The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-11-22

,
but the Lord generally deals out to US
just the kind He sees fit for US. For a
good many years He saw best to give
me poor health. but then woman new
er had a kinder, more attentive hus-
band than l had to care for me, and the
children, too. l worried a good deal
about them, but they got along about
as well as if l had been around. Now
the Lords given you few troubles
"A few" groaned Mrs. Allison.
"Well, He's given you a sprained
ankle. but He's given you rep-covered
sofa TO lie on. You want to be around
and looking after things. to he sure; but
think how much better off you are than
poor Mrs. Vaughn, lying where she
knows she'll never get up, and all her
poor little children needing mother so
sadly. The Lord sent the drought on
your land, too, but all your crops are
not spoiled, like Mr.. Wheeler's, by
that dreadful hail-storm; and then his
house burnt to the ground. All, Cath
crime, your back may ache, but the
Lord has given you very soft pillows
to rest on; some folks haven't even
straw"
"Oh, yes, Eunice," said Mrs. Allison,
moving uneasily. ''You always see the
best side of everything. 1t is very easy
for you to talk, but you don't know the
half of the care have. You know Mr..
Allison's affairs had all to be straight
ened out by me (this little triumph
antly, for Mrs. Allison knew she was a
good business wOman), and have to
look after everything, no one seems to
manage properly. This is world of
trouble"
sob, yes" said Mrs. Foster, ''but
YOU know we desire better country,
that is Heavenly If we only reach
that world, these troubles will seem very
small. But, Catherine, I'll tell you a
good thing to do, if you don't feel
specially thankful yourself-but know
you will after you think quietly awhile
see if you can not make somebody
else thankful. Try it, and see if you
don't grow thankful yourself. Now L
must be going, or father'n think I I'm
going to stay all night. But will you
try the liniment? III make some, and
send it over the first thing in the morn
ing
''If you please" was Mrs. Allison's
reply, in a strangely softened voice.
And good Mrs. Foster, having endeav-
ored to give medicine to soul and body,
babe her friend blythe good evening
and departed.
q wonder if spoke too plain she
over the afternoons visit with father"
Not bit. not n bit, said Mr.. Eos
ter, heartily. Folks can generally
take your plain talk BETTER most peO-
pies soft talk; and Catherine Allison
ought to hear plain talking once in
awhile. She's plain enough herself, I'll
be bound"
Whether Mrs. Foster was too plain or
not, Mrs. Allison could not forget her
words; and when the old lady was final
ly helped to her room, and to bed, she
could not sleep, but began to think over
her old friends suggestion, that she
"make somebody else thankful" And
Catherine Allison was Christian, al
belt she confessed herself an unthanlful
one. She was Bible-reader, and Bible
words intermingled with Mrs. Fosters.
BLESSED is he that considereth the
poor: the Lord will deliver him in time
of trouble. The Lord will strengthen
him upon the bed of languishing:
Thou wilt make all his bed in his sick
ness
81 have not sufficiently considered
the poor, therefore perhaps the Lord
has withheld His strength from me.
Make some one else thankful!'-where
shall 1 begin?"
To be sure there was her poor neigh
Dor, Mrs. Vaughn, wasting away with
an incurable disease, and her poverty
did not admit of procuring delicacies
which might tempt the fitful appetite.
Mrs. Allison bethought her of the many
jelly glasses and the canned fruits in
her closets, and mentally set apart u
portion for the invalid. There, too,
was the Wheeler family, who had lost
their home by fire. and who were now
receiving the half-welcome shelter of
brothers already overcrowded house.
The tenant house on her own upper
place was empty; why should she not
offer it rent free to honest John Wheel
er for the winter?
''And Walter-my poor Walter!''
And now tears, not entirely for herself,
came into Mrs. Allson's sleepless eyes.
If any one ever crept into the tenderest
corner of Catherine AllisOn's heart it
was heryoung brother Walter She had
married a cousin. and had not changed
her maiden name; indeed, she delighted
to say she had "always been an ALI
SON." Walter, many years younger
than herself, had been left to her care
by their dying mother, and Catherine
had given the boy all mothers care,
if she could not give motherly tender
ness. He never knew how dear he was
to his fault-1inding sister, and when
come to mans estate he could no longer
endure the incessant contradiction
and fault-fnding of her home, so
he sought another home and en-
ploymslt in city. Then he
added 70 his offense by taking to him
self a wife without eonfding in the
least in his sister. For awhile he and
his young Sife endeavored to keep up
the family intercourse by letters, but
Mrs. Allison grew cooler and cooler, and
at last all communication ceased be-
tween them. But no one knew how
Mrs. Allison's heart yearned after
Walter, and tonight it ached for "her
boy.''
She had heard some way that he was
IL IL