The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-25

Day dlltE udy JllG COlu WdIeE was pldCGu
beside the thirsty soul. Day after day the
bedding was smoothed and the pillows
shaken up, but not one word of thanks did
the ministering factory girl receive. Let
us not blame poor Nancy too much, she
was slowly wasting away, not in "crass
consumption, but with a disease that UNI
strung every nerve.
November, with its biting winds and
chilling storms, passed away, and Deem
Der, with its bitter cold and blocking SHOWS,
speeding towards its close, brought the day
which reminds us of the lowly born Babe
who came to bring gifts unto men. On
Christmas eve Julia laid beside the pitcher
of fresh cold water card bearing on it a
cross and the inscription: "An heir of God
through Christi and Fastening to the
depot was soon on the way to her native
city where the Christmas welcome Of her
mother and sister awaited her.
81 don't see," said one of Julia's room
mates, as she seated herself at the tea-table
the same evening, II don't see what my
lady Leighton wants to fash herself with
that ugly old thing upstairs for She
don't get a thank yer for it. Wonder if
she thinks Nancy's goin' ter leave her
money to her. They say she's got pile
slowed away somewheres.n
"Much we knows about it,n said Maggie
O'Brien. Didn't yez hear Mr.. Smithers
sayin' lasth wake Nancy'd splnt mhost
ahl her money fur shares in Their Updown
mile Niver a clint has it paid, it's a year
gone now an Mr.. Smithers' thinkin' it
niver'll pay fur a long day yit, Sure, eff
yez didn't hear that same Miss Leighton
was hearin' it.. It's me own belafe it's love
ave the good Lord, niver mind if she do be
goin' ter Yankee church livery Sunday.
It's love ave the good Lord that's maxim
Miss Leighton take pity on Nancy. Amy
way, it's meself'd be ashamed ter say a
name thing concarnin' Their likes ave her,
this blessed Christmas time.n
All things come to an end, human suffer
ing, as well as human JOY The time came
when Nancy needed not even "a cup of cold
water" When Julia entered her boarding
house one New Years eve, Mrs. Smithers
handed her a sealed note The factory CIR
opened it, and to her surprise, found writ
ten, in trembling hand, the following
| words:
81 haven't q blood relation living in the
| world haven't but one friend in the world
Miss Julia Leighton. What has made her nevel
| miss all these long weeks, bringing me tina
| blessed cold water and turning my pillows, M
matter how cold or stormy it was or how tireC
she was, yes or how cross 1 wasH know no
If it was not the love of the dear Lord in whom
l have learned to trust since she began to min
lister unto me. win she see that my poor bod!
has decent burial and then take all of min,
there is left for her own. ANA may God bles
her and hers, NANCY BENT
The signature was duly witnessed by one
of the factory overseers, Mrs. Smithers an(
son.
Julia stood beside Nancy Bent's last rest
ing place and wept tears of sincere sorrow
not for lone loved and lost" but becaus
this sister had lived so loveless life tina
there had been no one who, for real friend
ships sake, had ever wished her a Merr,
Christmas or a Happy New Year. The bill'
for the simple ceremonial and its concomi
tants being settled and the clergyman be
ing paid a moderate fee, there was left t
the heir nothing but the Updown stock.