The neatly folded patchwork made by her
little fingers, is kept as a choice relic to this day.
She had been in school just one month when she was taken sick. Whether
this was owing to the confined air of the school-room, or to a too close
application to her studies and work, is not known.
She returned from school one evening, and having sat with the family at
the table as usual, she went to her mother, and with rather unusual
earnestness requested her to take her in her lap and tell her a story.
To be told a story in mother's lap was regarded as a great indulgence by
the children. The little ones on hearing her request, ran to mother and
insisted on being attended to first. "Take me up, mother, and do take me
up." At length Mary Jane with her usual self-denial restored quiet by
requesting her mother to begin with the youngest first. When a short
story had been told her little brother, and she was about occupying the
desired position, she again yielded her right to the importunities of
her younger sister. A longer story was now told, in which she became
quite interested herself, so that when her turn came, she appeared
somewhat exhausted. As her mother took her in her arms, she laid her
head upon her shoulder, saying it ached very hard. It was thought that
sleep would restore her, so she was placed in bed.
At midnight the mother was aroused by the ineffectual efforts of Mary
Jane to awaken her nurse.
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