Free Winter Is Past by Ruth Axtell Morren Page A

I agree with everything they stand for. I’m beginning to think I disagree with more and more each day.” He removed his spectacles and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Words, words and more words. I used to enjoy them. Now it seems as if all we do is bicker and call each other names. We’re worse than a bunch of schoolboys at times. In the meantime, there are more men out of work each day, widows and children are going hungry, and those with work are rioting.”
    â€œYes, it does seem things have grown worse since the end of the war,” she agreed. “We all looked forward to peace with France, but since then, there are so many discharged soldiers and sailors. We see so many idle men around the mission, with nothing to do but drink.”
    He looked at her in surprise, not having expected to be able to discuss these things with a woman, much less his daughter’s nurse. Yet, because of her work at the mission, he realized, she was probably the one who would best understand.
    A whimper from the other room caused them both to turn. Miss Breton immediately arose, with Simon close behind her. She pushed aside the bed curtains and knelt by Rebecca’s pillow, feeling her forehead. It was hot.
    â€œAlthy…” moaned the girl, her head turning from side to side, her eyes still closed. “Oh, Althy, my head hurts so. My whole body hurts….”
    â€œThere, there,” she answered in soothing tones, smoothing the hair off her forehead. “Your papa’s here.”
    Rebecca opened her eyes. “ Abba, you came home.”
    â€œYes, dear.” Simon sat on the edge of the bed as Althea moved to the night table to measure out a dose of laudanum. Simon continued speaking in soft tones, stroking his daughter’s forehead asAlthea had done, while she administered the medicine. The two of them stayed there until Rebecca finally fell asleep.
    When they returned to the sitting room, too restless to sit again, Simon leaned against the back of his chair, his forearms against it, vaguely aware of Althea adding coal to the fire. The new chunks sizzled as they touched the red-hot ones beneath. He stood, staring at the glowing coals but not really seeing them.
    Abruptly he looked at her as she brushed off her hands. “How often do you have to give her the laudanum?”
    She met his dark gaze as she bit her underlip. At last she answered him softly, “Almost every night.”
    At least she was honest with him. He grimaced. “It’s funny—since you came I’ve been sleeping through the nights, but it’s not because my daughter has been getting any better. She merely has a better nurse.”
    Althea looked down at her hands.
    â€œI would like to apologize for doubting your abilities, Miss Breton.”
    She raised her head. “No apology is necessary. I only wish I could do more….” Her eyes had an appeal in them.
    â€œYou’ve made Rebecca happy. That’s all I can hope for.”
    She continued looking at him, and he waited, wondering if there was something else she had to tell him about Rebecca. He was right.
    â€œYour daughter needs something else to make her happy.”
    â€œName it, and I shall do all in my power to obtain it.”
    â€œIt doesn’t cost anything.” She smoothed her skirt. “Your daughter needs to know about God.” She clasped her small hands in front of her, her gaze resolute.
    He just stared at her, not expecting that reply. A short, humorless laugh erupted from him as he rubbed his forehead with a hand. “Well, I have to admit, that is something I can’t give her.”
    They fell silent. After a while, Althea said, “I would like your permission to read some Bible stories to Rebecca. I gather from my conversations with her that she receives no religious training,neither Jewish nor Christian. If you’d rather, I would just read to her from the Old