The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-12-04

sunny room was Mrs. Catharine Ali
sons sitting room. But that small, old
lady, who lay ON the sofa in the warm.
est corner of the room, had little of
sunshine about her.
A fretful experience shone in her
sharp, dark eyes and the lines about
her thin lips were not pleasant. The
other lady, also elderly, who sat oppo-
site Mrs. Allison, seemed more in keep
ing with the surroundings. Peace was
written all over the fair placid face. in
the kindly eyes, the firm, sweet mouth,
the faded. wrinkled hands, now knitting
with the unhurried grace which belongs
only to the aged. Mrs. Eunice Foster
seemed an impersonation of the calm
autumn day without.
tits week to Thanksgiving" she
said as she counted the stitches on her
seam needle,
Mrs. Foster made this brief remark
in u half apologize tone, as if she rath-
er expected to Ike contradicted, or called
to account in some way for her state
ment; for Mrs. Allison was in the habit
OF differing from other people at first,
whether she was Of their opinion or not.
But at present she was too much occu-
pied with her own grievances to dissent
as she usually did.
| well, I must say I don't feel special
ly thankful" said Mrs. Allison, draw
ing the afghan over her knees. i've
just had one trouble after another all
this year. There was that cheating
tenant on the upper place; and then me-
laid flat O my back in the very hottest
of the summer; and what with the
drought and poor season the crops are
failure. Now, here I nm with
sprained ankle, and nobody knows when
can put foot to the ground-if ever I
can-and all my business, and the whole
place going to rack for need of some
one to look after things" And Mrs.
Allison drew long sigh of self-pity,
and wiped her eyes upon very fine
| linen-cambric handkerchief.
Mrs. Foster glanced around the
bright room, SO full of comforts, and
even luxuries; then out upon the trim,
well-kept grounds, and beyond to the
wide fields where the stacked corn was
standing in low rows. She thought of
the stores of untouched provisions in
the great, neat, house, and how easy it
was for the thin, withered hands near
her to trace few words upon paper
which would turn that paper into mon
ey value. She thought how little
spared from Mrs. Allison's abundance
would bring pleasure and thankfulness
into less favored homes; she thought
how her friend had it in her power to
uplift some bowed with toll. to add
comfort to some sick chamber, and
sparse larder, and thinking thus, Mrs.
Foster~sighcd, too.
And what are you signing for,
Eunice?" said Mrs. Allison, sharply.
IF am not thankful, I'll own to it;
and you need not sit there looking like
q funeral"
"Was looking gloomy?" said Mrs.
Foster, with little laugh, for she I'M
derstood Mrs Allison's moods too we'll
to be offended at her plainness of speech.
IL m sorry you have so much trouble.
Catherine, but things will mend after
awhile"
1T is to be hoped they will. But
my foot and ankle don't seem to i'm
prove at all, and am almost sure I'm
going to have spell of rheumatism,
my back and shoulders are so stiff l
hardly closed my eyes last night"
Dear, DEAR" said Mrs Foster, SYM
pathetically. "Now, did you ever try
turpentine llniment? just the yelk of
an egg we'll beaten, two wine glassfuls
of turpentine, and wine glass of strong
cider vinegar; when they're we'll mixed
three wine-glassfuls of water stirred in
a little at a time. It's just splendid
liniment. Father thinks there's nothing
liks it. It's too bad about your ankle,
but as l was telling father, it's mercy
you didn't break your Leg"
"Humph !" was Mrs. Allisons sole and
ungracious rejoinder.
Eyes, we all have our troubles" con-
tinued Mrs. Foster, wiping first one
and then the other of her glasses. and
looking 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 fer
us. For good many years He saw
best to give me poor health, but then a
| woman never had kinder, more at
tentive husband than I had to care
for me, and tho children, too. I wor-
ried a good deal about them, but they
got along about as we'll as if had been
around. Now the Lords given you q
few troubles"
"A few!" groaned Mrs. Allison.
"Well, He's given you sprained an
kle, but He's given you rep covered
sofa to lie on. You want to be around,
and looking after things, to be sure F.;
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 childr, n needing mother so
sadly. The Lord sent the drought on
your land, too, but oil your crops are
not spoiled, like Mr.. Wheeler's, by that
dreadful hailstorm: and then his house
burnt to the ground. All, Catherine,
your back may ache, but the Lord has
given you very soft pillows to rest on !;
some folks haven't even straw"
ooh, yes, Eunice," said Mrs. Allison,
moving uneasily. "You always see the
best side of every thing. 1t is very ca
sv for you to talk, but you don't know
the half of the care I have. You know
Mr.. Allison's affairs had all to be
Strengthened out by me (this little
triumphantly, for Mrs. Allison knew
she was good business woman), and
have to look after everything, no one
seems to manage properly. THIS is a
world of trouble"
ooh, 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 good thing to do, if you don't feel
specially thankful yourself-but know
you will after you think quietly awhile
see if you cannot make somebody
else thankful. Try it, and see if you
don't grow thankful yourself. Now
must be going, or father1l think I'm
going to stay all night. Blu: will you
try the lini ment? I'll make some, and
send it over the first thing in the morn
ing"