These were very
little things which she had done, and it was shameful that, in all the
years of her elder sisterhood, she had never sacrificed even so little
of her own pleasure before; yet it was true, and it made her feel like
crying--and yet there was rather a ludicrous side to the question, to
think that all her beautiful plans for the day had culminated in plum
pies and ironing. She stooped and kissed Julia on the rosy cheek, and
answered gently, moved by some inward impulse:
"I am trying to do all my work for Jesus nowadays."
"You didn't mend my dress and iron it, and curl my hair, and fix my
sash, for him, did you?"
"Yes; every little thing."
"Why, I don't see how. I thought you did them for me."
"I did, Julia, to please you and make you happy; but Jesus says that
that is just the same as doing it for him."
Julia's next question was very searching:
"But, Ester, I thought you had been a member of the church a good
many years. Sadie said so. Didn't you ever try to do things for Jesus
before?"
A burning blush of genuine shame mantled Ester's face, but she
answered quickly:
"No; I don't think I ever really did."
Julia eyed her for a moment with a look of grave wonderment, then
suddenly stood on tiptoe to return the kiss, as she said:
"Well, I think it is nice, anyway.
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