Chap. II.—Aunt Floss.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 81, 20 December 1884, Page 5

Chap. ll.— Aunt Floss.

When the Lily of Argyle was released from quarantine, and the weary passengers were at last permitted to land, Richard Holt went on board to claim hia infant daughter, and learn the few sad particulars of his -wife's death from the kind-hearted captain. Little Lillie was received by her aunt Floss (short for Florence) with open arms, and carried to the home Richard had hurriedly prepared for his poor young wife, on receipt of the doctor's letter. " Pretty little pet !" exclaimed Aunt Floss, as she laid the infant in its little bed. " You shall not know the miss of a mother's care while I live. Only to think of you being spared. Well, the ways of Providence are past finding out." As for Richard, he took but little notice of the tiny creature ; his heart was sore for his loss, and many were his self-reproaches that he had left Alice behind nim, or ventured the risk of a secret marriage. " Three lives sacrificed through his folly." The thought was productive of such bitter pain that he grew melancholy ; so deep indeed was his mental depression, that he became quite unfit for his duties at the office, and presently received a not unkind but decided dismissal. About this time the natives began to create a disturbance, and the Militia being called out, Richard Holt directly joined a company, and bidding his sisters a hasty farewell, took a lingering look at his little child, and went out to protect the scattered settlements, which were threatened with destruction. Aunt Floss became very anxious for the safety of her parents, as the rumours were brought into town of the repeated ravages of TitoJcowanCs hostile tribes, and the skirmishes of the British troopers. How ever, she presently received tidings of their perfect security, and devoted her attention and undivided love to her little charge. Selma, her younger sister, became engaged to a naval officer, to whom she shortly afterwards was married, so t*he business fell entirely into the hands of Aunt Floss, who managed to obtain a fair share of the patronage of the Auckland ladies. By the time the war was over, Richard Holt became quite a changed character. Heedless of danger or exposure, he had carried his life in his hand, at times wishing, as he saw a comrade fall, that the fatal bullet had chosen him for its victim. Recklessly he had plunged into every danger and excess. Yielding to the temptation of "a short life and a merry one," he had sought to vanquish self-reproach and obliterate painful memories by the indul-

genc^of'hia lower' nature ; and so it wa& that Kichard >! Holt, whom we paw so full *6f life and ambition, sank to the debasing level of a drunkard and a gambler,' He did not care to meet the questioning eye, the tender' reproaches of Aunt Floss j he did not wish even to look upon the innocence of the little one whbm he should have cherished as a legaoy of love, ' though sometimes, in his sober moments,' thoughts of Alice, her love and purity) her beauty and fidelity, would ' intrude upon his conscience, and cause him to sigh over the failure of his hopes. By his dauntless bravery he had secured Sromotion and won military honours, and aptain Holt might have returned to Auckland in prosperous circumstances ; bub the spirit of evil had found entrance into his soul, while the angel of his better nature stood weeping without. Once he sent Aunt Floss a cheque for £20, which she devotedly set aside for the little Lillie, who was daily growing more beautiful and intelligent. ■ ' ' j A strange, dreamy child, with large, soft eyes of purest blue,' almost white pi com' plexionj slender of figure, with a wealth Of golden curls sui'rounding her small, purej face. Gentle and loving, yet • strong | in her childish sense of right, studious and quiet, observant of every tiny trifle loving the beautiful with an intensity that seemed to permeate her whole being, the child grew up in an atmosphere of love and guilelessness that seemed to surround her young life with sweet and tender influences, and mould her gentle nature for a future life of noble usefulness. One luxury Aunt Floss possessed in the midst of her busy, oftimes troubled life, a beautiful garden; the delight of her few leisure moments, the place where she loved to sit on Sabbath afternoons with little Lillie, teaching thechild in thewayshe loved best, albeit Aunt Floss's instructions were wont to be very fragmentary, but the sensitive child loved these leaflets from the book of Nature ; the language of the birds and flowers awoke an echoing chord of music in her youngheartthat would vibrate through a lifetime of earth's trials and joys. There was to be a floral service for the children on Christmas Day, and Lijlie had looked i forward all the preceding week to the pleasure of attending it with Aunt Floss, who had promised her a beautiful bouquet. But Aunt Floss had been terribly worried all those days with fashionable costumes, tiresome, capricious costomers, and stupid apprentices, not to mention troublesome bills and business cares. Lillie had been watching the opening buds, treasuring up dainty sprays of fern she had begged the milkman to bring her from his country home. On Christmas morning Lillie wakened with the birds, and quietly slipping on such clothes as she could fasten, she carried her shoes in her hands, for fear of waking Aunt Floss, who was so tired, and stole out into the dewy garden. There she visited each dainty floral treasure, caressing them all most fondly with her little hand, singing softly to hers.elf as she plucked her chosen flowers, and sat down on the garden seat to arrange them. " Oli, I love you, you beautiful things," she said, " you beautiful lilies, and I know the dear Saviour loved you too ; for auntie read me out of her Bible, where He said, ' Consider the lilies, how they grow.' These are my very own, because my name is Lillie, and so auntie gave them to me." Thus talked the little one to herself, as she twined her fl owers into a wreath, with which she intended to surprise Aunt Floss when she awoke. , , -■ , / She did not see a tall, shabby-looking man,|who was leaning over JJttLfjmce, watching her intently. As he Qf^HKber childish words, he drew a heavy sjj^^^Hmurmured '•Ah, little one, pure is your tender life, so let it be. venture to touch you, or speak on<^Mpto my own little Lillie, lest I gtain her ]Swe nature by the contact with evil." He was about toi move* away, when the child looked up andy met his longing gaze. Rising from her seat, still holding her flowers, sne went up to the fence, and said gently: " Poor man, have you no beautiful flowers ? and did you wish for some for Christmas? See, I will give you some of my lilies. I have plenty. Are they not beautiful?" "Little one," he replied, "they are not half so lovely as your small sweet self. Give me just one, by which to remember you, and God keep you pure and lovely as these lilies!" He bared his head, as though in love's sacred presence, and took the wreath from the child's hand. Gently he broke one flower from its stem j then reaching over the fence, he placed the pure white wreath upon his child's head. "Good-bye, little Lillie. God bless yon, and give you a happy Christmas," he said, and then he went away. And when Aunt Floss came out upon the verandah, she saw little Lillie standing there, crowned with the pure white blossoms. The child ran to tell her of the strange man, and she quickly guessed that it had been no other than her own poor father who had given his child Christmas blessing. " Poor Richard ! " said Aunt Floss ; "he might have come in to breakfast, and spent Christmas with us. I wonder where he has gone." Afterwards Aunt Floss took the child to the floral service ; and as she stood before the altar in her simple white frock, her golden curls falling over her fair neck ; as the rector stooped to take her floral offering, the good woman found her eyes grew dim with tears, and she sent up one swift silent prayer to the Father, that He would accept her simple gift, and keep the soul of this little one pure and lovely as the wreath of lilies. Then, like a promise of blessing, floated the sweet strains of the Christmas music upon the still summer air, and the children's voices rang out clear and sweet, as they sang the praises of Him who was born in Bethlehem. ..,,y '•' Like a troubled spirit, Richard Holt wandered about that Christmas Day; and as ho roamed aimlessly through the streets of Auckland, he, too, heard the sweet song of the children ; and as he stood" by the fence, listening to the last notes of that Christmas carol, he saw Aunt Floss leave the chnrch, holding little Lillie by the hand.