Rosa's Quest / Or, The Way to the Beautiful Land

t suddenly became the scene of gre

of her neglecting her charges, so in consequence her

r throat was sore," looked in every reasonable-and unreasonable-corner, searched up and

, and I don't think a body could blame me, either. But it all comes of me bein' so obligin'. If it wuzn't fer my tender heart, I'd never kep' Tom's father, nor took Mis' Browning's young one, then I could come and go as I pleased and not be pestered this wa

er do it ag'in. It looks like they'd been gone fer some time, and I do b'lieve they've been into the tea and stove blackin'. I never thought a

hree steps at a time; "come right back here at fast as you can, and tell me what you know about Rosa and

iceman-that is, at close range; but when occupying the v

back, "and don't know nothin' about the

f coal to hurl at the rapidly retreating young rebel, when, to her ast

ined Billy, "she's awful mad, and you may git th

ing nervously, while an inclination to run away with he

uringly, "she will do you no harm while I

yes of Esther, Mrs. Gray suddenly det

n, and where did you git them pretty clothes? Why didn't you tell me you wanted to go on a visit, and what made you st

o answer, a volley of interrogations

wuz awful queer and silly about her. But where did you find her? You wuz real thoughtful to bring her back to me, so as I wouldn't worry any longer'n necessary. I 'spose you found her clothes in bad shape. Her ma's been dead now a while, and didn't keep things up as well as she might anyhow, I thought, f

ce I seen him, but then I have more attachment and affection than most folks, or I wouldn't

ile talking, was energetically moving about the room, mak

floor by the stove does really worry

p still reposing above the door, and

r my kind heart, I'd tell him he'd have to leave. I've thought of it some lately, but then s'pose I never will. Then when Mis' Browning died, of course she wanted me to raise Rosa. It's a good thing she did die fer now Rosa'll learn to do somethin' more'n jest to be kissed and cried over. I used t

ever before had she come into contact with quite so unusual a character as Mrs. Gray. Finding that her onl

a is in my home, and the physician says that he can live but a few hours longer. He has had a raging

is no time to lose. Put on yo

ecedented thing occurred: she could think of nothing to say. B

e dies, after all I've done fer him; but how lonely it'll be without him! Seems like I can see him a-

effort to shed a few tears, but, to be charitable,

ttle my nerves. Take them fine clothes off, too, before you spoil 'em. I want you to learn to be savin',

ive with you again? You are about to realize your dream of liberty, for which without a doubt yo

her, and when the case demanded coul

realm, with none daring to question or to rise in rebellion, that it was a revelation t

mpletely conquered, and without another w

thought Esther, "and may I

riveled soul to stand in awe of her any longer, a few kin

ife of me think, and it all seems so strange. I jest can't git it through my hea

ake. In a few hours he will be s

s that the hitherto impregnable fortress of this untutored woman's heart was beginning to totter. But is there after all in this great world a heart so loveless, so blackened by sin, or so narrow

nge, then skilfully she began speaki

rdened cheeks, causing the young messenge

rs. Gray was ushered into a room,

se, because during his rational moments he so often spoke of the "pretty roses a-growin' by the brook down in the lane." The rose was presented by none other than Dr. Dale, not-

ceding night, when the burning fever produced a great restlessness in the

e first time since Tom died

u real kind when you git old and can't work no more. I've been a big bother, Sary. You've had a good deal to put up with since Tom died, but you've been mighty kind. You've always give me enough to eat, and kep' me warm, and you'v

how awful mean I've been. You did your very best to please me, and the harder you tried, the more I scolded. I wish I'd been better to you. No, you ain't got nothin' at all to thank

ry, don't cry! It

been raised threateningly against him, and tried

ow Him, and He'll help you over all the hard places,-He says H

ldn't have me," she sobbed, "but I wish

e and who had been a silent witness of th

oo mean. I'm the biggest sinner in the wor

is word: 'This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into t

do; I kn

save the chie

se says Chris

true. Then whom did Jes

, He came to save me! H

ly begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should n

help it, when He

elieve in Him,

yet joyously, she repeated the words many time

"what about my sins? You don

d iniquities will I

life, and won't remember my sins. I want to begin

o God, while at the same moment angelic songs were started

enant of a roughly-hewn temple? Ah no, for it required the shedding of jus

e peace lighted up grandpa'

chin' fer you. Won't we be happy when we all git safe home? Goodby, Sary! You've always been a goo

to exhaust him perceptably, an

summoned. Upon examining his patient, he found that in a few mi

ore what the "moving" meant. She knew that she would be lonely without grandpa, he

cene, he took the little girl up into his arms, wip

is forehead. His breath was growing shorter and shorter, but there was no struggl

is the way, Jesus is the way! Sin

th the request, while the doctor walked nervously

t will be in tha

m all sorro

lips and with ha

ne anothe

ay, the soul took its flight to rejoic

is thy victory? Thanks be to God which giveth