CHAPTER XIII.
The morning of that critical day found Grandma Elsie as calm andcheerful as she had been the previous evening, though every other faceamong the older members of the family showed agitation and anxiety. Herdaughters, Elsie and Violet, were with her almost constantly during theearly hours, doing everything in their power to show their devotedaffection and make all things ready for the surgeons and theirassistants; her father and his wife also giving their aid and lovingsympathy, while Edward and Zoe attended to necessary arrangementselsewhere, occasionally snatching a moment to stand beside the dearsufferer and speak words of love and hope.
Rosie and Walter were allowed one short interview in which they wereclasped in her arms and a few loving, tender words spoken that both sheand they felt might be the last.
Captain Raymond came a little earlier than the doctor. Lester wasalready there, and each young wife found the presence of her husband acomfort and support while, in an adjoining room, they waited in almostagonizing suspense to hear that the operation was over and what was theresult.
They were a silent group, every heart going up in strong crying to God,that, if consistent with his holy will, the dear mother might be sparedto them.
And the united petition was granted; Mrs. Dinsmore presently came tothem, her face radiant with joy and hope. "It is over," she said;"successfully over, and the doctors say that with the good nursing sheis sure to have she will soon be restored to perfect health."
The communication was received with tears of joy and thankfulness.
"It will be strange indeed if she lacks anything the most devoted nursescan do for her," remarked Mr. Leland.
"I should think so, with three daughters, two sons, and as manysons-in-law, to say nothing of father and mother," remarked Violet, witha tearful smile. "Levis, you will spare me to her as long as I amneeded?"
"Certainly, my love," he replied, without a moment's hesitation; "thereis nothing we could refuse, or grudge to our beloved mother at this, orindeed at any time."
"O grandma, may we go to her now?" queried Rose and Walter in a breath.
"I think not yet, dears; she must be kept very, very quiet," was thegently spoken reply. "I know it would be a joy to both you and her tomeet and exchange a few words, but it might be a risk for her; and Iknow you would far rather deny yourselves the gratification than doanything to increase her suffering; to say nothing of endangering herprecious life."
"O grandma, neither of us would be willing to do that for the wealth ofthe world!" exclaimed Rosie, with starting tears.
"No, indeed!" cried Walter. "It is very hard to refrain, but we wouldnot injure our mother for the world; our dear, dear mother!"
"I am sure of it," said Grandma Rose, smiling kindly upon him. "And now,Walter, would not you and Rosie like to go over to Fairview and carrythe good news to Eva and Gracie? They are there with the little ones,and I know would be very glad to hear that your dear mother is over theworst of her trial."
"I am going over there for Gracie, Elsie, and Ned, to take them home toWoodburn for a while," said Captain Raymond, "and if you two would likeit, will take you both with me, leave you there, bring you back here, orcarry you on to Woodburn, as you may prefer."
"Thank you, sir," said Rosie. "I will be pleased to go as far asFairview with you, but not on to Woodburn at this time: because I do notfeel at all sure that mamma may not be taken worse. So I shall not staylong away from home."
Walter's reply was to the same effect, and as the captain's carriage andhorses were already at the door, the three were presently on their wayto Fairview.
Grace and Evelyn were rejoiced to see them, and having been in greatanxiety about their dear "Grandma Elsie," felt much relieved by the newsof her which they brought.
The captain was in some haste to return to Woodburn, and Rosie andWalter, finding they wanted to stay a while with Evelyn and their sisterElsie's children, decided to walk back to Ion; the distance being nonetoo great for either their strength or enjoyment.
Home and Sister Lu held strong attractions for Grace, Elsie, and Ned,and they were full of delight as papa lifted them into the carriage andtook his seat beside them.
"Et Ned sit on oo knee, papa," pleaded the baby, and was at once liftedto the desired place.
"Papa's dear baby boy," the captain said, smoothing his curls andsmiling down into the pretty blue eyes. "How glad Sister Lulu will be tosee you and Elsie, and Gracie!"
"And we'll be just as glad to see her, papa," said Grace. "I know it'snot very long since we came away from our own dear home and Lu, but itdoes seem a long time."
"Isn't Lu tired doing without us, papa?" asked Elsie.
"I think she is," he replied; "at all events I know she will be veryglad to see you. It is nearly dinner-time now," he added, looking at hiswatch, "so we will go directly home. But this afternoon I will take youall for a nice, long drive, then leave you little ones at Ion and takeLulu home again."
