Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1885-03-19

ieVeled WITH the Dr00m-handle, Polly
arms being far too short for the pur
pose. Then the layender-scented sheet.
were carefully laid on, with due regard
to wide hem and narrow hem the home.
spun blanket, with its herring bone
boider, was spread without a wrinkle
and tucked under the smoothly-rounded
edges, and over all went the big white
counterpane. 1t was sight to do your
eyes good. Polly was standing with
the end of pillow between her teeth,
her head very far back, trying to slip
the pillow case on, when there was a
sound of wheels at the door. Without
letting 60 the pillow she managed to
apply one eye to the shutter. 1t was
the public carriage, and, wonder OF
wonders, the doctor got out, then Miss
Lois, and, with the help of the driyer,a
man was taken out aud carried up the
walk.
But other eyes than Polly's had been
busy and within forty-eight hours ey-
erybody in Springvale knew that Miss
Lois had recognized an old friend I'm
the peddler and had taken him home to
nurse. And I think that it is to the
credit of human nature that, while
few said Ibid you ever ?"and "How
it looks ?" the majority approved of the
act and only hoped Miss Lois wouldn't
get sick herself.
But Miss Lois kindness was not to
be taxed long. The man failed rapidly,
and another hemmorrhage made the
end certain. He was delirious most of
the time, and talked much of sMaryv
and "Willie' and names strange to
MISS Lois; but as the eEd drew near he
ceased muttering, and lay apparently
unconscious. That night, as she sat
beside him, he looked up suddenly, his
eyes bright and clear.
"Why, Lois ~ he said.
He made an effort to speak, his eye-
lidS!quivered, a breath-and second
time he had gone on long journey,
leaving her behind him.
When the town authorities came to
make arrangements for the funeral,
Miss Lois asked that he be buried in
her own lot, for in the months of her
homesickness she had had the remains
of her father and mother brought from
their bleak hillside graves to rest near
her. So he was laid besides his old
and few months after a
plain marble slab was placed at his
head, bearing only the name "David
Price," with the date of death, and his
age, "52 years."
When Miss Lois wore the gray dress
again Polly noticed that the lavender
ribbons were gone, and about this time
people said to each other that Miss. Lois
was beginning to show her age. Not
that she grew gray and wrinkled sud-
denly; but there was Q. change. 1t was
not her heart that was changed, for her
friends found her more and more de-
lightful, and her house was the fayorite
for young and old. She
seemed TO have special tenderness for
young girls, and many condolences,
or fearful were poured into the
sympathetic ear, and many were the
lovers quarrels healed by her gentle
She used to say sometimes
in wistful way ST want them to
haye all the happiness L haye missed"
But her sympathies were not confined
to the young they overflowed Oh all
who needed them. Discouraged men
and women slouched into her gate at
land came out with their faces
lifted and fresh hope il their hearts.
Naughty boys, who deserved and dread
ed the rod, knocked meekly at her back
door for help, which was always given,
given, mingled with such wholesome
reproof that boy seldom came twice
on the same errand. Even hurt and
homeless animals seemed to know by
instinct where to find an asylum, and
took the shortest route to Miss L0is'
door. and not one was turned away un-
helped.
So the peaceful years shipped away,
until one day her friends gathered to
keep her eightieth birthday and they
said to each other how well Miss Lois
was looking, and that they hoped to
keep her for another ten years and the
house was gay with flowers and little
land Miss Lois beamed on them
until her face seemed transfgured.
That night,as Polly now grown staid
and eldery, went up to her room, she
stopped to see il her mistress was COM
Portable for the night. She found her
sitting in her great armchair, her head
resting lightly against the cushions, and
her eyes closed as though in quiet sleep.
But it was the long sleep. One hand
rested upon package OF Y low letters,
and the thin forefnger of the other had
stopped at verse in the open Bible in
her lay; and when they aised the stiff
ening hands they read the words:.t Even
Christ pleased not Himself
Old and faithful friends gathered up
hel treasures, and when in looking over
her papers they came to the package of
laftarc nd rood the cinnot11roo