The Red Cloud chief., 1881-08-04
young folks of Dur
evening in hose Two

She missed most OF all her weekly even
ing meeting, but she lived so near the
church she could still near the old sweet
hymns float over, and, on Sundays.
Charles took care Of baby while she
went to her Sunday-school class, and
on alternate Sundays they went, n or
the other, to church. Whatever Mary
gave in charity was as the widow mite
to her. for she was sorely pinched for
the real needs of life. She could, and
did. give away mcnded aud faded gar
mcnis; stockings she knit ''between
daylight and dark" some food to the
absolutely starving. some small de!ica-
cies to the sick poor: time 10 visit the
lonely, the sad and the ailing she also
gave, for she could carry her BABY
along, and found over and ove again
that the bright. unconscious face. the in
nocent smile. the unsympathctic calm
and sweetness of the child, did really
more good TO sick or sufferer than her
own words or feeling. Her life was so
I quiet, her opportunities so small, that IT
ran on like a hidden brook in q meadow
whose course YOU only trace b. the
greener and stronger grasses that con-
/ Gtdi H. lCL lhCiC HG h'b q
sick or sad person who did not
want to see Mary Plat, and her hap
py laugh good like medicine
wherever it was heard. After several
years they were able TO take a Title
house to themselves, and from its gar
den. solely Mary's care, came the first
strawberries, the freshest radishes, the
~crispcst lettuce. not only to add To then
own meals but to share with the neigh
bors. and The one early apple tree that
shaded her kitchen door was a blessing
10 everybody who liked the fruit.
Give. and it shall be given unto you."
was abundantly realized; when. time
after time, the delicate baby sickcned
and fought IFS way back to life again
with Il ienacity babies only possess,
watchers were always ready to take the
mothers place at night, dainty food
sent in, every kindness that country
ncighborhood' can show lavished upon
her. for all her neighbors had some
debt of kindIess TO pay.
Then her cellar never was empty. for
one would send her n barrel of apples,
another a bushcl of potatoes, and still!
another a few rarsnips, a head or two
OF cabbage. a jug If cider vinegar. al
never saw such good peop C in my ] fe,
she sid once to Charles, with tears 1T
her eyes; they're always doing some.
thing for us
..Strangr. amt itg" said Charles,
smiling with n queer smile. but he said
no mere he knew very well why they
were 50 kind. hut lie would not tel
Mary. he loved hcI with all his heart
but he was too shy to praise her, a tel
the r~eticent New EnglaId fashion.
So the DAYS passed, carrying Will
them their little cares and little pleas
ures: AID Charles and Mary found tina
if their lfe was not all sunshine, th'
sunshine which did come into il was al
; the swceter because of the occaSDona
shadow. The tastes of neither were
expensive: they did not pine after lux
: urics Which thcy could rot afford, an'
were og,.e content with thee en- cOurs'
: of their quiet home life.
} After a while Charles fell i'll OF
fever, and the extra necessities OF sick
: ness brought them into DEBT; this was
; real trouble To Mary; 10 hove all goin:
: out and nothing coming in seemed hare
D TO her; her husband was not danger
I oEslv i'll, but he could not work; it wa
four long months before he resumed hi
plscc in the store, and they were almoS
: two hundred dollars in debt. Bu
Mary's cheerful faith and courage he'll
7 mp her husband in this strait. If sh
q was troubled he ncverl new il; shetoo
: in what sewing she could get, sold he
I vegetables and fruit to the tavern
keeper, instead of giving them away
Z and mcndad the old clothes for then
selves instead of the poor about then
for she knew wei! justice is better tina
generosity. Slowly, almost cen b
u cent. she laid up a few dollars, an
Z applied them in these small sun
y TO their debts. Charles zane HON
U one night in n Responding moo
Il enough; he had been dunned by tn
J villa e apo.hecarv for his bill. an
y though he did not mean to tell Mar
she D coaxed out of him the seer,
> Of his weary fac and aching head; 81
. heard his story silently, and then wei
y TO the drawer where her coin acc,
AZ INFLATED, and brought ont with the lit
- box a bundle OF billS-ior she had e.
VI acted n receipt for even the smal'e.
=. sum paid in-and now out of dime
quarters. FIVE cent pieces. here an
" there a dollar bill, she counted out t.
y, dollars, and, running over what ST
n had already paid on ac. mt, fouu
y, they were but five dollars in debt whe
- that ten should be paid. The druggi
- was a careless man. and. earer fl
~ money. had zone to Charles with n b
~ on which none of Mary's payments h:
&c been entered. Here was a pleaSaI
az enough surprise for the cast-down ma
l, to be sure there were still debts remain
\: ing. but there was an outlook OF no;
III before him; and as he sat- down tn
= day to a meal of potatoes. corn-brea
=. greens. and a bit of salt beef so SINS
it was but a relish merely for the veg
tables, a literal dinner of herbs" Il
text came involuntarily to his lips. al
: he smiled as he looked over a. Ma,
-, and little Nelly. and repeated the wor
- of the wise man; for he had. indee
+ the love and faith that made power
y sweeter than many a rich feast.
N. Yet his naturally respondent natu
gave way sometimes; he hated to s
a. his wife working so hard, sparing
steadily. pinching in all her comfort
if and n day the isslipg found word
m as he watched fcf tmif fingers pullir
To in and out the little household dagg
that has stabbed so many a life out Wi
its countless thrusts.
,el "How tired Won look, Molly"
said. sadly. Il hate the sight of
hin needle in Your h,nds; it seems as
a you were sewing yourself instead
a Mr.. Peters shirts. Oh, if we we
q only rich!'
re. Don't say that, Charley she 3
we swered. with a keen pain in her tor
Don't wish for money; aren't we ri
not in ever SO many things money dol
bit, fetch? What a lot OF friends we In
The got all round; what q nice little HOT
and lovely garden; and Nelly, a
m. each other. and'-here her voice I
to with feeling and awe and treasI
laid up where moth and rust don't C,
ed, rupt."
lid II know if. dear; but sometim,
ew when you work so hard, l do wis
;he could give you some rest and pleasure
,he "Why l don't want any," she T;