Beulah - Page 15/348

"Lilly, my own little sister, you must not cry any more. Let me wash

your face; you will make your head ache if you cry so."

"Oh, Beulah! I don't want to go away from you."

"My darling, I know you don't; but you will have a great many things

to make you happy, and I shall come to see you as often as I can. I

can't bear to have you go, either; but I cannot help it, and I want

you to go quietly, and be so good that the lady will love you."

"But to-night, when I go to bed, you will not be there to hear me

say my prayers. Oh, sister! why can't you go?"

"They do not want me, my dear Lilly; but you can kneel down and say

your prayers, and God will hear you just as well as if you were here

with me, and I will ask Him to love you all the more, and take care

of you--"

Here a little arm stole round poor Beulah's neck, and Claudia

whispered with a sob: "Will you ask Him to love me too?"

"Yes, Claudy; I will."

"We will try to be good. Oh, Beulah--I love you so much, so very

much!" The affectionate child pressed her lips repeatedly to

Beulah's bloodless cheek.

"Claudy, if you love me, you must be kind to my little Lilly. When

you see that she is sad, and crying for me, you must coax her to be

as contented as possible, and always speak gently to her. Will you

do this for Beulah?"

"Yes, that I will! I promise you I will, and, what is more, I will

fight for her! I boxed that spiteful Charley's ears the other day

for vexing her, and I will scratch anybody's eyes out that dares to

scold her. This very morning I pinched Maggie black and blue for

bothering her, and I tell you I shall not let anybody impose on

her." The tears dried in her brilliant eyes, and she clinched her

little fist with an exalted opinion of her protective powers.

"Claudy, I do not ask you to fight for her; I want you to love her.

Oh, love her! always be kind to her," murmured Beulah.

"I do love her better than anything in the world, don't I, Lilly

dear!" She softly kissed one of the child's hands.

At this moment the matron entered, with a large bundle neatly

wrapped. Her eyes were red, and there were traces of tears on her

cheek. Looking tenderly down upon the trio, she said very gently: "Come, my pets; they will not wait any longer for you. I hope you

will try to be good, and love each other, and Beulah shall come to

see you." She took Claudia's hand and led her down the steps. Beulah

lifted her sister, and carried her in her arms, as she had done from

her birth, and at every step kissed her lips and brow.