Page:Unfading flowers.pdf/7

7 be idle."

"Wait, child, until your strength returns."

"Our wants will not wait grandpapa." As the girl said this her face became sober. The old man's eyes again fell to the floor, and a heavy sigh came forth from his bosom.

"I will be rery careful, and not overwork myself again,’ resumed Ellen, after a pause.

"You must not go to-day." said the old man, arousing himself, "it is murder, Wait at least until to-morrow. You will be stronger then."

"If I do not go back to-day, I may lose my place. You know I have been home for three days.

"You were sick."

"Work will not wait. The last time I was kept away by sickness, a customer was disappointed: and there was a good deal of trouble about it.

Another sigh came heavily from the old man’s heart.

"I will go," said the girl. "Perhaps they will let me off for a day or two longer. If so I will come back.  But I must not lose my place."

No further resistance was made by the old man. In a little while he was alone. Hours went by, but Ellen did not return. She had gone to work. Her employer would not let her go away, feeble as she was, without a forfeiture of her place.

About mid-day, finding that Ellen did not come back, the old man, after taking some food, went out. The pressure of seventy years was upon him, and his steps were slow and carefully taken.

"I must get something to do. I can work still," he muttered to himself, as he moved along the streets. "The dear child is killing herself, and all for me.'

But what could he do? Who wanted the services of an old man like him, whose mind had lost its clearness, whose step faltered, and whose hand was no longer steady.