Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-12-01
MARY'S OUNCES.

30 you won't give US nothla' ior inc
subscription" said Mrs. Biggard, fold.
ing her mttencd hands SIMULTANEOUSLY
upon her lap. 'Rcmembcr Mary Hay,
'hc who givcth to tho POOR lcndeth to
the Lord"
"Ycs, l know, Mrs. Biggard," said
Mary Hay, with the color coming and
going on her check, while sense of the
ridiculous strovc within her, against a
meek consciousness of the solem-
nifty Of the words just quoted; "but
the farm hasn't done rs well this
year as we expected it to do, and until
all the outstanding debts are paid think
it would be scarcely just to indulge my
self in the luxury Of subscribing to the
Fund for the Evangclizing Of the Eboc
Indians"
Hrs. Biggard claspcd the little, red
morocco subscription book with click
ing sound.
"llumphm said she, "Why don't you
say at once that you'd rather spend your
money in navy blue silk gowns and hashy
bonncts ~
Mary rcddcncd to the roots Of her
hair.
"Pcrhaps you arc not aware, Mrs.
Biggard," said she, Chat the navy-bluc
dress was mothers old one, dyed over at
home, and that the bonnet was present
from my aunt in Springfield"
"All very well to talk" sputtcrcd
Mrs. Biggord, shaking out her multitu,
dinous hounccs. "But know that Mr..
Mildmay will be powerfully disap-
p'intcd. lie expects somcthin' besides
empty talk from the ladies of the flock. I"
Once more the roscatc color sulruscd
Mary's check.
my duty is my iuty." goid she, "and
cannot swcrvc tromit to please any
one--not even Mr.. Mldmay."
And the amiab.e Mrs. Biggard went
straight to the rcctory AMI told Mr..
Mildmay "that Mary Hay said she
warn't a-goin' to subscribe TO the fund,
to please Mr.. Mildmay nor any one
rlse."
The rector listened in silence, but he
ws3 conscious Of apang of inward annoy
-.-sc.
IIe had scarcely expected so curt q
message from Mary Hay, in whose dove
like blue eyes he had so often read the
light of sympathy, whose down-cast
head reminded him of the beautiful
"NIater Dolorosa."
$50 different from my Rucy, now,
amt shc2' said Mrs. Biggard. "Why
Rucy she's fairly walked through the
soles Of pair o boots a-solicitin' sub.
,crirtions for the fund. There nev.r
was nobody so devoIt as she is. And
she wants to know-my Rucy does
whether she and Almiry shan't come over
TO the rcctory an put up the parlor
Curtains for you this afternoon"
"Thank you!" said Mr.. Mlldmay, with
something of an embarrassed air; "but
I dare say that Bridget will do very
we'll. / would't trouble Miss zcruiah,
and"
ooh, it won't be no trouble at ali r'
said Mrs. Biggard.
And off she trudged to give the need.
full directions to Zcruiah and Aim ra, her
two lean, middlc-aged daughters.
81 do feel such a motherly sympathy
for bachcldorc clergyman ~ said she
"Therc amt no more helpless creetur on
the face of the earth"
While Mary Hay, busy at her work in
the farm-hou c kitchen, was puzz'in her
brains to think up some possible or i'm
possible plan 10 get a little moncyto help
kind Mr.. MiIdmay's plan along.
81 wish l could spare something" she
said, 'If it was only dollar"
81 wish you could, my dcarw said
gentle Mrs. Hay, who had overheard tho
eager words.
"Mother," cried Mary, "thcrc are the
quinces-thc ounces down by the rail.
road Why couldn't | sell them at the
storal The trees hang full this year,
md the fruit is beautifully fcrfcct!'
81 never thonSht of that" said Mrs.
Hay. "Wc'll go tomorrow and gather
them, Mary--you and l."
Mary went singing about her work
that afternoon Her heart was light N
any feather. Why, why had she not re-
membercd the quince.trec before
Quincs were rare and high-priccd thi:
season, and she thought she was certain
OF at least five do.lr, for the crop.
But the next day, when she and he,
mother Mrs. Hay carrying the baskc
and Mary merr.ly trundling the barrow
along before her went down to tht
| onnbor1 uhnoo c'onna cytnnlnl tn fin