ought.
“Very natural, dear, but the fun and the fame do not last, while the
memory of a real helper is kept green long after poetry is forgotten
and music silent. Can’t you believe that, and be happy??
“But I do so little, nobody sees or cares, and I don’t feel as if I was
really of any use,” sighed Rose, thinking of the long, dull winter,
full of efforts that seemed fruitless.
“Sit here, and let us see if you really do very little and if no one
cares.” And, drawing her to his knee, Dr. Alec went on, telling off
each item on one of the fingers of the soft hand he held.
“First, an infirm old aunt is kept very happy by the patient, cheerful
care of this good-for-nothing niece. Secondly, a crotchety uncle,
for whom she reads, runs, writes, and sews so willingly that he
cannot get on without her. Thirdly, various relations who are
helped in various ways. Fourthly, one dear friend never forgotten,
and a certain cousin cheered by praise which is more to him than
the loudest blast Fame could blow. Fifthly, several young girls find
her an example of many good works and ways. Sixthly, a
motherless baby is cared for as tenderly as if she were a little
sister. Seventhly, half a dozen poor ladies made comfortable; and,
lastly, some struggling boys and girls with artistic longings are put
into a pleasant room furnished with casts, studies, easels, and all
manner of helpful things, not to mention free lessons given by this
same idle girl, who now sits upon my knee owning to herself that
her gift is worth having after all.?
“Indeed, I am! Uncle, I’d no idea I had done so many things to
please you, or that anyone guessed how hard I try to fill my place
usefully. I’ve learned to do without gratitude now I’ll learn not to
care for praise, but to be contented to do my best, and have only
God know.?
“He knows, and He rewards in His own good time. I think a quiet
life like this often makes itself felt in better ways than one that the
world sees and applauds, and some of the noblest are never known
till they end, leaving a void in many hearts. Yours may be one of
these if you choose to make it so, and no one will be prouder of
this success than I, unless it be Mac.?
The clouds were quite gone now, and Rose was looking straight
into her uncle’s face with a much happier expression when that last
word made it color brightly and the eyes glance away for a second.
Then they came back full of a tender sort of resolution as she said:
“That will be the reward I work for,” and rose, as if ready to be up
and doing with renewed courage.
But her uncle held her long enough to ask quite soberly, though his
eyes laughed: “Shall I tell him that??
“No, sir, please don’t! When he is tired of other people’s praise, he
will come home, and then I’ll see what I can do for him,” answered
Rose, slipping away to her work with the shy, happy look that
sometimes came to give to her face the charm it needed.
“He is such a thorough fellow, he never is in a hurry to go from
one thing to another. An excellent habit, but a trifle trying to
impatient people like me,” said the doctor and, picking up Dulce,
who sat upon the rug with her dolly, he composed his feelings by
tossing her till she crowed with delight.
Rose heartily echoed that last remark, but said nothing aloud, only
helped her uncle off with dutiful alacrity and, when he was gone,
began to count the days till his return, wishing she had decided to
go too.
He wrote often, giving excellent accounts of the “great creatures,”
as Steve called Phebe and Mac, and seemed to find so much to do
in various ways that the second week of absence was nearly over
before he set a day for his return, promising to astonish them with
the account of his adventures.