The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-07

mo DeuqulllS, Dlankcls, lazy
Cassie mentally reviewed her stores and di
missed them to their shelves again.
No, no; nothing Of the kind"
mo coats, shawls, dresses, fine top-boOt
LADY,"
A sudden thought. gift from an aun
IN, at her marriage, had been gay, plaid woole
shawl This, of course, had thrown into tn
shade the good Bay State of solid colors tina
had heretofore served all purposes of warmth
and beauty. Why not part with this last
1t was not Il necessity, and the ruby vas
tempting her, was fast becoming one. Sh
went for the shawl
Though, of course, | shall get more thar
the vase for it," she thought.
But the willy tradesman balanced it on hi
hand, held 1t up to the light suspiciousiy, anC
finally said: well lady, | may let ye have
the vase for these but ii be very sheep, very
very sheep indeed"
The conclusion of the whole matter, Of
course, was that the unworthy jew departed
with the shawl safely slowed away in his
pack, leaving Cassie looking after him from
the doorway with the coveted treasure in her
hand, and feeling much as if she had sold her
Dirthright. Then She went into the parlOr
and tried 1t on every part of the mantcl, but
somehow it did not fill as large a space in re.
atty as 1t had in imagination and she went
back dissatisfied.
At first she thought she would not tell Har-
ry; but he noticed the little cloud, and soon
elected the whole story "Let me see the
bauble" was all his comment. "Why, here 5
crack in the cup! Never trade with a Jew,
my Cassie, unless your eyes are wide open"
Then, seeing the tears start for her disap.
pointment, added, "NGver mind, experience
is the wise teacher, after all"
1t is wonderful what value q lost article ac-
quires. Castles mother came in next day to
assist in covering lounge, After the tidy
chintz rufile was in place, the old lady said
Nov Cassie, this fills such cosy corner in
your kitchen, that Harry will be always drop.
something over it, Where's your old blanket
shawl? That's just the thing"
! "Where?' sure enough, Cassie did not
know. She conentcd herself with saying, "By
and by" but as the old lady was of n yipOT-
Gus disposition, she was obliged to equivocate
saying she believed it was not there vet; she
had left it somewhere, and the subject was
dismissed, But the next week sister LottIel
came over with the children to spend the day, |
it was In demand again.
"Spread your old wooden shawl down. Cas-.
sic; then baby won't hurt his little nose so
often"
Wont this comfortable do just as well,
Loticyn
"Why, Cassie Clcwes, your new calico com
iortcr! Don't begin housekeeping by such |
extravaganza or what will you bring Harry |
to-" and the thrifty sister grew quite cl0- |
qucnt. But Cassie had to do the best she
could again in accounting for the missing
article.
In the course Of the day her sister spicd !
the new ornament, and viewing il with a crit
les eye, "Hoped she did not give many cents
Tor that standardized too, so that it would |
not hold water"
The glitter was even coming off her gold !
But the revealing Of this base metal was vet
before her
Sitting in the sunny kitchen, few weeks
later, when the increasing chill rendered the
cracking fire need, two ladies called upon
her.
I'VE are getting up box to send to n city
missionary for distribution; this frosty air
makes one think Of the poor" said Mrs. Nor
gan, drawing nearer the stove
And we knew you would be glad to assist"
added Mrs. Niles 1--WE only came to tell YOU
our plan to-day. Come to our meeting next
Friday and bring whatever you think you
can spare
"Ii you only had that shawl, now" said
Harry, when told Of the plan, chow warm il
would keep some poor body's shoulders. "
Harry did not mean HARM of course lie was
only Il sad blunderer, like some other men,
and could not know this was Cassie's first /
thought, or the tears she shed. y
Friday afternoon came, and Cassie with /
bundle, started for the meeting.
Il thought perhaps, you would feel dlspOs. Z
ed to give your old shawl" said her sister, C
meeting her at the door; "but you have not e
got it, | see" Il
Mrs. Niles was directories, and read letter Il
from the city missionary who had gone from "
their quiet town, and in whom all felt an in II
al III |
brought tears to many an eye, closing with II
the ever solemn words, "lnasmuch rs we to
have done it to these, yc have done ii to me"
Miss Spear will put on the list the gifts of
each of each to be kept Mrs. III. Clews, two
aprons and "A flannel sack Ahem!" called t,
he active directories, and Cassie felt as II
hough she was the lump sticking in the good to
yoman's throat. III
"Doat, don't, Cassie" said Harry that tn
vcnng as, after telling her story through by
many tears, the impulsiye wife took up the to
noifending vase to commit il to destruction Ia
This shall be its place" and the young hus- III
and gently placed ii on the kitchen mantel IN
yer the little tin box they had nailed up for io
money. at shall stay there to stl
each Us both a lesson, that all gifts are tai Ike
nts for which we must account to our own
and to our master" Pc
Years have passed since then. Cassie no IN
)hger Sis IN the Kitchen alone OF an after. pi
in the family sttingroom of the gu
,steful home they now call theirs Visitors mi
&c ruby vase standing on bracket alone, ed
nd under it the tin mission box, and some. br
mes in the twilight the little ones gather TIT
bout mammals chair TO listen to the oftre. alb
Gated story OF the shawl which was lost I'M
nd the lesson won. MS
en-
The African Methodists IN Charleston, S WI
:, held their usual watch feast on New th'
ears Eve. As it ncaIed midnight, the pas Pc
Jr invited all to kncel in silent prayer, and NO
lc watch was set. At ten minutes of twlcve Al
IL