Big Nightcap Letters

by Aunt Fanny

  THE THIRD LETTER.

  POOR RICH LITTLE EVA.

  _For Anna._

  DEAR ANNA:--I have lately been reading a book full of pure and beautifulthoughts, called "Vernon Grove," and the other evening I becameacquainted with the authoress. She is a most lovely lady, dignified andgraceful; and I had a very delightful conversation with her about books.

  In Vernon Grove there is a short story about a dear little girl, whichstory interested me so much, that I asked permission of the authoress tocopy it out for you. Here it is, somewhat enlarged and altered, but themain parts just as she wrote it. I know, dear Anna, it is exactly such atender, sweet story, as will most gratify your affectionate heart; so itis yours, with a kiss from your loving

  AUNT FANNY.

  "POOR RICH LITTLE EVA.

  "On a curtained bed, in a darkened chamber in the city of Charleston,not many years ago, lay a beautiful lady, pale--almost dying; but, oh!how happy, for her earnest prayer had been answered, and God had atlast given her the blessing of a child, and the little tender life waseven now nestling soft as a rose-leaf in her bosom.

  "It was late in the sweet spring-time, which in that southern country isso beautiful. A hushed and joyous stillness reigned in the house, butevery lip was smiling, from the good old black cook, who was 'so gradmissis ben got her heart's desire,' to the funny little fellow with hiswool standing up in kinks all over his head, who ran of errands, and whoevinced his delight by walking on his kinky head all about the yard.

  "Never was baby more welcomed. A daughter, too, just what her parentsdesired--a darling girl to be a companion for her mother all day long.

  "The nursery was now the most interesting and delightful room in thehouse. Though evidences of boundless wealth and exquisite taste were inevery part, until the baby came, it was only a grand, silent, gloomymansion; for no young pure voice had awakened the echoes in the statelyhalls--no little pattering feet made there delicious heart-music.

  "But _now_ what a magic change! How friends flocked to see the wonderfulnursery which the expectant mother had been so happy in preparing; howthey peeped into the bureau drawers, and admired the piles of rare laceand snowy lawn, which were to enfold the delicate limbs of this favoredchild.

  "And then the surprising and splendid toys in gold and silver! thebeautiful pictures already hung upon the walls, painted by skilfulartists, telling stories that she would understand almost from infancy,of 'Little Red Riding Hood,' 'The Lamented Babes in the Wood,' and'Little Mary and her pretty pet Lamb, who _would_ go to school withher.' Ah! what a beautiful world was to be opened to the sight and mindof that sweet spring flower.

  "Every day the good doctor came to see the mother and the little baby,and every day the mother grew stronger; and the greatest delight of bothparents was to look at their new child, and softly kiss its tendercheek, and feel the velvet touch of its precious little hands.

  "Then, very soon, it grew so knowing, and showed such surprisingquickness, far beyond (the _parents_ thought) of any baby ever seen orread of since the beginning of the world. Of course it was very red atfirst, but then the red was such a beautiful shade. It hadn't the leastspeck of hair; but what of that? There was a lovely expression abouteven the _back_ of its head; really quite intellectual.

  "Very soon, it would start at an unexpected noise or touch, and ifdinner did not come at the very moment it was wanted, little Eva (forthat was her sweet name) could cry in a manner to astonish you; butthen, such an excellent cry! so loud and strong, that it was certain shehad splendid lungs. And what more could a mother's heart desire? Andher precious treasure was watched and guarded night and day by amother's love, stronger than death.

  "But what is this? The good doctor watches little Eva as she grows, andalways when he looks at her, a sad, strange expression comes over hisface; and one day, when going down stairs, he paused, and turned to goback, but did not, for he said aloud to himself: 'Not yet; they cannotbear it yet; and perhaps, after all, I may be in the wrong.'

  "They were both so happy--that young father and mother! How they pitiedall the poor married people who had no children!

