The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-04-19


not been invited to the party, and did
not know whereof she talked. We
were all in u state Of excitement. and
discussed tho matter In every available
opportunity. We remembered indeed,
that the invitation came from M'randy
Sayles; buc, thon, party was party.
and though few affected Indifference,
and spoke Of attendance as doubtful.
each one Of us was secretly eager to
go, and determined upon 1T If leave
could bo obtained. How that point
was managed in all the homes there Is
no record 10 show; but certain 1t is
that when the appointed hour came,
every one was at the trysting-place,
clean dresses, white aprons, and tempt
Ing baskets doing honor to the invita-
tion.
Evidently M'randy had not expected
so general response. and her round
face grew brighter and brighter, until
it was as full of sunshine as q mortal
face could be.
"All ready? Come on" she said.
We followed through the grove and
down the road to little house at the
edge Of the meadow, and there our
leader paused. We knew the place.
Mrs. Burns took in plain sewing,
quilting, even washing and ironing oc-
casionally, for any one in the village
who wanted such work kdone-anything
by which she could provide for herself
and Annie. Little Anne, delicate al.
ways. had attended school in an irreg-
lar fashion before the attack or scarlet
fever which left her lame and helpless,
but we had almost forgotten, in tho
year that had passed, that she had ever
been one Of US.
"There2 A party at Widow Burns'I'
exclaimed one Of the girls, pausing In
dismay and disappointment. But
| M'randy and those In advance had al
ready been admitted; and, a moments
lrresolution, the others followed. The
house was In its neatest order, and
Mrs. Burns quick welcome showed
that she expected us. 'Though I
din't think there'd be SO many" she
said. laughing and nodding cheerlly.
s.Annie is pleased. Just look at her."
She was we'll worth looking at; her
cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkling
with the delightful surprise.
stIsn't Il nicer How did you over
think OF it? Oh, mamma, isn't il
nlce?" she replied joyously; AMI the
mother laughed with tears In her eyes.
Such all afternoon as that wasl
M'randy took the lead naturally. "Her
foot was on its native heath" here;
and, indeed, Mrs. burns and Annie
appealed to her constantly. 1t was
| M'randy who thought Of one game
after another in which Annie could
ioin, and who suggested adjournlng to
the yard, and carrying Annie's chair
out to the porch, when the house grew
too small for our merriment. Then
she helped Mrs. Burns construct a
long table on the porch when tea-time
came, and to arrange upon It the con-
tents Of the baskets we had brought;
and tempting sight it was, with fruits
and dalnties enough to coax Annie's
| bppOVlGo lOA " ouJ eASSA Aoh
guests had departed.
After that. in the pleasant twilight,
Mrs. Burns asked us to sing. And as
we sang our Sunday-school hymn our
I'hearts grew hushed and tender, and
mora than one cheek flushed at the un-
deserved praise when tho mother
thanked us for coming, and said rs
she bade us goodnight, 'sYou don't
know how much good you've DONE"
It had done us good, even though
we were rather a quiet party as we
walked homeward through the grove.
When we reached tho crooked pine,
our parting place, M'randy suddenly
inquired:
| well, are you. sorry you wentp"
"Nol No, indeedl We had q splen.
| did time!'' was answered in chorus.
And then Lizzie asked, curiously:
| "M'randy, how did you come to
think of itf''
"Well, 60 there so much; and i,
then, IL kind Of know how it feels to
be lonesome" said M'randy, slowly.
"But what made mo think OF it most
Of all was tho last Sunday school les.
son, about when thou makest feasto
you know. IIe said what ones to do it
for, that's all.
Brave, true-hearted, little M'randyI
She did not look poor or common to
one OF us as she turned away in the
gray light Of that evening. We said
not word to each other OF change Of
feeling or purpose; but when she came
in the schoolyard tho next morning
jast as we were choosing for a game.
] Helen CamDbelpJ voice rano nnt aa