Ruby's Reward — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

“*Peace on earth, good-will toward men,’" she quoted, in a low tone, adding: ‘‘We can at least have thatin our hearts, if we cannot give lavishly from our purses thia year,” The week before Christmas was bitterly cold and atoriny, and one evening Robert Gordon came home shivering with a chill and a fearful hoarseness and pain in his chest. The next morning he was ina high fever, and raving with delirium. A physician was summoned, but his grave face as he examined his patient, and his evasive answers when questioned, struck a sudden terror to Ruby's heart. She obtained a substitute for her class, and at once took her position by the bedside of her idolized brother, and refused to leave him during all those anxious days that followed. He grew constantly worse; human agency could avail nothing, though the best of nurses and advice Was procured, and in a week all that remained of the noble, generous, and talented Robert Gordon lay cold and still in the pretty parlor of that little house, where so recently that cheerful Httle circle before mentioned had been gathered. Tl? it had not been for Walter, Ruby felt that she must have sunk beneath this bitter blow. As soon as he learned of Mr. Gordon's illness, he went to the afflicted family, and remained with them until the end, : He was remarkably efficient—zentle as a woman in the sick-room; active and self-reliant out of it. He took all care from Ruby—for Mrs. Gordon was paralyzed and utterly useless in view ol this new trial—and when all was over, arranged for the last gad rites, s0 that the sorrowing ones were not har- | assed in any way with the trying details, The respect that was shown Mr. Gordon by all celagses at this time, testified to the esteem and love with which he was regarded by business men and all others with whom he came in contact during life. A long line of carriages, filled with friends and ac- quaintances, followed him to his last resting-plac while many kind offers of sympathy Aeeonuancat |