  "But the next day after this the good doctor decided not to withholdthe communication, whatever it might be, from Eva's father and mother.As soon as he entered the room, he said abruptly: 'Nurse, bring me thechild.' He stood by a window, and threw wide open the darkened blinds.The little Eva was brought to him just from her morning toilette, fresh,sweet, and pure as a rain-brightened flower; her long embroidered dresssweeping the carpet, and soft lace nestling about her tiny arms.

  "'Oh, dear doctor!' exclaimed the young mother, 'do not take the babythere! That bright glare of light has dazzled even my strong eyes; andhow can her feeble sight endure it?'

  "'It is necessary, madam,' replied the doctor. He seemed to be a crossold fellow, but beneath his gruff manner was hidden a great, kind heart.

  "He took the child, and having sent the nurse away, turned from themother, who lay anxiously watching him. He gazed fixedly at little Eva,while he exposed her beautiful and tender eyes to the bright glare ofthe morning sun. His brow was contracted into a great heavy frown, and ashort but deep sigh escaped him; but he never took his eyes from herface: then he forced the lids, with their long silken fringes, far awayfrom the ball of the eye, and little Eva was now screaming with the paincaused by this rough and cruel treatment. Alas! a deeper shade ofanxiety crossed the doctor's face, and the hard and unfeeling man, asthe weeping mother thought him, drew the infant tenderly to his breast,and murmured in a low tone, '_Poor little thing! poor little helplessthing!_' and gave her back to her nurse, and went away without sayinganother word.

  "That same evening the doctor came again. It was very unusual for him tocome after dark, and his great creaking boots and rough manner wouldhave broken in upon a very pretty group.

  "But he went softly up stairs, and looked in the room, unseen himself.There was the happy mother wrapped in a cashmere, and half-buried in animmense arm-chair, with a sweet motherly look upon her face, watchingher darling.

  "Close to his wife, Eva's father sat, holding her in his arms; and,wonderful to tell, for a _man_, holding her quite comfortably; for hehad lulled her to sleep with a lullaby of his own composition, thelanguage of which was utterly unknown to the rest of the company. He waslearning to talk 'baby talk,' and was really getting on very well, andjust now he was looking extremely proud and happy at his success insoothing the little one.

  "Opposite to these happy parents sat Mr. Vernon, a noble-lookinggentleman, and his wife, a beautiful lady, uncle and aunt to the baby;and, in the distance, was the faithful black nurse, old Dinah, fastasleep, and quite as happy, in her own opinion, as the rest of theparty.

  "Presently the father laid the baby tenderly down in her beautifulcradle, and while gently rocking her, said softly: 'I wonder what thebaby was thinking about while I sang to her?'

  "'She looked so wonderfully wise,' said the mother.

  "'Did you ever come across that lovely little poem--"What is the littleone thinking about?"' said Mr. Vernon. 'I can only remember the lastpart of it, though my little daughter has often read it to me,' and herecited, in a sweet, low voice, this exquisite little fragment:

  "What is the little one thinking about? What does she think of her mother's eyes? What does she think of her mother's hair? What, of the cradle roof that flies Forward and backward through the air? What does she think of her mother's breast, Round and beautiful, smooth and white, Seeking it ever with fresh delight-- Cup of her life, and couch of her rest? What does she think, when her quick embrace Presses her hand, and buries her face Deep, where the heart-throbs sink and swell With a tender love she can never tell, Though she murmurs the words Of all the birds, Words she had learned to murmur well? Now she thinks she'll go
to sleep! I can see the shadow creep Over her eyes in soft eclipse Over her brow, and over her lips. Out to her little finger-tips! Softly sinking--down she goes! Down--she--goes!--down--she--goes! See! she is hushed in sweet repose."

  "As the doctor gazed on this lovely scene, and heard the beautifullytouching words so fitly spoken, instead of smiling, he frowned andsighed, for his heart was troubled.

  "Coming forward, he grumbled out, 'A family party, I see.'

  "'Yes,' said the father, rising and smiling; 'and no one but yourselfwould find a welcome.'

  "'So much the better,' growled the doctor. 'Nurse, light the gas.'

  "'We have not lit it yet,' said the young mother, pointing to the twowax lights in a distant corner, 'because they tell me the eyes ofinfants are very weak and tender.'

