troubled her a good deal, too. She was always tired at her
work and her temper grew more difficult and fretful.
Miss Mary Wadsmith often tried to make Anna see a little to herself,
and get a doctor, and the little Jane, now blossoming into a pretty,
sweet young woman, did her best to make Anna do things for her good.
Anna was stubborn always to Miss Jane, and fearful of interference
in her ways. Miss Mary Wadsmith's mild advice she easily could always
turn aside.
Mrs. Lehntman was the only one who had any power over Anna. She
induced her to let Dr. Shonjen take her in his care.
No one but a Dr. Shonjen could have brought a good and german Anna
first to stop her work and then submit herself to operation, but he
knew so well how to deal with german and poor people. Cheery, jovial,
hearty, full of jokes that made much fun and yet were full of simple
common sense and reasoning courage, he could persuade even a good Anna
to do things that were for her own good.
Edgar had now been for some years away from home, first at a school
and then at work to prepare himself to be a civil engineer. Miss Mary
and Jane promised to take a trip for all the time that Anna was away,
and so there would be no need for Anna's work, nor for a new girl to
take Anna's place.
Anna's mind was thus a little set at rest. She gave herself to Mrs.
Lehntman and the doctor to do what they thought best to make her well
and strong.
Anna endured the operation very well, and was patient, almost docile,
in the slow recovery of her working strength. But when she was once
more at work for her Miss Mary Wadsmith, all the good effect of these
several months of rest were soon worked and worried well away.
For all the rest of her strong working life Anna was never really
well. She had bad headaches all the time and she was always thin and
worn.
She worked away her appetite, her health and strength, and always for
the sake of those who begged her not to work so hard. To her thinking,
in her stubborn, faithful, german soul, this was the right way for a
girl to do.
Anna's life with Miss Mary Wadsmith was now drawing to an end.
Miss Jane, now altogether a young lady, had come out into the world.
Soon she would become engaged and then be married, and then perhaps
Miss Mary Wadsmith would make her home with her.
In such a household Anna was certain that she would never take a
place. Miss Jane was always careful and respectful and very good to
Anna
|