The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-12-09
DOT.
A story Of the Fresh-Air Fund.


A story OF the Fresh.Air Fund.
'Tt's harum-scarum idea," said Miss Re-
lance Roxbury, as she stood among the cur
rant bushes at the garden fence "a most
ridiculous ideal / wonder what this gushing
American people will DO nextr' and she gave
an emphatic twitch to her purple calico sun
bonnet.
There was a faint murmur of dissent from
little woman on the other side of the moss
grown fence.
continued Miss Reliance, as the clusters OF
ruby and pearl flew into the six-quart pail at
her feet. you're so soft-hearted that your
feelings are forever running away with your
common sense. You never say q word about
the National debt, or the condition of our
navy, but let anybody start subscription for
sending blanket shawls to Brazil or putting
up a monument to Methusaleh on the meeting
house green, you'll give your last quarter.
And now you're going to open your house 10
lot of little rsgsmuffsns from New Yorkp'
The notherly brown eyes on the other side
OF the fence we're full Of tears, and pleasant
voice replied:
cit makes my heart ache to think how the
poor things suffer, crowded together In dirty
streets, with never breath of clover field or
q glass OF milk. II you'd just read about it.,
Reliances you'd count 1t q blessed privilege to
give them bit OF our sunshine"
''rd as soon have tribe OF Zulus on the
place." said Miss Reliance, s'and IL you'll take
my advice you'll save yourself lots Of trouble"
Mrs. Lane stopped her work for moment
and said:
'sLiakim and me are all alone now, Re-
lance. One by one, we've laid Kate aud Sarah
and baby Lizzie over there IN the old buryng
ground; and Jack is in Colorado, and Richard
In Boston, aud VIC get hungry somelim lines for
the sound of little feet. When began to
read about the fresh-air fund IL kind OF sent
thrill all over me, and 'Liakim he reads about
It every day, and he wipes his glasses pretty
sften, too. Then, when we heard the par
son say that party would come here II
places could be found for 'em, 'Liakm spoke
right OF for four, and they'll be here next
Tuesday, and I'm going to make It just as
much like heaven as can"
you'll make yourself sick. that's what
you'll do, Amanda Lane" replied Miss Re-
lance, "but II you want your garden overruu
and your silver spoons stolen, and your house
It's your own fault. must 90 In and get my
Jelly started.n
Miss Roxbury went up the pa between the
sunhowers and hollyhocks, entered the large,
sunny, airy kitchin, and set down the pail OF
currents for Hannah, the house maid, to pick
over. Then she hung the purple-calico sun
bonnet on the pail that for forty years had
been devoted to that purpose, and went into
the cool sitting room to rest in her favorite
chutz covered rocker. Miss Reliance Rox-
bury had been for twenty years, with the ex-
ception Of gardener and housemaid, the sole
occupant OF this ancient stone dwelling, that
had stood for more than century beneath its
elms and naples, the pride Of the village of
Lynford. She was q stern woman, who liked
but few people, and had horror OF children,
dogs and sentiment. The village boys, with
keen perception of her unsympathetic
nature, called her "Old Ironsides."
She was proud of her birth and OF the sub
stautial property that had fallen to her at the
death of her father, old Judge Roxbury.
She was q member OF the Presbyterian
Church, and paid a high rental for the Roxbury
pew, but with that considered that her pecu-
mary obligations to the cause were at an end.
As q general thing, she had not allowed con-
victions on the subject of giving to trouble
her, but somehow, ever since Sunday, when
the pastor stated the work OF the fresh-air
fund and made fervent appeal for ''these
little ones that suffer-" she had been sub
5ected to numerous vague but uncomfortable
sensations. She rocked back and forth In the
spacious sitting room that no fly dared to
invade. and noted the perfect order Of the
apartment. From the china shepherdess on
the ma tel, to the braided rugs at the doors.
everything occupied the same position as In
the days OF Miss Roxbury's girlhood. There
was torture in the thought of having the table
SVtCt Ptiitu oWty, VI sctiuX Tic Shells ana
prim old daguerrotypes disarranged on the
what-not, OF having sand tracked In By small
feet over the faded Brussels carpet, and her
pet verbena bed invaded by eager young
fingers.
Surely, religion and humanity could not
demand such sacrifices OF her.
"Please, ma'am, the curran.s is ready to be
put over" said Hannah. at the door.
Miss koxbury rose at once, glad of another
channel Tor her thoughts, but, amid her weigh
ing and measuring, and her careful calcula-
lions OF pints aud pounds. the strange impress
sion did not leave her .uind.
Alter the rich crimson syruphad been poured
into the row OF shining tumblers on he table,
she returned to her chintz covered rocker. and
took up the Bible TO read her daily CHAPTER.
Opening 1t st random, her eyes fell upon these
words:
''Then shall He answer them, saying: Tn-
asmuch as ye did 1t not unto one OF the least
of these"
Miss r 'xhury read no further on that page.
but hurredly turned back to Chronicles, which
she felt was perfectly safe ground But.
mingled with the long genealogical tables, she
saw other words between the lines, so that the
lsraelitish recorsis read thus:
The son OF Elkanah, the son OF Joel, the
son OF Azsriah. eye did 1t not.'lr
The son OF Tahath, the son OF Assir, the
son OF Eoiasaph, the SON OF Korah. eye did
Finally, the whole page seemed to resolve
itself into these four monosyllsbles.
She closed the Bible and put it In its accus-
toned place on the table, bounded on the north
By the lamp, on the south by the matchbox,
on the east by Bunyans Pilgrims Progress"
aud on the west by bunch OF worsted roses
under glass case She was restless, misera-
BILE, tornen' ed. She endeayored to read the
Life OF Napoleon Bonaparte, - but even the
thrilling story Of the Russian campaign was
lacking In interest, compared with her own
inward conflict between du and the cold self
ishness Of lifetime.
She did not enjoy the dinner. although the
butser-beans were from her garden. and the
black raspberries were the 6rst Of the season