  "The doctor took no notice of this, only nodded to the nurse; and she,standing in mortal fear that he would cut her head off immediately ifshe hesitated, obeyed his order.

  "The mother looked at her little child, who was still peacefullysleeping, and then shaded her eyes with her hand from the sudden blazeof light, thinking that though the doctor seemed very cruel, he must bedoing what was right. Poor young mother!

  "'I only need this last test before I tell you what it means,' said thedoctor. 'Here, give me the child.'

  "The father tenderly laid the little Eva in his arms, though quite at aloss to imagine what experiment was to be tried. The light was certainlytoo strong to be let suddenly into a darkened room, he thought; but thedoctor knew best. It was strange that only the noble-looking gentleman,Mr. Vernon, seemed to divine the meaning of the rough but kind-heartedman, but he knew only too well; he was _sadly sure_. I will tell youwhy, presently.

  "And now the tender head of the sleeping child lay helplessly againstthe physician's rough coat, encircled by his arm.

  "Suddenly he dashed some cold water, that stood near, into her face.

  "Little Eva awoke, and opened her dark blue eyes immediately under thebright stream of light. She did not cry; she did not shrink; calmly shelooked up, never flinching, never winking as she lay.

  "The doctor raised her nearer and nearer to the flame; he turned thescrews, and let out each burner to its fullest capacity, and passed hishands rapidly to and fro close to the child's eyes, then turning towardsthe wondering, panic-stricken group, who were slowly beginning tounderstand the meaning of that fearful pantomime, he laid her once morein her father's arms, and looking in his face, said, in a rough, brokenvoice, while a great tear trembled in his eye--'God help littleEva,--SHE IS BLIND.'

  "The doctor went away that night with the sorrowful wail of the poorparents smiting his heart.

  "He came again and again, but nevermore in that house did he open thedoor upon a group so smilingly happy, as that which greeted him on thefatal night, when he told them the dreadful truth, that their childwould never see their faces, for she was blind.

  "And now I will tell you about Mr. Vernon. When he was quite a youngman, rich, handsome, and surrounded with friends, he was taken ill witha dreadful fever, which left him totally blind. For a long, long time hemurmured at God's will, and refused to believe there was any thing leftworth living for; but God's ways are not our ways, and in His own goodtime He so softened the wilful heart of the blind man, so that he becamenot only resigned, but happy.

  "After a few years, God gave him a beautiful wife, who loved him morebecause of the affliction which made him so dependent upon her lovingcare; and oh! how I hope that all who are reading this true story willhave a tender pity for those upon whom God has caused outward darknessto fall. They cannot see the sunshine, or the beautiful flowers--letthem _feel_ the warm sunshine of a loving heart.

  "In due course of time Mr. Vernon had two lovely children, the elder apretty little maiden, with deep blue eyes, and dark, wavy hair, whosesweet name was Ruth. The dear little girl was six years old before theother darling came to gladden his parents' heart, and having nocompanions but her blind father and gentle mother, she grew to be quitea dignified little woman. None so proud and happy as Ruth, when she wasguiding her blind father; none knew better all his favorite walks in andaround the beautiful country place where they lived; and her gentle,patient ways made her the very darling of his heart.

  "In a few years there was another little being in the world, to whosehappiness Ruth was necessary; and that was her poor blind cousin, Eva,and though Ruth's parents missed her sadly, they would often give uptheir darling, and send or take her into the city, to visit and comfortand amuse Eva.

  "Ruth understood Eva better than any one else, because she had been herdear blind father's constant companion; and Eva loved her with all herheart; she knew her step; she would hear it before any one else did,and the color would rush in her face, and she would wait with beatingheart till the door opened, and then she would rush to her, throw herarms round her neck, and cry, 'Oh, dear Ruth! darling Ruth!' and kissher twenty times, and Ruth would kiss Eva just as many, and then theywould sit down close together, and have such a nice, happy talk! forRuth had to tell all about the chickens, and Dandy, the pony, who lovedsugar so dearly; and how she had hemmed six pocket-handkerchiefs for herdear father, and most wore a hole in her little thimble; and how herlittle baby brother had scrabbled off with old Dobbin's bran-bag, justas the poor old horse was going to eat his dinner, and poked his owndear little head in it, and when he pulled it out, the bran was all overhis face, making him look as if he was covered with freckles; whichfunny caper made Eva laugh like 'any thing.'

