Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-06-13

sue grew calm, ana began W tuluh oSoi
quietly all she had heard. The longer she
thought, the more reasonable seemed the
charges which had been brought against
her. Had she brought her religion into
her daily life? Was it not true that it
| was kept more for show than for wear?
Bottled up, as lilly had said. and the
| cork taken out only on Sundays and pray
er meetings. Had her religion made her
more lenient to the faults of her daugh-
ter? Had 1t caused her to be more gentle
and kind to her husbandp Had it caused
her to forgive old Miss Starr an offence
of ten years standing?
| Poor Mrs. Baker! the truth brought
home to her thus roughly from other lips
did more towards opening her eyes to her
own past conduct than any advice or
counsel however kindly meant, could bave
done.
When John came in at 10 O'Clock he
was surprised to find his wife in tears.
Such sight. was extremely novel to say
the least, and he was very much distressed
by it. But he was not given any key to
the mystery. Sarah took up her cand lie
and went to bed without word.
Madge thought her mother strangely
silent and subdued the next morning, and
watched her with some anxiety.
! "I'm afraid mothers going to be SICK"
she said to her father, following him out
into the yard when he went to the pump
for pail Of water.
''She does act sorter queer,' adj
mitted John. 1--WE must jest be gentle
with her, and not answer her back il she
gets riled."
AS Madge came back into the kitchen
again, her mother looked up from
the pan of milk she was skimming.
"You can have your club meet here on
Tuesday if you choose, Madge." she said.
''I've thought better of what I said yes
terday."
sob, mother, how good of you !" cried
Madge, running to kiss her-a caress
which Mrs. Baker received very kindly.
"We shall be ever so careful Of the carpet
and curtains. And 1 want to tell you,
mother, that I am sorry made such
|
said, and I'm ashamed of myself. And 1
beg yeur pardon for speaking to you as 1
did. too"
"We'll both forget all about it, said
Mrs. Baker; ''and now"-as John came in
with the water-"I want to hold con-
sultation about Miss Star. 1t is only right
that we should do what we can to help
her. What do you say to a subscription
to buy her another cow, John 2 should
think we could raise enough to buy her
mixer quite as good as old Queen"
"Just the thing!" exclaimed John.
"You have such clear head, Sarah! I'll
put my name down for three dollars.'
"And will carry the subscription paper
around,'' said Madge. "I'm first-class
beggar, you know!"
| The news that Mrs. Baker had under
taken to restore to Mrs. Starr her means
of livelihood few about the village like
wildfre, and handsome sum was soon
raised for the old lady, whose gratitude to
her former enemy, was very touching. She
could not say enough in Mrs. Baker Is
praise.
The first step is always the hardest.
Mrs. Baker found it not at all difficult to
keep on in the new path into which she
had stepped. There were, very naturally,
times when she forgot her new resolu-
tions; but the thought of Miss Tilly's re-
mark about her religion was always suffi.
Gent to give her strength to begin again.
"How good of you, Mrs. Baker, to take
up the cause of that poor Mrs. Starr -
said lilly Marsh, one day, when she met
her neighbor in the village street.
| sit was only my duty" said Mrs. Baker.
II was the only person to see to her, you
know. since I am on the relief commit
| tee..'
When Miss lilly went home she said to
( her mother that she felt sure they had
done Mrs. Baker injustice in thinking her
! vainglorious and selfish.
perhaps we did," said Mrs. Marsh. ST
! don't understand her lately. She isn't at
all as she used to be. Something has
changed her. wish knew what it was"
| But she never did.