THE LOVE OF SISTERS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Apr 26, 1905

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 31, No. 17.

THE LOVE OF SISTERS.

SISTERS usually love each other, but not all love as did two little waifs in the orphanage. They knew that they could not always stay in the great building which had opened kind doors to receive them, when there was nowhere else for them to go; but they hoped to find a home together.

One after another of their little mates went away. Some were glad to go. Others wept aloud at parting with so many playfellows, and clung to the neck of the matron. For days after such partings, Georgiana and Jessie were more sober than usually. Their little hands sought each other, and their eyes met oftener. One day—O joy of joys!—two of the older girls went out together into the same home.

"There! didn't I tell you?" said Georgiana.

Jessie, who was never quite as brave and bright as Georgiana, looked up into her taller sister's eyes, and shook her head.

Not long after this the head nurse came into the room. "O, here you are! Georgiana, make yourself very tidy, put on a clean apron, and go into the reception room at once. Mrs. Mason wants a lady to meet you."

The hearts of both little girls stood still for a moment. Then, as the nurse hastened on, they looked at each other. "Come on," said Georgiana, brightly. "I'll fix you up first."

"But Mrs. Mason doesn't want me."

"Don't you know that she always calls me when she wants us? I'm older than you. She knows I'll bring you. We are always together. If she hadn't wanted you, the nurse would have said that she only wanted me."

So they hastened to the lavatory, and soon were standing at the door of the reception room, hand in hand.

"Come in, Georgiana!" said Mrs. Mason.

Jessie held back, but her sister drew her into the room.

"This is our little Georgiana, Mrs. Arden," said the matron.

Mrs. Arden held out her hand. "How do you do, Georgiana?" she asked, tho not feeling quite sure which one would answer her question.

Both went forward—for Georgiana would not let go of the little hand. Indeed, so tightly did she hold it, as to hurt the little fingers. But Jessie did not care for that, for her heart was beginning to hurt much worse. Georgiana bowed slightly, laid her right hand on the one held out to her, and said, "Thank you, Mrs. Arden, I am very well." Then, in the next breath, and with a pleading look at the matron, she added: "And this is my sister Jessie. She—she's quite big, too."

"Georgiana is very gentle and affectionate," said the matron, with a smile. Indeed, this very act of the child was adding greatly to the favor with which the ladies were regarding her.

"Are you fond of children, Georgiana?" the lady asked.

"O, yes; and I love my little sister very much."

"What a pleasant voice! Would you like to help take care of a sweet little baby in my home?"

"Very much; wouldn't we, Jessie?"

Jessie turned very red, and nearly cried, but she nodded her little head so hard that the pigtail braid at the back flopped against her shoulder. The two ladies looked at each other and smiled. "You may run away now," said the matron. "This afternoon, at two?" they heard her ask, as they went out.

"There! what did I tell you?" said the older sister. But Jessie only shook her head.

After a while the matron sent again for Georgiana; and when the two appeared together, she told them she wished to speak only to her, for a moment or two. Then it was that the child learned the pitiless truth. No tears, no pleading, could change it. The lady did not want two little nurses; she only wanted one. And that one was Georgiana.

"Now, don't cry, and make your sister unhappy! You are a good child. Be brave! You may come every week and see Jessie. Think how nice that will be!"

The little girl stole into a dark closet, and sobbed until she could sob no more. Then a beautiful hope came to her. She went out, bathed her face, and looked for her sister. Jessie was not far off. Her eyes and nose were very red. It was plain to see how she had passed the time since going upstairs.

"I must go first," said Georgiana. "Maybe they won't like me. If they don't, I'll come back. But if they do—why, you know that two little girls can sleep in one bed. And, if we're very careful, we can make our clothes last just as long again. And—and we aren't very big eaters!"

"N-not always," said Jessie.

So brave little Georgiana helped her sister to bear the parting. She believed, truly, that she could win the way open for Jessie, and went away with her little heart full of new hope. As the days went by, how brave she was! How hard she tried to please! Every week, when she went to see her sister, she cheered the lonely heart by saying, "I'm getting the place ready for you, dear."

After a time Georgiana grew thin and pale. She thought in her poor, lonely heart that she would show them how very little it took to feed a girl. So she ate but lightly. And as her slight hints were not taken about Jessie's coming to join her, she grieved more and more.

One evening the cook came to Mrs. Arden. "It's breakin' th' heart av me, mum, t' hear th' prayers an' th' cryin' av th' new little nurse gurrul. It's scolded an' threatened thet Oi hev, mum, an' almost punished av her mesilf; but it matthers naught. Jist come for yersilf, mum, an' hear th' goin's on av her."

The two went up the back stairs softly.

A muffled sobbing came to their ears, with occasional sentences: "O, Jesus! I don't see how I'm going to live without my sister. And she wants me, too. And there's bread and things thrown away, every day, that would more'n feed her! And, O! if You'll only bring her here, or send us away together, I won't bother you so much. But I have to do it, You see. Don't You see how it is? I just have to, dear Jessie!"

Cook looked at Mrs. Arden. The two went down the stairs, soft little sobs following them.

"There! how kin Oi kape from goin' chrazy! Bayloike ye kin ohndhersth-and now what has been th' matther wid th' cookin' these days. Oi don't want th' house turned intil a norpunige; but ayther Oi must give wahrnin', or she. An' Oi'm sorry for th' spalpeen, Oi am, mum."

"Cook, I feel wicked for separating those children."

"Dade, an' it's mysilf as is goin' t' do pinnance th' mohrn, for shakin' av her th' noight, mum."

"Suppose I take the smaller girl to amuse the baby, and keep this one to help you? Do you think you could be prompt with the meals, then? Mr. Arden has been annoyed lately."

"Ef th' ither wan is on'y loike to this wan, Oi'm sure av it, mum."

"Then I'll go and tell her," said Mrs. Arden. "My husband said it was too bad to part the sisters, when she first came." She hastened up the stairs, calling, "Georgiana! I am coming to tell you something very pleasant!"

The little girl sat up in bed, her white face showing in the moonlight.

"You and I will drive over after Jessie to-morrow. Mrs. Mason will let her come and live here, if you tell her that you like to be with us. She can amuse baby, and you can do little things to help cook, who is getting old, and needs some good bright, little girl like you. Would you like it, Georgiana? And I'll have the governess give you two little sisters lessons, from half past seven until nine, three evenings in the week. How is that?"

"O, how beautiful it all is! O, how beautiful you are!" said Georgiana, very softly. "I won't have to bother Jesus now—'cept just to thank Him. Mrs. Arden, may—may I kiss you?—just a teeny, weeny kiss?"

"Dear little girl!" said the lady, "we will kiss each other."—Christian Advocate.