The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-03

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down in visible shape and ministered
to the necessities Of men.
So passed the winter, the spring
and summer spread her mantle early
over the land, and all went happily
with the little hive of workers. But
one afternoon in August sad thing
happened. Jenny slipped on a bit Of
banana skin-one of the many bits
which dot summer pavements-fell,
wrenched and sprained her shoulder,
and broke her right arm. Luckily
she was near home, and was carried
there at once. The accident was dis
posed of in three lines in next days
paper, but not so easily by the party
most concerned. A long illness was
followed by weary convalescence.
Sewing was out of the question; Jen-
ny's friendly patrons were out Of town
there was no one to offer help; and
what with weakness and discourage
ment, rent falling behind, and a doc
tors bill looming portentously ahead,
our brave little woman felt her courage
sink as never before in her life.
+ What could she have done without
the Denises now? This was aquestion
she asked herself a dozen times day.
Morning after morning Mrs. Denis
brought her bright kind face to Jenny's
bedside, made her tea, brushed her
hair, Strengthened the room, and cheer
ed her with the hopeful words which
mean so much to the Responding inva-
lid. Hour after hour Nanny sat, pa
tient as an old woman, beside "Aunt
Jenny" watching her eye, and ready
to fly at moment for whatever was
needed. Even little Alice would
climb the stairs with glass Of "real
cold" water, a flower, a kiss to make
her well, or a new rhyme culled from
her picture-book, which she was sure
would "amoose" the dear neighbor.
These visits were the sole cheer Of
those dark days. The little seed sown
in kindness had indeed brought forth
fruit a hundredfold.
"Sure and it's pleasure you would
not deny me-" Mrs. Denis would pro-
test in answer to Jenny'st fearful thanks.
"It's always been you and you before,
and I never thought I'd have the
chance to so much as turn my hand
over for you. It's clear pleasure, it is"
The "clear pleasure" lasted into Oc-
tober; then matters began to mend.
Jenny could help herself a little at
last. Her employers came back, and
Yarions little kindnesses followed their
return. But the once nimble fingers
we're stiff and weak, and Thanksgiving
found her still unable to sew for more
than a few minutes at q time. Mrs.
Meredith was in Europe; no one hap
pened to think of the little seamstress,
and altogether things were in sorry
contrast to the bright holiday of last
year.
Again Jenny sat in her rocking
chair on Thanksgiving-eve, idle now
from necessity, not of choice. She
looked sad, but frightened when Mrs.
Denis step sounded on the stair. It
was quick, glad step, and Mrs. Denis
burst in with the joyful face Of bear
er of good tidings. e@
ooh, Jenny% she painted, "never
was anything like it! It's a turkey
has come to me myself this time !!
Mrs. Read sent it, for the darling she
is!-an elegant turkey, and an ele.
CANT heap Of potatoes as we'll. Well
have our Thanksgiving after all and
if you're agreed, we'll eat it up here,
for my rooms but q cold one, and l
daren't risk you to come down"
"How nice! how pleasant But
how very kind of your said Jenny,
half crying.
"Kind Why, yourself did it, you
know. It's you last year, and me this,
that's ALL"
1t was impossible to resist such open
hearted gladness, and-the feast proved
even merrier than that memorable one
of a year ago. Jenny contributed
some red-cheeked apples to take the
place of the missing pie; the room was
warm and bright, the children alive
with fun and frolic. Jenny, pale but
cheerful, lay back in her chair, enjoy
ing the Jokes and contributing a soft
treble to the laughter. Altogether it
was a pleasant scene.
"NoNw the wiss-bone cried little
Alice. NANNY pulled it last time, so
it's my turn now. Will you wiss with
me, Aunt Jenny?"
'sOf course; and I shall wish just
exactly what I did then," declared
Jenny, holding her end of the bone
with the fingers of her left hand
"Uncle Jim, and may he get back safe
and soundp
"Uncle Jim," echoed Alice.
A deep sigh followed. Jim's ship
was overdue, and Mrs. Denis had fears
in her mind vhich she did not like to
! put into words.
Crack went the wish-bone, and, as
though the sound were a signal, rap !!
rap! fell upon the door.
'Come in," cried the whole party,
startled, they hardly knew why.
"Is there They told me below
Mrs. Denis was hero" began the new
conner, but his voice was drowned in q
joyful slriek.
"Jim!'' "Uncle JIM" cob, Jim,
here at last p And Mrs. Denis and
the children flung themselves upon the
stranger.
"Ayast there I can't breathe for
you ALL" cried he at last. "Whatever
will the lady think of such doings ?
I'd beg her pardon, only there's no