“She never said another word about the glass all the time she stayed, and somehow I do believe that was one thing made me remember and treasure up what she did say. I turned it over and over and over in my slow mind, and the more I thought of it, the more it seemed to me I’d been too foolish to live! I’d just been thinking of nobody at all but my stupid self, instead of trying to help on the smart ones all I could. And now I’d once begun, you’d be surprised to know how soon things began to come easy. I couldn’t be thinking of my own awkwardness when I was looking out for chances to help the others along, and the more I forgot about myself and my ways, the happier I seemed to get. And before long, for once that they’d laugh at me and tell me I was clumsy, there’d be twice that one of them would say, ‘Where’s Ann?’ or ‘Here, Ann, will you just do this? You did it so well last time.’ And I do believe”—and the plain, broad face, without one really pretty feature, grew radiant and almost beautiful with the light of love—“I do believe there isn’t one of them, now, that wouldn’t miss me like everything, if I was to die!”
“I should rather think!” said Johnny, and found himself unable to say anything more, just because there were so many things he wished to say.
“Oh, please don’t stop!” said Tiny, breathlessly, “it’s such a lovely, lovely story.”
Miss Ann laughed heartily now.
“Well, of all things!” she said, “I never thought I’d live to tell a story! Who knows but I’ll be writing one, next? I don’t see how I’ve come to say all this, only you’ve made so much of me, and sort of flattered me on with your sweet little loving faces, but I’ve talked quite enough for all summer; only I would like to say to you a little bit out of a hymn that Mrs. Anstiss sent me after she went away. I’ve tried to learn it all, over and over, but I’ve such a poor memory, and I don’t get much time to sit down, but I did like this verse best of all, and perhaps that’s one reason why it stayed in my head, though I mayn’t have it quite straight as to all the words,—
“‘I ask Thee for a thankful love,
Through constant watching, wise,
To meet the glad with joyful smiles,
And to wipe the weeping eyes;
And a heart at leisure from itself,