Gratia's Trials — page 70: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

GRATIA’S TRIALS. 61 ‘* She'll never be better,” said Hannah, ‘‘and it’s just as well she shouldn't be. Anywhere, to get out of ‘zs place.” The words proved true. The next day Hannah helped to dress little Flora Elwell for the grave, in flowers scarcely whiter than her own attenuated cheeks, and her yellow hair carefully combed out and curled. There was a showy casket, and a profusion of flowers and white satin ribbon, and Mrs. Moultrie indulged in a great show of sentimental sorrow as they carried the poor little child out of the prison-house whence death had released her. Gratia was sitting in the nursery, with Aleck in her lap, when Mrs. Simmons returned to her own proper domains, Some re- semblance, real or fancied, between the child and her own little brother, Raymond, had established him firmly in her heart. So shocked had she been at the systematic neglect and cruelty practiced in the ‘‘ Maternal Home,” that she would have been tempted to leave Mrs. Moultrie’s house at once, had it not been for the hold little Aleck had already gained upon her affections, ‘See, Hannah!” she said one day to the chambermaid, ‘show much brighter and better he looks. ” Hannah shook her head. ‘<Tt’s all your fancy, Grace,” she said. ‘‘ They drummed the poor wits he had out of his head long before you came here— Simmons and a German nurse-girl that was worse than she was. I wouldn’t try to keep him here if I was you. It’s no kindness,” ‘¢Hannah!” Gratia gathered the child into her arms with a scared look. ; ‘¢7T’m in earnest, and I mean it,” said Hannah. ‘‘ You see, I’ve lived longer in the world than you have, Grace,” Gratia remained nearly three months at the Maternal Home; she might have remained longer, had not the sole tie that kept her there been relaxed by little Aleck’s death, and she had at least the satisfaction of knowing that his last days were sweeten- ed by her constant care and tenderness. The simple funeral took place from the Maternal. Home— cComicbooks (E(0) m