, 1889-01-10

VII Juc utkub OcIOTt woman
sat near Il rough table. sewing. The feeble
rays OF light that came from the candle
did not entirely dispel the darkness of the
room. The fireplace, though large, was
not bountifully fed, and the light that
came from 1t was not sufficiently strong to
aid materially the Pickering candle rays
Indeed the warmth that came from the
wide opening was insufficient to keep tie
occupants OF the room comfortable. The
room itself was uninviting. It was made
OF logs rough and unsightly; the cracks
were daubed with mortar.
The room had formerly been divided in
two, but the partition was taken out and
strips of wood crossed the floor and
marked the place the partition had occu.
pied.
The strips constituted boundary line,
and when one stepped over the line, one
was in Janey's room.
Poor and bare us James room was, the
other was poorer and barer.
There were pieces of carpet on the floor
in Janey's room, there was none on the
other.
There we're two or three bright colored
pictures tackled to the wall of Janey's
room, the other walls were without sin.
gle ornament.
The window in Janey's room had cheap
calico hangings, the other window had
none.
There was little stand, on which were
Janeys bo0ks-the New Testament, u
third reader, spelling book, and slate
and pencil.
There was, toO. dish that held some
winter ferns and bunch of beautiful
white vioets. Some velvety moss covered
tue tender roots and held the moisture
that helped sustain the frail flower life.
This stand with its simple ornament
was placed within easy reach of Janey,
who lay on her bed, a cripple.
The cTutch that used to be near was not
needed any m ore, aud it was placed in the
corner near the window. Two children
played in the other room. Their PLAY
was noisy and rough; but the exercise
kept the blood moving in their bodies
The woman that was sewing was rough
looking, too.
The fair delicate child and the dish
with the green and whIte-well, all OF
that seemed out of keeping with the sur.
roundings.
The woman S face bore traces of deep
sorrow. But the sad expression that
generally comes to the face of one who is
passing that way was not seen on this
face.
Lines, hard and deep-set. told of de-
termined endurance and reliance on self
rdtutT ItUu uIkutT power.
No peaceful resignation was seen on this
face. No softniDg lights passed over the
features to lessen the severity of their cast.
1t was impossible TO tell by the workings
OF the face If the woman gave single
thought to the child that lay in the room
across the line. SIe paid no attention to
the noise made by the two children at
their play. Sue piled her needle through
the meshes OF the coarse garment, and if
she knew her heart were breaking, and IL
she knew the greatest blessing OF her life
was passing away; If she knew there were
darker hours coming; If she felt she had
no help in the time of need, she made no
sign.
When the children, tired and sleepy,
climbed the steep stairway, they went in
their usual noisy fashion. and not until
their eyes were closed in sleep did they
become quiet. When the noise had ceased
the word mother" came in soft, sweet
tones to the woman.
In an instant the work was down, and
with . quicker and lighter step than
seemed possible, she crossed the line.
What is it Janeyr" the mother said,
and the voice was most wonderfully sweet,
much like the child's, but stronger and
fuller. All Of the mother love, all of the
tenderness, all of the sweetness--every-
| thing lovely that should have been in the
face--was 10 the voice.
Did you get it, mother?"
Yes, dear"
Where is it?"
"Outside the door"
| Can you bring it in?"
| 20, yes; do you want it now?"
| Yes. mother, as soon as you can"
| The mother went TO the door and stepped
outside, but soon returned bringing q
| small cedar tree.
where shall put it, Janey?" she
asked.
Near the wall, so father will not run
wered the child.