The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-07


whisper, ''thst 10 what they think themselves
--msDy Of our neighbors here--snd it leaves
them NO hope. The autumn before last, when
neighbOrhood and Anne's Valley were spared:
It was not till after that night that the blight
fell here. They think he cursed them when no
Heaven shat brought destruction down on
their fields bat We know better. thin
sometimes that he would came back to help
them IL he might. he was 90 pitifnl."
A culver passed over Mira. Days face; but
sbe tiled to keep her voice stosdy.
"Why do You tell me this 2" she said.
believe they are right, but cannot be pitt
1T makes You more sorry for them, does it
"I don't know why it should. have my
see Pelham's face and yours growing thinner
and psler every day. Those other mothers
outside, " ho have known all their lives what
it is to see their children want, and are used to
only be full of pain.n
"Come to the kitchen withns this morning
and see the other mothers. You can sympa-
thize with them better than I, and they will
take it as sign of forgiveness"
Mrs. DAILY stopped down and kissed Ellen o
pleading face, while her own softened.
"Some day." she said "butI am not strong
enough to make such an exertion. day. Go
to your people. and 1 will try not to grudge
what you and Pelham give mp for them again. !"
When Ellen entered the kitchen. and saw
that morning by q special messenger from
Castle DAILY, she was disposed to repent of her
disparaging mention of the Thornley's-
There were large basins Of Indian meal por-
ridge, ready cooked, to secure its being pro-
perly used, and rice, weighed mp in separate
doles, and small cens of soup for the sick.
her perplexity and trouble-yes, and to secure
that the distribution should be made with the
strict impartiality and the precautions against
waste on which the Thornley's . laid suoh stress
uoiA fI,nse nh rfk
as she read the careful directions, in Bride
Thornley's neat handwriting, that accom- panied
the gifts, Such care might be absolutely
bitter thoughts kept rising In her heart. as she
carried on her morniDg's task of distributing
accor ding to Brides views. She had never
acted the part of dolor of other peoples
charity before: she had always hitherto been
free to follow the instincts of her own lavish
nature, and che could not put herself and her
own feelings ont of sight az completely as in
like circumstaDce ces Bride Thornley, would have
put hers She could not get it out of her head
that it was want of generosity and delioscy
in the Thefnleys not TO leave her free while
acting for them. Would not she in Bride
Thornleys place have been lavish to anyone
in hersf
Her secret discomfort was spoken out loudly
aud exaggerated by the recipients of her
for them in Q way they did not understand,
and craved for q morsel of the diet they were
accustomed to, with sick longing painful to
Wlbuceos ~ m1KuG Do . want OF R6Q0rO9lGY on
her part-Ellenfs conscience told her il was;
but she could not help saying, in answer to IN
old woman's lamen tation over her portion of
porridge, which she declared her sick dsnghter
"Well, I can't help it, Biddy. You must 90
away with what You have got. It is Mr.
Thornley's bounty, not my own, am dividing
my own left to give anyone"
Worse luck for us all. then. sure we know
it's heart's blood of your own you'd give us if
from him has the bitter taste with it, and no
power to keep the heart up. since it's grudgipg
as every mouthful he is. Bad luck to him for
q usurper that has showed himself into o better
"No, no, Biddy, you must not speak SO of
Mr.. Thornley,; he does not grudge what he
gives. and he is not usurpeF. His living ct
could oil get that out of your heads"
The old woman drew close to Ellen and,
looking up with a cnnnin9 and savage -leeF
into her face, whispered, "Pm not In the boys
would an old like
not stood by ill-luck in his place, on @ night |
that you know of, it's not in Castle DAILY he'd |
bs this minute. It's warmer country than |
that, I'm thinking, that would hold him and |
since he's been due there so long, it's little |
good that will follow his doings anywhere |
"Biddy, wonder how you dare say such
word to me-" cried Ellen shuddering )" take |
up your basket and go away, you wicked old |
woman. No wonder the food does not nourish |
you when your heart is so full of evil thoughts |
against the giver. Where would you and your |
poor little grandchildren be by tomorrow
without the help you despise7 ~
"Msybe with the Holy Virgin and st. Pat |
rick, and the blessed saints. It's grand en- |
tertainment they'll have to mako ready mp |
above for all the crowds and crowds that'll |
come up to them before the summer 10 over, |
and the next potatoes ripe, for they're doing
nothing at all for us down below this year. !
They're forgetting us entirely. It's NO use
praying to them any more; they're deaf, or
asleep may be-" |
A murmur of disapproval rose from most of |
the women, and Ellen said
Come, Biddy, you know you are saying |
what is wrong. 1t is not time to lose heart |
end leave off hoping and praying, when fine |
weather has come at last, and the seed is being |
sowD that with the blessing Of God will bring |
q good harvest, and make you all prosperous |
and happy again."
"The best harvest that ever ripened will |
never do that, avourneen, for most of It's |
not that will ever trouble the Blessed Virgin |
or the saints with prayers again for the poGa- |
toes for good or bad it will be all one to me. |
They may do what thew like for me from this |