Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 1.djvu/27

 JENNIE'S WEDDING CAKE.

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��part of all this general sacrifice and econ- omy again and again, cheerful and un- complaining always. Not that she was stupid and uucaring, for her nature was pie-eminently susceptible to all hopes and pleasant plans. She must do for others, putting self down and away ; so suitors came and went, while she bided her time.

So the years went by, and when she could be spared from the family work- shop, she wrought for herself, to supply her wants ; sometimes in a factory ; some- times in a little box of a school house, teaching for a term; sometimes, in an emergency, in a neighbor's kitchen, not wholly for the small recompense, but be- cause she loved to be helpful.

Why did not this young woman strike out and make her way in the world, do you ask? Because, although she was as well litted as many for an independent life, she was not easily to be shaken from the home nest where she was needed. All women are not free to " strike out." There are aged parents, and perhaps oth- er dependent relatives, to be taken into consideration. Jennie considered hers. By and by she and her youngest sister, Myra, were all who were left at home with the now feeble father and mother. And O, how Jennie loved that sister! She said to me often :

" If God should take from me every fviend I have, dear as they are to me, and leave me Myra, I could still be hap-

py-"

There was to be a change. After four years in the army, and another year be- fore being "mustered out," "'Johnny came marching home" to meet his wait- ing bride. Captain Johnny was the youngest brother, and he brought with him his dearest friend who had shared with him the five years' camp and battle experience; the stalwart, brave, good Captain Philip Lenient. Jennie and My- ra grew to love their worthy guest, but neither sister knew nor suspected the other's feelings. " Love is blind," pro- verbially, and besides that, love is often dumb. Then Jennie wove bright, pretty visions out of her own pure heart, and dreamed happy dreams. Then "Jennie's wedding cake" was planned and made,

��cut and distributed, all in Jennie's sweet little imaginings.

One evening Myra came later than usual into their little room, and found Jennie sitting by the window, looking out into the starlight with the hopeful gaze which had lately come to illuminate the dear grey eyes. Myra came and stood by her, caressing the dark hair, and said, " Jennie, darling, I will tell you something beautiful. In October I am going with Philip to his home in Missou- ri. I am so happy, I can hardly tell you. O Jennie !"

But Jennie gave one mute, swift look away beyond the stars, and sank down in a little white heap by the window. Do you think she fainted, shrieked or ra- ged before the astonished Myra? Did she tell her, like Whittier's Anuie, that

she

" Would pray the wind and sea To keep him forever from thee and me."

Not at all. Jennie, in her saintliness, knew no such way as that. She only knew how to pray, and give herself up for others, and pour out great stores of love without getting the returns her heart craved. So she staid long on her knees praying that night. What she said only God and the stars heard. Then she rose and kissed the sorrowful sister, and went to bed. That was all. Then in that short, but long summer, she smil- ed down her heart-aches whenever she could, and made rugs and quilts and fine linen for Myra, and even

"Could broider the bridal gear, Though hands should tremble and eyes be wet, And stitch for stitch in her heart be set." -.

No, indeed, her heart was not broken. As I told you that the good scarred heart does not sear, so the good stricken heart does not break, though it bends and bleeds, and is always sensitive. But it answers to others' sorrows ever after, and so there is gain out of loss.

In the fall Philip and Myra went away, and Jennie was all alone to watch and cheer the failing mother, and see her laid to rest in the little family burial ground on the hill top, where some of the home band were already sleeping. At last the old father joined the silent company on that hill top, and Jennie was left home- less, except as the married brothers and

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