Lulu had been busy all the morning attending to her studies, herpractice on the piano, the demands of the dressmaker, and taking herusual exercise about the grounds. She was out in them now, watching forthe coming of her father, eager to see him and to hear how it was withdear Grandma Elsie.
Presently she heard the sound of carriage-wheels on the road, then inanother minute the vehicle turned in at the great gates and came rapidlyup the drive, little Elsie calling out from it, "Lu, Lu, we've come!"
"Have you, Elsie? Oh, I'm so glad!" she called in reply.
The carriage had stopped, Lulu bounded toward it, and her father,throwing open the door, helped her in. Hugs and kisses and laughterfollowed; so glad were the happy children to meet again after even soshort a separation.
In another minute the carriage drew up before the entrance to themansion, and the captain and his joyous little troop alighted. Dinnerwas ready to be served, and as soon as hats and other outer garments hadbeen disposed of the merry little party gathered about the table. Mammawas missed but it was very pleasant to all to find themselves there withtheir fond father and each other. Lulu's fears for dear Grandma Elsiehad been much relieved by the report of the success of the surgeons, sothat she was light-hearted and gay as well as the younger ones.
Immediately after dinner, while the little ones took their accustomedafternoon nap, she recited her lessons, doing so in a manner that drewhearty commendation from her father, who was always glad to be able tobestow it; then, knowing it would be a joy to her to do them, he calledupon her for some of the little services she was accustomed to renderhim.
These attended to, "Now, daughter," he said, "you may dress yourselfnicely for a drive. I am going to take you and your little brother andsisters for a pretty long one. Then I will drop them at Ion, and you andI, after a call of a few minutes to hear how Grandma Elsie is, willdrive home together."
"Oh, how pleasant that will be, papa! How good you always are to everyone of us children!" she exclaimed, giving him an ardent kiss, thenrunning away to do his bidding.
A merry, happy time the children had, and on reaching Ion the littleones were ready for their supper and bed. The older ones were full ofjoy on learning that their loved Grandma Elsie was as comfortable anddoing as well as possible under the circumstances. The captain and Luluspent a quiet half-hour with the Ion family and Violet, then departedfor Woodburn.
As the carriage started, the captain put an arm round Lulu, drew herclose to him, and smiling affectionately down into her face, said: "Howglad I am to be able to keep one of my loved flock with me!"
"And oh, how glad I am that I'm the one, you dear, dear papa!" respondedthe little girl, returning his loving look and smile. Then, with a sigh,"I think there are some fathers who wouldn't be very fond of even theirown child, if she were so often ill-tempered and disobedient. Papa, I'vebeen thinking all day that you didn't punish me half so severely as Ideserved for my naughtiness yesterday."
"I would rather err on that side than the other, daughter," he said, intender tones,
"and I hope your future behavior will be such as to provethat the slight punishment inflicted was all-sufficient."
"I hope so, indeed, papa," she answered earnestly, "but if I amdisobedient and ill-tempered again soon, you will be more severe withme, won't you? I really want you to, that I may improve."
"Yes, daughter, I think I must," he replied a little sadly; then after amoment's silence went on again: "I expect to pay a little visit to Maxin January, and if my eldest daughter has been a good and obedientchild----" He paused, looking smilingly at her.
"You will take me with you, papa?" she cried half-breathlessly. "Oh, howI should like it! Ah, I do hope I shall not be so bad that you will haveto leave me behind."
"No, I hope not. I want to take you; to share the pleasure of my deareldest daughter will double it to me, and if neither bad conduct on yourpart, nor anything else happens to prevent, you shall go with me."
"Oh, thank you, dear papa!" she exclaimed, her cheeks glowing and hereyes sparkling with delight, "you are so good to me that I just hatemyself for ever doing anything to vex or grieve you."
"My dear child," he said with emotion, "be more watchful, careful, andprayerful; fight more earnestly and determinately the good fight offaith, ever looking to God for help, for only so may you hope to gainthe victory at last, and to be able to say, 'in all these things we aremore than conquerors through him that loved us.'"
"I will try, papa," she said, tears starting to her eyes, "but oh, itis such a hard fight for anybody with a temper like mine. Please help meall you can by praying for me, and punishing me too, whenever you seethat I need it."
"I will do all I can for you, my darling, in every way," he replied,"but as I have often told you, the hardest part of the conflict mustinevitably be your own.
"Cling close to Jesus, and cry to him every day and every hour for help,for only by his all-powerful assistance can we hope to win holiness andheaven at last."
