Alabama -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction; Domestic fiction; War stories
"Oh! what a blessed thing it is to feel that you are doing some good in
the world! That little Louie says she prays for you every night before
she goes to sleep! What a comfort such letters must be to you! Edna,
how happy you look! But there are tears shining in your eyes, they
always come when you are glad. What books will you tell her to study?"
"I will think about the subject, and let you read my answer. Give me
the 'notelet'; I want to put it away securely among my treasures. How
deliciously fragrant the flowers are! Only smell them, Felix! Here, my
darling, I will give them to you, and write to the little Louie how
happy she made two people."
She lifted the delicate bouquet so daintily fashioned by fairy
child-fingers, inhaled the perfume, and, as she put it in the thin
fingers of the cripple, she bent forward and kissed his fever-parched
lips. At this instant Felix saw his parents standing at the door, and
held up the flowers triumphantly.
"Oh, mamma! come smell this mignonette. Why can't we grow some in boxes
in our window?"
Mr. Andrews leaned over his son's pillows, softly put his hand on the
boy's forehead, and said:
"My son, Miss Earl professes to love you very much, but I doubt whether
she really means all she says; and I am determined to satisfy myself
fully. Just now I can not leave my business, but mamma, intends to take
you to Europe next week, and I want to know whether Miss Earl will
leave all her admirers here, and go with you and help mamma to nurse
you. Do you think she will?"
Mrs. Andrews stood with her hand resting on the shoulder of the
governess, watching the varying expression of her child's countenance.
"I think, papa--I hope she will; I believe she--"
He paused, and, struggling up from his pillows, he stretched out his
poor little arms, and exclaimed:
"Oh, Edna! you will go with me? You promised you would never forsake
me! Tell papa you will go."
His head was on her shoulder, his arms were clasped tightly around her
neck. She laid her face on his, and was silent.
Mr. Andrews placed his hand on the orphan's bowed head.
"Miss Earl, you must let me tell you that I look upon you as a member
of my family; that my wife and I love you almost as well as if you were
one of our children; and I hope you will not refuse to accompany Kate
on the tour she contemplates. Let me take your own father's place; and
I shall regard it as a great favor to me and mine if you will consent
to go, and allow me to treat you always as I do my Hattie. I have no
doubt you will derive as much benefit from travelling, as I certainly
hope for Felix."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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