We had our evening frolics and entertain-
ments together, and we always made the most of our brief holiday
hours. We had also with us now the sister Emilie of my fairy-tale
memories, who had grown into a strong, earnest-hearted woman. We
all looked up to her as our model, and the ideal of our heroine-
worship; for our deference to her in every way did amount to
that.
She watched over us, gave us needed reproof and commendation,
rarely cosseted us, but rather made us laugh at what many would
have considered the hardships of our lot. She taught us not only
to accept the circumstances in which we found ourselves, but to
win from them courage and strength. When we came in shivering
from our work, through a snowstorm, complaining of numb hands and
feet, she would say cheerily, "But it doesn't make you any warmer
to say you are cold;" and this was typical of the way she took
life generally, and tried to have us take it. She was constantly
denying herself for our sakes, without making us feel that she
was doing so.
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