't want any more. Mamma take; Elsie so tired."
The baby voice sounded weak and languid, and tottering to her mother'sside, she almost fell into her lap.
"Oh, my baby! my precious darling, what is it?" cried Elsie, catching herup in her arms. "Papa! Edward! she is dying!"
For the face had suddenly lost all its color; the eyes were rolled upward,the tiny fists tightly clenched, and the little limbs had grown stiff andrigid on the mother's lap.
Mr. Travilla hastily set down the babe, laid turned to look at his littlegirl, his face full of alarm and distress.
Mr. Dinsmore sprang to his daughter's side, and meeting her look of agony,said soothingly, "No, dearest, it is a spasm, she will soon be over it."
"Yes; don't be so terrified, dear child," sai
That was true; the muscles were beginning to relax, and in another momentthe eyes resumed their natural appearance, the hands were no longerclenched, and a low plaintive, "Mamma," came from the little lips.
"Mamma is here, darling," Elsie said, amid her fast-dropping tears,covering the little wan face with kisses, as she held it to her bosom.
"Thank God! she is still ours!" exclaimed the father, almost under hisbreath; then, a little louder, "Elsie, dear wife, I shall go at once forDr. Channing, an English physician who has been highly recommended to me."
"Do, dear husband, and urge him to come at once," she answered, in a tonefull of anxiety.
He left the room, returning with the physician within half an hour, tofind the little girl asleep on her mother's breast.
"Ah, I hope she is not going to be very ill," said the doctor, takinggentle hold of her tiny wrist. "She seems easy now, and her papa tells methe spasm was of very short duration."
She woke, apparently free from suffering, allowed her papa to take her,that mamma's weary arms might rest, and in the course of the afternooneven got down from his knee, and played about the room for a little while,but languidly, and was soon quite willing to be nursed again, "papa,grandpa, and Mamma Rose," as she lovingly called her young and fairstep-grandmother, taking turns in trying to relieve and amuse her.
She was a most affectionate, unselfish little creature, and though longingto lay again her weary little head on mamma's breast, and feel theenfolding of mamma's dear arms, gave up without a murmur, when told that"poor mamma was tired with holding so big a girl for so long," andquietly contented herself with the attention of the others.
As the early evening hour which was the children's bed-time drew near,Elsie took her little girl again on her lap.
"Mamma, pease talk to Elsie," pleaded the sweet baby voice, while thecurly head fell languidly upon her shoulder, and a tiny hand, hot and drywith fever, softly patted her cheek.
"What about, darling?"
"'Bout Jesus, mamma. Do He love little chillens? do he love wee Elsie?"
The gentle voice that answered was full of tears. "Yes, darling, mamma andpapa, and dear grandpa too, love you more than tongue can tell, but Jesusloves you better still."
"Mamma, may Elsie go dere?"
"Where, my precious one?"
"To Jesus, mamma; Elsie want to go see Jesus."
A sharp pang shot through the young mothers heart, and her arms tightenedtheir clasp about the little form, while the hot tears chased each otheradown her cheeks. One fell on the child's face.
"What! mamma ky? Mamma don't want Elsie to go see Jesus? Den Elsie willstay wis mamma and papa. Don't ky, Elsie's mamma;" and feebly the littlehand tried to wipe away her mother's tears.
With a silent prayer for help to control her emotion, Elsie cleared hervoice, and began in low, sweet tones the old, old story of Jesus and Hislove, His birth, His life, His death.
"Mamma, Elsie do love Jesus!" were the earnest words that followed theclose of the narrative. "Say prayer now, and go bed. Elsie feel sick.Mamma, stay wis Elsie?"
"Yes, my precious one, mamma will stay close beside her darling as long asshe wants her. You may say your little prayer kneeling in mamma's lap; andthen she will sing you to sleep."
"Jesus like Elsie do dat way?"
"Yes, darling, when she's sick."
Mamma's arms encircled and upheld the little form, the chubby hands weremeekly folded, and the soft cheek rested against hers, while the few wordsof prayer faltered on the baby tongue.
Then, the posture changed to a more restful one, the sweet voice stillfull of tears, and often trembling with emotion, sang the little one tosleep.
Laying her gently in her crib, Elsie knelt beside it, sending up apetition with strong crying and tears; not that the young life might bespared, unless the will of God were so, but that she might be enabled tosay, with all her heart, "Thy will be done."
Ere she had finished, her husband knelt beside her asking the same for herand himself.
They rose up together, and folded to his heart, she wept out her sorrowupon his breast.
"You are very weary, little wife," he said tenderly, passing his handcaressingly over her hair and pressing his lips again and again to theheated brow.
"It is rest to lay my head here," she whispered.
"But you must not stand;" and sitting down he drew her to the sofa, stillkeeping his arm about her waist. "Bear up, dear wife," he said, "we willhope our precious darling is not very ill."
She told him of the child's words, and the sad foreboding that had enteredher own heart.
