"
Cecile neglected to mention that the fields were now mere barren stubble
and that the river was visible only here and there as it peeped through
between the many buildings lining its banks; immense buildings of
factory and mill, smaller structures, cottages and tenement houses
occupied by the workers in factory and mill. She supposed the forests
were still there but the day had been very sultry with scarce a breath
of air stirring and a heavy pall of smoke from the huge chimneys hung
over the valley, hiding everything which lay beyond. Only the tops of
the distant hills rose in triumph above it.
"I am glad to think it is all unchanged," said the mother with a sigh of
content. "I know it is foolish to feel as I do about it, but it would be
a real grief to me to think that my beautiful valley had been sacrificed
to the need or the greed of advancing civilization."
"God has been very good to me, Cecile, and I thank Him with all my heart
for the blessings He has sent me to compensate for that one dreadful
calamity, your dear father's sudden death ten years ago and my long
illness and subsequent blindness. As I sat to-day in my little garden
listening to the twittering of the birds, and inhaling the fragrance of
my flowers, I was thinking how peaceful and happy my life is and how
grateful I should be. You know, dear, just occasionally I long to be
able to see again, to see the birds and the flowers, to see the
beautiful world around me.
Pages:
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135