  "And when the talking was over, Ruth read to little Eva, for all toyswere useless to the blind child; but her books were doubly dear, andRuth was never tired of reading to her; so while she staid, Eva was ashappy as it was possible to be.

  "One day the good doctor brought a celebrated occulist to see Eva. Anocculist is a physician who cures diseases of the eyes, and devotes hiswhole time and talent to that precious and delicate part of the humanframe.

  "The occulist examined her eyes very carefully, and then said: 'After afew years I can perform an operation on Eva's eyes that _may_ give hersight; but it will be a very painful one, and perhaps I may not succeed.If this dear little child were mine, I would almost rather let herremain blind than give her such terrible pain, which may end indisappointment.'

  "But oh! what a blessed hope! her parents _would not_ see the dark side;they dwelt upon the happiness it would be for little Eva to see; and oneday her father took her upon his knee, and, fondly kissing her, said:'Eva, my darling, would you like to see the beautiful sunlight and sweetflowers?'

  "'O papa! yes! yes! but, most of all, I want to see you and mamma, andRuth and Dinah.'

  "'Well, my darling, if you can make up your mind to endure a terriblepain, when you are older we will have the operation tried. It will onlylast a moment, dear Eva, and then just think! you will see the wholebeautiful world! and know all of us by our faces, as you now do by oursteps and voices; you will see the birds flying in the air; the moonsailing slowly in the heavens, the little twinkling stars, and therippling water, and we shall be so happy! so happy! I will not tell youwhen to have it done; I will wait till _you_ are ready, my darling.'

  EVA PRAYING FOR STRENGTH TO SAY THE WORDS.]

  "Then Eva thought long of it, and had many an earnest conversation uponthe subject with her little cousin Ruth; and one day she said: 'Ruth,will you promise me, _true for true_, that you will come and hold myhand when they operate upon my eyes?'

  "'I promise you, _true for true_,' said Ruth.

  "And so the matter was settled.

  "Time passed on; and Eva was now eleven years old, and Ruth nine.

  "Then Eva made a great resolution, and going to her father, she said:'_Father, I am ready_ NOW.'

  "They were simple words; but poor little Eva had prayed to God, fornights and nights, and many times in the day, to give her strength tosay them, and God had heard her prayer; for though her father
turneddeadly pale at the words, the low sweet voice of the child did nottremble.

  "And now the good doctor came, all his roughness gone, and he held thatlittle head, with its glossy waves of hair, to keep it steady, but ittrembled far less than he did; for he had watched Eva from her infancy,and dearly loved her, and he was intensely interested in the result ofthe experiment about to be performed.

  "Near Eva stood her mother and her brave and faithful cousin Ruth,holding her hand, as she had promised '_true for true_,' and telling herto take courage, for all would be well.

  "'Patience,' said the operator, softly; 'a pang, and half the sufferingwill be over.'

  "The little hand which held Ruth's was clasped more tightly, and a groansmote on the listeners' ears. The room reeled--a faintness came over theheroic child; but she was soon herself again.

  "'Would you not rather wait a day or two for the other eye to beoperated upon?' said the kind physician. 'A week hence, or a month, willanswer.'

  "'Oh! no,' answered Eva, with quiet self-possession, 'let it be doneto-day; let it be done NOW. I do not think I could bear the suspense,and it would _please my father_ to know that it was over.'

  "Love sustained her. Another sigh--another groan, and it was finished.

  "Then came the bandages, the darkened room, the stillness, the repose,for one whose nerves had been so shaken; but often those little cousinlyhands were clasped together in a pressure which spoke more love thanmany words.

