The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1881-11-12

worship. The golden moments might speed
as they would, but no day in that household
began without its portion from the Bible. 1t
might have been IA lingering recollection of
Hettv's song, it might have been one of
those celestial providences which we call
chance, which led him to read from the
gospels the story of the wandering sheep
and the lost piece of silver. 1t is doubtful
if any of them were very deeply touched by
it. 1t was a familiar story to the good wife,
and she c )uid not keep her thoughts from
! straying anxiously to the loaves rising peril
/ ously In the pans, while Hetty glanced at
the clock and secretly hop d her father had
not Glanced upon long chapter. The read
ing came abruptly to an end with the
heavenly r,j scjng over one sinner that re-
penteth, and with an earnest though homely
| prayer the service was ended Abner and
/ Reuben almost stumbled over woman sit
ting absorbed in the doo--way Sllas looked
at her but did not stay to question, and when
| they were gone she arose and said abruptly,
Will YOU give me some breakfast2p
Mrs. Rodgers looked at her. She saw
| tall and not uncomely woman of about
thirty, but with something indefnably evil
| about her face. The hard mouth, the bold,
defiant eyes repealed her. yet seemed as il at
any instant they might break into scornful
tears.
"Who are you2" asked the gocd wife,
coming near with pan of bread in her
hand. Again the face lightened and dark
ened, grew hard and then yielding, with the
sudden declaration:
al am the piece that was lost"
Martha Rodgers had not a particle of
poetry in her nature but she had the most
profound reverence for the Scripture, there
fore the words both puzzled and shocked
her. But she was not woman 20 refuse
bread to the hungry, so she placed food up
on the table and motioned the woman to ii
chair, with brief, ''Set up ard eat"
All the time that the woman was esting,
AT d she did not hasten her eyes followed
tbe mistress and Hetty, until Martha
Rodgers grew nervous and sent Hetty to
''bed up the chambers.'
AS soon Us she was gone the woman
turned abruptly from her breakfast.
will you give me work to DOR she de-
rnanded rather than asked.
"W arr youG"asked Mrs Rodgers again,
simply 10 gam time.
Il thought you knew am Moll Pritch-
EFT; they have turned me out of my house;
burned it over my b ad,' and tho eyes grew
lur,d with evil
WHAT can YOU dor" asked Mrs Rodgers,
feetly.
Aything that a woman can do, or a
man. can work in the field with the best
OF them; have done it many time but
should like TO do what-to be like other wo-
men,"
Are you a good woman?"
The question came straight and strong. |
without any falte.ing. She had heard oi |
tins Mol Pritchett, woman who lived /
alone in an old tumble-d down hut De low the |
saw mill, and won II mea ger living by weav
ing rag carpe s, licking berries for sale,
and It was suspected in IS reputable ways; |
but Martha Rodgers took no stock in idle
rumos If she had rot divine compassion
she mad something very like divine justice,
which is altogether a sweeter thing in its
of our frame than the tender
mercits of the wicked.
The woman looked at her curiously. At
first with mocsing smile then with sui
len, and II last with defiant expression.
as it llkely?' she said fercely. "a good
woman How should he good woman
| tell YOU I'm the piece that was lost and
nobody ever looked tor nae If was good
woman do you suppose L should be where
be-only twenty-eight years old, well and
hearty, and every door IN the world shut in
my lace? tell We the mar that wrote that
story d dn't know women; they don't hunt
for piece that's lost; they just let it go
There's enough on EN- that don't get lost.
Poor Martha Rodgers was sOrely per-
picked all the more that her way had lain
so smooth and plato before her that she
might have walked in 1t blindfolded. If
this was lost piece of silver it was not she
who lost it: but what If it were the Masters,
precioua to His heart ard careless hand |,
had droI ped it and left it to lie ia the dust2 /
And what if He bsde her seek it and find it |
for Him2 Should she dare refuse2 On |
this very fav, when she needed so sorely |
the help which she had looked for in vain, |
had not this woman been sent to her very |
door, and was 1t not plain leading OF Prov |
idence2 1t is a blessed thing for sthat we
are usually driven To act first and theoriZe |
afterward, even though the aiterthought |
sometimes brings repentance The bread |
was ready for the oven and the wood-box |
was empty.
'.You may fetch in some wood" said
Martha Rodgers, and The woman promptly
obeyed, filing the box with one load of her
sinewv arms, and then stood dumbly wait
ing. Hetty came into the kitchen and be-
gan to clear the table, but her mother took
the dishes from her hands.
Go up stairs and f. tch a big apron and
one of your sweeping caps. and then you
may get at your sewing and see if you can
| finish up YOUR dIess.
Away went Hettv, her light heart bound
ing with the unexpe cted release, and her
mother turned again To the woman, furnish
| ed her with a coarse towel and sent her to
the wash-h use for q thorough publication.
| Half an hour afterwards, with her hair hid
den in the muslin cap. her whole figure en-
veloped IN clean calico apron, q comely
woman was silently engaged in household
ks. doing her work with such rapid skill
that the critical housewife drew a sigh of
relief.
There's hsr.'ful Of towels and coarse
clothes left from the ironing; you might
put the irons on, Mary, and smooth 'em
out"
The woman turned startled face upon
her, and then went quickly for the clothes,
but something-was it tear2-rolled down
the swarthy cheek, and mingled with the
bright drops she sprinkled over them.
When had she ever been called Nary
When had she heard any name but Moll2
Not since away among New Hampshire
hills pale woman had laid her hand upon
the tar ged curs of her little daughter and
orayed that from the strange world to
which she was speeding she might be allow
ed TO watch over these hayward feet, lest
they should go astrsy. Had she watched2
Did she know? Mol hoped not; 1t made
her shudder to think of it. What would
Heaven be worth if she could see and know2
and yet, what did she hear about JOY In
Heaven over one sinner that repented? III
there was Joy it must be that they knew; or
perhaps only good news was carried there.
That night Helty sang again at her sewing
by the lamr. and from the attic WINDOW,