HOW THEY HELPED EACH OTHER

New Zealand Tablet, 10 April 1913, Page 61

HOW THEY HELPED EACH OTHER

Laura curled herself up in the window of her brother Jack's workshop overlooking the smooth, green lawn surrounding the adjoining residence. She had been busy all the forenoon, washing dishes, sweeping dusting and running errands for her mother. She was warm and tired, and just a little rebellious and discontented, and had come out to the tool-house, where she was sure of being alone, to think things over and get cool and rested before making herself tidy for the afternoon. There were new neighbors in the next house. Laura had watched them unloading furniture the day before —such lovely chairs and carpets and pictures. There was a girl, too, about her own age — frail, slender girl. It was not the girl herself, however, but the clothes she wore that attracted Laura's particular notice and incited her envy. They were fine and beautiful and of the latest style. Even in the early morning, when Laura, had been busy with her dishes, the other girl was wandering idly about on the lawn, in the freshest of French ginghams. ' They must be rich!' Laura thought, gazing gloomily from the window. ' She hasn't to work as I do, and can have everything she wants. I do so hope some family would take that house who had a real nice girl for me to chum with. But I shall not even try to get acquainted with her. I almost hate her already.' In the midst of Laura's reflections the new girl herself came slowly across the lawn toward the point nearest the tool-house.. 'I saw you in the window,' she said, smilingly. I am Esther Wilson. I know I ought to . wait for you to come and see me first, but I just couldn't. I have seen you every day since we came, and have been trying so hard not to envy you.' Laura was speechless with astonishment. To envy her —Laura Melrosewho wore plain, cheap clothing and had to help mother with the housework ! . She could not believe it. ' I — don't understand,' she said at last. ' There is surely nothing for anyone to envy me for. I was just thinking about you, too.' 'Oh, don't! You can't when you know!' The pale girl leaned upon the post supporting the hedge that divided the lawns, and Laura could see, then, that she was very fragile. ' I am not strong, you see. There is something wrong with my back. Some days I try to make believe I can run about and be like other girls, but I always have to give up. The doctor says I shall never be better.' A wave of quick sympathy drowned every other feeling in Laura's heart. In a moment she was out of the tool-house and had opened the little gate in the hedge. ' Come in and sit down while we talk,' she said. ' Here is a comfortable chair under this tree. My name is .Laura Laura Melroseand I am your nearest neighbor. ' Thank you! How good you are ! I was afraid, when I saw you flying around all the morning helping

your mother, that you would never want to make friends with me because we could never do the same things, and that is really what makes a girl feel close to other girls; don't you think so?' - v As the newcomer said this, her eyes held a wistful look. .'' ' - 'Not always, though ,it helps,' said Laura but I am sure', she added, there must be many things we can both do. You can help your mother, too, if not just in the same way I do mine.' A shadow fell on the thin face of the other girl. 'I haven't any mother,' she said simply. She died two years ago, and since then I have lived with my uncle. Auntie and uncle are as kind as can be, and get me everything I need, and more, but'— paused, then finished bravely—' that was what I envied you for—having a mother, and you two working together like a couple of girls At that moment Laura heard her mother singing to the baby, and a thrill of appreciation of her mother ran through her, mingled with sympathy for the one beside her who had no mother. How could she ever have thought life hard?' 'I am so sorry,' she said contritely; you shall share my mother.' In the days of close companionship that followed, Esther unconsciously gave Laura many a glimpse of pain and weakness and loneliness, which made Laura appreciate as never before the blessings of health and home and mother, while she, in her turn, imparted the uplift of her abounding health and spirits to the one so sorely in need. ' I just love Esther,' Laura said to her mother, some months later, when they were washing the tea things together. ' She is so generous and thoughtful and cheery even when she is sick. I believe I love her all the better because she can't run about with me as the other girls do, and there are so many things I can do to make her life happier. It is better to have a friend who really needs one, don't you, think so, mamma?' 'lndeed, I do, dear,' her mother replied, 'and I am sure you need Esther just as much as she needs you.' 'Yes,' said Laura softly, c and I think she helps me even more than I do her.'