St. Landry democrat., 1883-11-24
der, and thinking thus, Mrs. Foster

der, and thinking thus, Mrs. Foster
sighed, too.
"And what are you signing for,
| Eunice?n said Mrs. Allison, sharply.
4 IF am not thankful, I'll own to it;
and you need not sit there looking like
| a funeral
.'Was I looking gloomy?" said Mrs.
Foster. with little laugh, for she I'M
derstood Mrs. Allison's moods too well
to be offended at her plainess of speech.
| 81 m sorry you have so much trouble,
Catherine, but things will mend after
awhile
| ut is to be hoped they will. But my
foot and ankle don't seem TO improve
at all, and am almost sure I'm going
to have spell of rheumat SIN. my back
and shoulders are SO stiff. hardly
closed my eyes last night. -
'Dear, DEAR said Mrs. Foster, SYM
pathetically. Nov did you ever try
turpentine liniment? just the yelk of
an egg we'll beaten, two wine-glassfuls
of turpentine, and awine-glass Of strong
cider vinegar; when they re well mixed,
three wine glassfuls of water stirred in
little at time. It's just a splendid lin
iment. Father thinks there's nothing
like it. It's too bad about your ankle,
but as [ was telling father, it's a mercy
You didn' break your leg"
..Humph!' was Mrs. Allison's sole
and ungracious rejoinder.
'.Yes, we all have our troubles con-
tinued Mrs. Foster, wiping first one and
then the other Of her glasses. and look
ing thoughtfully into the fire. "Some
of us have one kind, and some another;
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 | had to care for me, and the
children, too. worried a good deal
about them, but they got along about
as well as if had been around. Now
the Lords given you few troubles
g A fewt'' groaned Mrs. Allison.
"Well, He's given you a sprained
ankle, but He's given you a rep-covered
sofa to lie on. You want to be around,
and looking after things. to be 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. It 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 a little triumph
antly. for Mrs. Allison knew she was a
good business Woman), and I have to
look after everything, no one seems to
manage properly. This is a world of
trouble. =
..Oh, yes" said Mrs. Foster, ..but
you know we desire better country,
that is a 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 /
must be going, or father'll think I'm
going to stay all night. But viii you
try the linimentp I'll 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 a blythe good evening
and departed.
81 wonder if I spoke too plain,n she
said, as an hour or two later. she talked
over the afternoons visit with father
Tot bit, not a bit, y 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, II
be bound. y
Whether Mrs. Foster was too plain or
not, Mrs. Allison could not forget her
words; and when the old lady was final
" 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 a Christian, al
belt she confessed herself an unthankful
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 ., 60. e