"While there is life there is hope, dearest," he said, with assumedcheerfulness. "Let us not borrow trouble. Does He not say to us, as to thedisciples of old, 'It is I, be not afraid'?"
"Yes; and she is His; only lent to us for a season; and we dare not rebelshould He see fit to recall His own," she answered, amid her tears. "Oh,Edward, I am so glad we indulged her this morning in her wish to play withmy jewels!"
"Yes; she is the most precious of them all," he said with emotion.
Aunt Chloe, drawing near, respectfully suggested that it might be well toseparate the children, in case the little girl's illness should prove tobe contagious.
"That is a wise thought, mammy," said Elsie. "Is it not, Edward?"
"Yes, wife; shall we take our little daughter to our own bedroom, andleave Eddie in possession of the nursery?"
"Yes, I will never leave her while she is ill."
Weeks of anxious solicitude, of tenderest, most careful nursing, followed;for the little one was very ill, and for some time grew worse hour byhour. For days there was little hope that her life would be spared, and asolemn silence reigned through the house; even the romping, fun-lovingHorace and Rosie, awe-struck into stillness, and often sheddingtears--Horace in private, fearing to be considered unmanly, but Rosieopenly and without any desire of concealment--at the thought that thedarling of the house was about to pass away from earth.
Rose was filled with grief, the father, and grandfather were almostheart-broken. But the mother! That first night she had scarcely closed aneye, but continually her heart was going up in earnest supplications forgrace and strength to meet this sore trial with patience, calmness, andsubmission.
And surely the prayer was heard and answered; day and night she was withher suffering little one, watching beside its crib, or holding it in herarms, soothing it with tender words of mother love, or singing, in lowsweet tones, of Jesus and the happy land.
Plenty of excellent nurses were at hand, more than willing to relieve herof her charge; but she would relinquish it to no one; except whencompelled to take a little rest that her strength might not utterly failher. Even then she refused to leave the room, but lay where the firstplaintive cry, "Mamma," would rouse her and bring her instantly to herdarling's side.
At times the big tears might be seen coursing down her cheek, as she gazedmournfully upon the baby face so changed from what it was; but voice andmanner were quiet and composed.
Her husband was almost constantly at her side, sharing the care, the griefand anxiety, and the nursing, so far as she would let him. Rose, too, andMr. Dinsmore, were there every hour of the day, and often in the night,scarcely less anxious and grief-stricken than the parents, and Mr.Dinsmore especially, trembling for the life and health of the mother aswell as the child.
At length came a day when all knew and felt that wee Elsie was at the verybrink of the grave, and the little thread of life might snap asunder atany moment.
She lay on her pillow on her mother's lap, the limbs shrunken to halftheir former size, the face, but lately so
Mr. Travilla sat close beside them, with cup and spoon in hand, now andthen moistening the dry lips. Chloe, who had stationed herself a littlebehind her mistress to be within call, was dropping great tears on thesoldier's stocking in her hand.
Mr. Dinsmore came softly in and stood by the little group, his featuresworking with emotion. "My darling," he murmured, "my precious daughter,may God comfort and sustain you."
"He does, papa," she answered in low, calm tones, as she raised her headand lifted her mournful eyes to his face; "His consolations are not smallin the trying hour."
"You can give her up?" he asked, in a choking voice, looking with anguishupon the wasted features of his almost idolized grandchild.
"Yes, papa--if He sees fit to take her; 'twere but selfishness to want tokeep her here. So safe, so happy will she be in Jesus' arms."
Mr. Travilla's frame shook with emotion, and Mr. Dinsmore was not lessagitated; but the mother was still calm and resigned.
No sound had come from those little lips for hours; but now there was afaintly murmured "Mamma!"
"Yes, darling, mamma is here," Elsie answered, softly pressing a kiss onthe white brow; "what shall mamma do for her baby?"
"Jesus loves wee Elsie?" and the dreamy eyes unclosed and looked up intothe sweet pale face bent so lovingly over her. "Elsie so glad. Mamma sing'Happy land.'"
The young mother's heart was like to burst, but with a silent prayer forstrength, she controlled herself and sang low and sweetly, and even as shesang a change came over the child, and it fell into a deep, calm, naturalsleep that lasted for hours. All the time on the mother's lap, her eyesscarce moving from the dear little face; her breath almost suspended, lestthat life-giving slumber should be broken.
In vain husband and father in turn entreated to be allowed to relieve her.
"No, oh no!" she whispered. "I cannot have her disturbed; it might costher life."
This was the turning point in the disease, and from that time the littleone began to amend. But very weak and frail, she was still in need ofweeks of continued tender, careful nursing.
"Mamma's lap" was the place preferred above all others; but patient andunselfish, she yielded without a murmur when invited to the arms of papa,grandpa, Rose, or nurse, and told that "dear mamma was tired and neededrest."
Elsie was indeed much reduced in health and strength; but love, joy, andthankfulness helped her to recuperate rapidly.