How could Helen find words to reply? Her conscience had condemned her loudly in the morning; and now her heart bitterly reproached her for adding to the burden of one who had already suffered so much. Her head drooped upon her breast as she thought, "What would Mrs. Dobbs, what would her husband, say of me if they knew how I had treated the old woman?"
"Only think!" cried Jennie, "but for her I might now be without a father."
Helen burst into tears, and ran quickly, from the room.
The next morning when Mrs. Dobbs went to inquire how the invalid passed the night, she found the young visitor lingering near the door of the sick room.
"I should like to see Mrs. Frost," she began, in a confused manner, her cheeks glowing like fire. "Can I go in a minute?"
"Oh, yes!" answered the lady, with a smile.
Helen walked straight to the bed, and hiding her face in her hands, said quickly, "I am sorry I said that to you the other day; I didn't know then—I hadn't heard—about—Jotham." With a convulsive movement of the throat to keep, back the sobs, she went on: "If Mrs. Dobbs will let me, I should like to stay by you and take care of you, and love you for Jotham's sake."
The old woman grew very pale, but answered calmly, "I am glad for your own sake that you are sorry; but you have done me good. My grief was making me selfish. You told me plainly how disagreeable my conduct made me appear, and I determined, God helping me, I would show out the gratitude that is in my heart toward this dear family. Now, my child, you may read me a few verses from the good Book, and then I must rest."
From this time Helen and Jane vied with each other who could do most for the comfort of grandma. Helen was wholly unused to sickness, and was often awkward in her services; but all saw that her heart was touched, and her kind friend hoped the lesson would be of great benefit to her through life.
Certainly, during her visit, she, for the first time, learned the secret of true happiness. The sacrifice of our own wishes to the comfort of others brings a rich reward to our own hearts.