  "Her father hardly ever left the house, and her mother wept often, forshe loved her child in her blindness as much as a mother _could_ love,and had never wished her to go through so much suffering--sufferingwhich might be fruitless; and she waited for the result with tremblinganxiety.

  "A _look_ from a physician has often more weight than many words spoken;and Ruth, who read the good doctor's face with the keenness of a child'sperception, was the first to see an expression of hope shining upon it.When the day came for the bandages to be removed, Eva's father andmother were so dreadfully agitated, that they had to leave the room.Trembling, they stood outside in the hall, waiting for the happy orwretched tidings.

  "But Ruth--brave little Ruth--held Eva's hand as before. Those littleclasped hands gave each other courage, for Ruth needed it as much asEva, and her heartbeats could almost be heard in the silence. What astudy her sweet little face was, as the emotions of love, pity, fear,and hope, crossed it, as shadowy clouds flit across the sky!

  "Slowly, cautiously, the bandages were removed, and at last the endcame, and the little girl saw upon the physician's face a broad,cheerful, happy smile. Ruth was a heroine, and had great self-control;but now control became impossible. She thought not of consequences--sheonly thought of the unceasing prayer which had been breathed by thathousehold for many weeks--she only saw that that prayer had beengranted.

  "'SHE WILL SEE! she will see!!' she almost screamed. 'Eva! Eva! love!darling! do you hear?'

  "The physician gave her a stern look of rebuke, but it was too late;Little Eva had fainted.

  "'_Ruth is right_,' said he to the father and mother, who had rushed inat this blessed announcement, 'but she has been too abrupt. Her cousinand herself are wonderful little women in times of trial and danger; butneither of them are equal to a sudden joy.'

  "It was a long time before Eva got well, and was permitted to use hernew and precious gift of sight; but then the amazement and delight withwhich she ran from one thing to another--the joy with which she gazedupon the faces of her parents and Ruth, no one of us, who have alwaysseen, can ever know or appreciate.

  "And old Binah said, as she hugged her darling to her faithful breast,'God bress de good massa dat gib de sight to my little missis. It don'tmake no sort of difference to she, case old Binah _black_. Dear, no!she lub her just de same when she see _dat_! don't you, little missis?'

  "'Why, _of course_ I do,' answered little Eva, and she kissed good oldBinah, and ran off with Ruth to look at some flowers. Oh, that precioussight! how dear it was, to her!

  "And now she is no longer _poor_ rich little Eva."

  * * * * *

  The children had listened to the story of Eva, with eager, breathlessattention; and when Ruth screamed out, "She will see! she will see!"they very nearly screamed, too, so rejoiced were they that the blindnesshad been removed; and the dear little girl had not suffered so much fornothing.

  "It must be so terrible to be blind," said Anna; "don't you rememberwhen we went to see the exhibition of the blind children at the Academyof Music, the tears were rolling down mamma's face nearly the wholetime, and we all felt so sorry, that we came home quite unhappy?"

  "Dear me," cried Harry, "I do wish there was no such affliction; whymust there be, mamma?"

  "God knows best, dear Harry," answered the little mother. "If He didnot, for His own wise purpose, permit us to know trouble and sorrow inthis world, we would never desire that blessed rest and peace hereafter,which he promises to all those who put their trust in him."

  "Yes, God must know best," said Clara, in a low voice; "for dear Charleyhas had more suffering and sorrow than any of us, and yet he loves Him,and wants to go to heaven."

  "When Charley was very little," said the mother, "I found him cryingbitterly one day. 'Why, what is the matter, my darling?' I said.

  "'Oh mamma!' he sobbed, 'I am so afraid there won't be room enough inheaven for me! Do you think such a poor, lame child can get there?'

  "I took him in my arms, and kissed and comforted him, and told him thatJesus looked at the heart, not at the weak, crooked body; and that thebetter and purer his life was, the greater would be his welcome to Hishouse Beautiful, when life had ended here."

  All the children looked at Charley, with their eyes full of love; and intheir prayers that night, they entreated that Jesus would remember theirdear little brother's life-long suffering, and give him a place close toHim in heaven.