Gratia's Trials — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

66 GRATIA’S TRIALS, — CHAPTER XIII IDA FALCONER. It was the beginning of the season at Long Branch, and the Ocean Wave Hotel was full of pleasure seekers and health worshipers. Gratia found her duties light and pleasant, and began thoroughly to enjoy the variety By which she was per- petually surrounded. ‘‘Chambermaid !” The door of No. 32 was pushed slightly open, and its occu- pant, the pale young mother of half a dozen unruly little chil- dren, beckoned to Gratia, who was sweeping off the back veranda She laid down her broom, and went to attend to the summons. ‘Yes, ma’am—what can I do for you ?” Gratia was a general favorite among the guests at the Ocean Wave. Hercheerful buoyancy and merry alacrity, her willing- ness to oblige, and unvarying sweetness of temper, would have secured kind feeling toward her everywhere. Mrs. Champion looked almost envyingly at her. ‘‘You are always so rosy,’ she said, with asigh. ‘‘I wish I was as healthy and light-hearted. Here, Grace, take this pitcher down to the shore and bring it to me full of salt water, The doctor ihe Minnie must have a ‘Sponge bath in sea-water every morning.’ Minnie, a pale, rickety child of thirteen or fourteen months, lay among the pillows of her crib; but even she smiled a faint smile as Gratia passed her by. The fashionable hour of bathing had’ not yet come, and the children and nurses had almost undisputed possession of the beach, as Gratia descended the flight of wooden stairs, leading Gomicbooks.:com