“No, indeed, Flutey, we have so much to do and plan while I am here, that you won’t have time to think of getting sick again.”
Aunt Selina looked dumbfounded for a moment.
“Ruth, do you suppose that’s what ails me—nothing to do but think of myself all of the time?” said she.
“Flutey, not only with you, but with lots of folks!” replied Ruth, wisely. “You see, anyone who is busy and has something to do all the time never gets sick, because they haven’t time to worry ’bout themselves if they feel a bit of pain. Why, this summer I saw lots of beginnings of sickness stopped just because everyone had to get through their work for the city children. Even me: when mother told me that father—oh, oh—oh!” and Ruth doubled over her plate and giggled immoderately.
“Now what ails you, child?” inquired Aunt Selina, smiling in sympathy with her guest’s merry laugh.
“Oh, Aunt Selina, this goes to prove what I just said! Here I have been with you all day, so full of the story of our Nest and all we did, that I forgot to feel sorry for myself. Why, think of it! Father is expected home to-night, and I’m not there! When your telegram came asking me to come here, and mother told me father was expected the same day, I felt dreadfully bad about it, but mother said I might help the winter nest a great deal by coming to show you how to fly, so I really made up my mind not to feel sorry about not seeing father. And here I am all this time, forgetting my disappointment about leaving home to-day, and now, laughing over it. Don’t you see?”
Aunt Selina nodded her head comprehendingly as she said, “Yes, I see! Yes, I see what has been my undoing all these years. Child, you have done something for me that all my years have failed in showing me. God bless you, Ruth, for coming, and when I tell your father about it he will be proud of his little Blue Bird that brought such peace to me.”
As she concluded, Aunt Selina’s eyes were brimful of tears, but they were tears of gratitude, and such tears always wash away much of our stubborn selfishness.
Sally hovered about the table to be on hand to assist her querulous mistress if necessary and she, too, felt the effect of Ruth’s words and silently praised God for the blessing.
After Aunt Selina and Ruth were comfortably seated in the soft easy-chairs of the former’s bedroom, Ruth asked permission to write the letters she had promised the Blue Birds at home. Aunt Selina nodded cheerfully, and sat watching the little girl write until her eyelids drowsed slowly over her eyes.