The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1880-10-16

For zone moment, the coveted hat ap-
reared more beautiful than ever to her
IMAGINATION. The next, muttering,
.sIt's bound to be done, and amt goin
to put a hat before life," she went
out and killed a chicken, dressed 1t and
when granny, reused from the torpor
into which she had fallen, looked up,
the pot was boiling on the hire, ana
Lilah was busy over its contents.
"Your chicken-soup is b'ilin' away,
granny" she said cheerily. 1--we put
two more chickens in your coop for you
to have tomorrow and next day. I'm
going on to Swamptown now, and L III
buy some bakers bread, and sugar and
coffee. The soupwon't be ready before
1 git back, and I'll bring you some to-
matoes and pusley to flavor it like you
wants it." =,
Tears rolled down the withered
cheeks of the sick woman. ode LORD
has sent you, chile ~ she cried, sand
He will pay my debts, o honey. you is
pore gal wot has you gin up: 10 heip
a pore no-count critter like me!
81 kin do very well without what l
wants." Lilah answered, tying on her
bonnet. I'm be back before an hour,
and give you your soup"
The old woman lay there, gazing
placidly at the steaming pot. 1t did
not enter her mind to wonder how
Lilah produced chicken at that spec
ial moment. She understood that it
must have been procured at some sac
rifice. but to her it was Divinely-ap-
pointed sacrifice. Her simple faith did
not look beyond. She had wanted
something apparently impossible to get,
and 10, it was at hand and both Lilah
and she were the agents OF some higher
power in the matter.
All this may seem very ludicrous, APP
piled to chicken soup, but to Granny
HynsOn it was as if mamma had been
put to her starving lips, and she felt
very solemn as she lay there bordering
over the mercies in her lot.
Ii Lilah had undergone struggle in
passing the milliner's window, there
was nothing of it visible when she re-
turned to the cabin. See laughed aud
chatted, and seasoned the soup under
granny's direction, and soon placed q
steaming plateful before her, with a
large slice of bread.
"Now I'm bound to CO." she said;
"but see Hannah comm up the road,
and she'll wait on you. I'll come back
| tomorrow morning, granny, to parch
your coffee and help you. Goodbye"
The old woman took her hand. "God
bless you. honey" she said solemnly.
p" If you knows it or not, you's done de
Lords work disday to de poorest of His
critters. His promise is sure; and when
you helped me, you helped Him"
Liiah went home with her heart
strangely free from regret.
Whar's de hat, CHIEF" asked her
expectant mother as she entered.
leone into chicken-soup," she an
swered with laugh, and told the story.
"And you see, ma" she said. as she
finished, Il wasn't goin' to let old
Granny starve for thing when l had
it. I'll wear my caliker sunbunnit to
Sunday-school. Nobody can make fun
of common sunbunnit. Isold the other
chickens for coffee and sugar"
She did wear the calico sunbonpet
the next Sunday, but before the end Of
the week, the story of her chickens
| leaked out. She herself was scrupu
lousy silent on the subject, but Aunt
Rebecca was not so reticent.
Quite an active but mysterious move
ment was set on foot among the teachers
of Swamptown Sunday-school. will
| whom Lilah was a great favorite. ant
the result was that new bandbcx was
conveyed to the Winters domicile, will
these words written on the top of it
ITO Delilah, with the love and ap
prevail of her friends in the Swamptowl
!, Sabbath-school."
!. Lilah uttered scream of delight a
she raised hat from The box. Not tn
red and yellow monstrosity she had de
sired, but pretty, tasteful hat, trimmed
with her favorite red, certainly, bu
softened by lace and pretty flowers. l
was really becoming to her; but any
, thing would have been becoming to tn
: bright, happy face which looked it
gratitude to the kind givers of the new
hat.
To old Granny. who still lives, she i
ministering angel, and in her eye
that black face is the loveliest of tn
lovely.-Youths Companion.