The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-01-21
KaRY's OUNCES.

ously upon her lap. "Remember
Mary Hay, he who giveth to th'
poor lendeth to the Lord"
Yes, know, Mrs. Biggard," said
My Hay, with the color coming
am going on her cheek, while sense
OF ,he ridiculous strove within hel
act INST meek consciousness OF the
solemnity of the words just quoted
but the farm hasn't done as well this
year as We expected it to do, and uu
til all the outstanding debts are paid
/ think it would be scarcely just to in
duige myself in the luxury OF subscrib.
ing to the Fund FOR Evangelizing the
Ebos Indians"
Mrs. Biggard clasped the iittle red
morocco subscription-book with a
clicking sound.
"Humph" said she, "why don't
you say at once that you had rather
spend your money in navy-blue silk
gowns and fashy bonnets?"
Mary Redeemed at once to the roots
OF her hair.
Perhaps you are not aware, Mrs.
BIagard," said she, shat the navy
blue dress was mothers old one dyed
over at home, and that the bonnet
WIS a present from my aunt in Spring
field"
"All very well to talk" sputtered
Mrs. Biggard shaking ort her founces.
"But I know that Mr.. Midway will
be powerfully disappointed. He ex-
poets something beside empty talk
from the ladies OF his flock
Once more the roseate color suffused
Mary's cheek.
'My duty is my duty" she said,
land / cannot swerve from it to
please any one, not even Mr. Mild
may"
And the amiable Mrs. Biggard went
straight to the rectory and told Mr..
BIiIdmay "that Mary Hay said she
warn't a-goin' to subscribe to the
fund to please Mr.. Mildmay nor any
one else"
The rector listened in silence, but
he was conscious OF q pang OF inward
annoyance.
He had scarcely expected SO curt q
message from Mary Hay, in whose
dove-iike blue eyes he had SO often
read the light of sympathy, whose
downcast head reminded him OF the
beautiful tgMotor nnlar0oo ~
$50 different from my Ruey, now,
amt she?" said Mrs. Biggard. "Why,
Ruey she's fairly walked through the
soles OF pair O. boots a-solicitin'
subscriptions for the fund. There
never was nobody scdevout as she is.
And she wants to know-my Ruey
does-whether she and Almiry shan't
come over to the rectory an put up
the parlor curtains for you this after
noon?"
"Thank you'll" said Mr.. Midway,
with something of an embarrassed
air; shut dare say that Bridget will
do very well. wouldn't trouble Miss
Zeruiah, and"
go, it won't be no trouble, at ALL"
SAID Mrs. Biggard.
And off she went to give the needful
directions to Zeruiah and Almira, her
two lean, middle-aged daughters.
81 do feel such q motherly sympathy
for bacheldore clergyman" said she.
''There amt no more helpless crea-
ture on the face OF the EARTH"
While Mary Hay, busy at her work
in the farmhouse kitchen, was puzzing
her brains TO think of some posi-
BILE or impossible plan to get little
money to help kind Mr.. Mildmay's
plan along.
81 wish could spare something"
abe said, 'if it was only dollar"
: ~ wish you could, my dear!" said
gentle Mrs. Hay, who had overheard
the eager words.
Mother" cried Mary, "there are
the quinces-down by the railroad!
Why couldn't sell them at thesto
The trees hang full this year, and the
fruit is beautifully perfect.
Hay. ave will go tomorrow and
gather them, Mary-you and l."
Mary went singing about her work
that afternoon. Her heart was
light as any feather. Why, why had
she not remembered the ounce tree
before? Quinces were rare and high
priced this season, and she thought
ahe was certain Of at least IS for the
crop.
But the next day, when she and her
mother-Mrs. Hay carrying the bas-
ket and Mary merrily trundling the
barrow along before her-went down |
TO the orchard, whose slopes extended |
20 the glittering steel rails of the rail-
way, 10, and behold the trees were
utterly stripped OF their golden load.
Mary burst into tears. She sat |
down on the edge of the wheelbarrow
and hid her head in her mothers
apron like child.
30, mother, who has done this2" she
cried. "Who can have been so wicked
so cruel2"
ats the boys, Pm afraid" said
Mrs. Hay. Don't fret, daughter
don't! It's done, and it can't be
helped"
'The boys never served us so be.
fore" said Mary between her sobs.
Eyes, mother, you are right. 1t can't
be helped. Let us go home. There is
an end of the subscription. money
now"
Slowly and sadly the two women
toiled back up the hill with the wheel
barrow and the basket. Mr.. Hay,
lust returned from the harves field,
heard their story with amazement.
sits the first time that ever tree
eli mine was robbed" said he. 81
Aidn't know as we had such boys in
flis neighborhood, but, look here.
Polly, don't cry" laying his broad
Brown hand soothingy on his daugh.
fer's shoulder. "It's always darkest
EAST before daylight. Here's a SIS
Geld piece that Mrs. Blake paid me
Tor the hay in the up medder. l was
roing to take it toward the taxes, but
Al guess taxes can wait"
s'No, father" said Mary, sour just
debts are our just ssbts. I oughtn't
to touch this money"
.sSquinches. en-" said Luke LARA
bee, who had come in with stone
pitcher for gallon of Mrs. Hays cider
vinegar. "Squinches is mighty scuss
this season. see Mrs. Biggard's folks