The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1888-03-29

Z
violets; sent and robbed the church this
morning You needn't look serious the
flowers were my own You love flowers,
can see it by your eyes--and it was for youi
! eyes l brought them No, am not going tc
take the chair, but sit right here on tina
| bed, so
Who couldwithstand Mrs Marsden In such
a moody Not little Lily, who capitulated al
| once and let her hand lie willingly In the
warm, soft clasp of its captor.
Now, tell me, aren't you very much sur
prised?"
Lily's wondering had taken such celestial
sweeps that an angel would hardly have
been a surprise; so she answered:
yes. ma'am, that is, not so very much
did think mamma would tell God, and am
80 glad 1t is better to be little girl than
a sparrow, isn't it, Sister says God cares
| for the sparrows; only sometimes when she
is so long away, it seems as if God might
forget a little girl that couldn't go out OF
doors, where He could see her real plain
Certainly the pain of yesterday has gone
to Mrs Marsden's heart And OH the fan
tastic ghost of that murdered bonnetl Why
would it pursue heri She pats the little
cheek, and smooths the bright hair.
Where is your sister, child? Why is she
not with youg"
The child fanoied an implied rebuke in
the question, and fastened to the defence.
SISTER never leaves me except when
she's at work, and even then, if she is near
enough, she always runs home TO see me at
lunch time. 1t was much nicer when she
used to paint and do Kensington and that
because l could watch her, but people
would not buy her things, though they
were so nice; and sometimes we had such a
Ia IN cat hot NM
crumbs out on the ledge for the sparrows
She always puts some now before she goes,
and sometimes a beautiful pigeon comes
and eats the crumbs / wish / could have
IL for my own
Kiss the child, Mrs Marsden, and try to
smother an uncomfortable suspicion that
DR. Lucy deliberately stopped short OF tell
ing her story last night
Sister will be so glad you brought the
flowers says the child, because she
meant to bring me some last night, only
she couldn't because" - and Just here
Bessie enters, flushed from her work at the
stove, and stands looking in bewiderment
at the scene The situation would have
been much more embarrassing for Mrs
Marsden had she not been good woman
Like many another good woman, her vision
was usually focused for long-range benev-
olence. You can't see Breeds court when
on are looking at BenareA But there was
no hesitation when Mrs Marsden did see.
Impulsively, she moved 10 whore Bessie
stood, and taking her hand, said: You
must forgive me, dear have been very
foolish woman, but ] am not wicked ]
hope that il muy vet prove good for MS
both, and for the dropping Lily there that
my foolishness sent you away with an
empty purse on the eve OF Easter / will
send Mary 10 make amends for my remlss-
ness in the morning and you will come and
call on me in the afternoon, In token that
You forgive me"
Bessy's trembling lips could not frame
reply any more than they could refuse the
kiss OF peace that was laid upon them
Mrs Marsden went her way, and as she
went she saidi
thank Thee, Lord, for this Easter day
ana for Thy ministry" and for answer
came the sweet salutacion to her spirit
Peace be unto thee
The ghost OF the bonnet was laid from
that momer& And but for all this fuss
about honnet Bessie Bartram might
pever have moved out from Breeds court
and Lily lacked the sEill and kindness that
made her a strong and healthy girl2 Who
knows; for AGod fulhlls Himself in many
wayAA But SO il happened and Mrs Mars
den never puts on her Easter bonnet with
out Then she did 60 back to her old
friYoiityf PoChl One must have bonnsts.
and then there's O world of difference be-
tween bonnets for Raster and Easteg f0i