"I will try, papa, I will indeed," she said. "I am, oh, so glad andthankful that he will let me cling to him and that he promises his helpto those who ask him for it."
"Yes, he says, 'In me is thine help,' and having his help what can harmus? since he is the Lord who made heaven and earth."
Again a few moments of silence; then Lulu said, "Papa, you have oftentold me I inherit my temper from you, and though I could never believeit if anybody else had told me, I have to believe you because I know youalways speak the truth; but how did you ever conquer it so completely?"
"By determined effort, at the same time looking to God for help," hereplied; "and only by the same means can I even now keep it undercontrol."
"And you think I can learn to control mine if I use the same means?"
"I do; God, our kind heavenly Father, is as able and as willing to helpyou as me."
"Yes," she said thoughtfully, "and if I don't choose to try hard enough,at the same time praying earnestly for help, I deserve to be punished bymy earthly father; and I do really hope he always will punish me till hehas taught me to be as patient and self-controlled as he is," she added,nestling closer to him and slipping a hand into his. "Papa, I oftenwonder why I wasn't made as patient and sweet-tempered as Gracie. Shedoesn't seem to have any temper at all to fight."
"No; but she has her own peculiar temptations, of some of which yourfirmer, braver nature knows nothing; and each must battle with her ownfaults and failings, looking to God for help in the hard struggle. ToGod, who, the Bible tells us, 'will not suffer you to be tempted abovethat ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escapethat ye may be able to bear it.'"
"It is a precious promise, papa," she said, with thoughtful look andtone, "and I am glad you reminded me of it. It makes me feel lessdiscouraged about trying to conquer my besetting sins."
"In the first chapter of Joshua," replied her father, "the Lord says tohim three times, 'Be strong and of a good courage,' the last timeadding, 'be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy Godis with thee whithersoever thou goest.' And that blessed assurance ofthe constant, sustaining presence of our God, each one of his childrenmay take to him or herself."
"What a comfort, papa!" she exclaimed. "Oh, the Bible is such ablessing! I do feel sorry for all the people who have none."
"Yes," he responded, "they are greatly to be pitied, and those who havedared to take it from others will have much to answer for in the day ofjudgment; as will those also who, having it themselves, make no effortto supply it to such as have it not.
"Ah, here we are at our own home!" he added, as the carriage drew upbefore the entrance.
"And such a sweet home as it is!" she responded, as he threw open thedoor, sprang out, and took her in his arms.
"Yes," he said, "so I think, and am glad my little girl appreciates it.There," setting her on her feet, "run in, daughter, and make yourselfready for the tea-table."
She obeyed and presently they two were seated cozily at a little roundtable in the family breakfast-room, greatly enjoying their tea, broiledchicken, and waffles.
"Papa," remarked Lulu, as she poured out his second cup, "I'm sorry foryou that you have only me for company, but I do enjoy being--once in awhile--all the family you have at home."
"Do you?" he returned, with a good-humored little laugh. "Well, I amglad to have you contented and happy; and I can't deny that I shouldfeel very lonely here to-night without the pleasant companionship of mydear eldest daughter. What do you want to do this evening? how shall wespend our time alone together?
"I have my lessons to learn, you know, papa."
"Ah, yes; and I must write some letters. And after that perhaps you mayfind a bit of sewing to do, while your father reads aloud something thatwill be both interesting and instructive to his dear little girl."
"Yes, sir; I have some work on hand for our Dorcas Society, and though Irather dislike sewing, I shall not mind doing it while listening to yourreading," she answered, smiling brightly up into his face.
"Ah! then that is what we will do," he said, returning her smile.
"Well, daughter, has it been a pleasant evening to you?" he asked, whenthe time had come for the good-nights to be said.
"Indeed it has, papa," she replied, giving him an ardent hug. "Oh, I amso glad you didn't let me go to Ion with the others, but kept me at homewith you. I do hope that I'll remember after this that you always knowand do the very best thing for me, and that I'll never, never growill-tempered and rebellious, as I was yesterday."
"You think you can trust your father after this, even without being toldhis reasons for all he does and requires?"
"I hope so, papa, and indeed, indeed I'm very much ashamed of myrebellious feelings and don't intend to indulge in them any more!" sheadded, with a remorseful look up into his face.
"Try to keep that resolution, dear child," he said. "Now good-night andpleasant dreams. May he who neither slumbers nor sleeps have you in hiskind care and keeping. But if you want your earthly father, you haveonly to call out or run to him."