Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1889-02-07
orr IORK ArHOME
urs. Pnrdy.s Parquisites.

One day, sometime since, we were sum
uoncd to The rarl"r, to see visitor who
iad sent mp neither card nor name. As
We entered the room, an under.>iz d. wiry.
,ciive, elderly, quaintl looking woman
r''>e to greet u. We were struck al sight
with the brightness Of her dark, hand
some cvcs, and The rus>cit r dncss of her
hin. hr.wm checks. Ter dress was of
alico, >,arched and irun,d To Il miracle,
md she wore an iudiscribahc air of iudc-
pendent out oi-ia>hionncss, Which took
lur fancy at the start.
She was livi;g on ranch mol Il very
great way fIom San Francis"u. She WAS
p,rn in England, had come over to his
,ouniry in her girlhood, had spent s'me
years in Conncc1icut, had married in
Pennsylvania. al iricl her Inriunes ia
he West, aud l,a,l finally drifIed 10 Cal
iiurnia-all of which We learned in the
curse uf after conversation, 60 and Motel
that her speech bnre evidence of her wan
leriugs. She stood for moment con-
ronling us. while she darlcd firh keen
Inok from under the great round hat
which WAS Ii, d down. Canada fashion, at
he cars, and projected immen ely fore
and ait
BE YOU the woman that writes in the
Pacfcf'
II take charge of a column in the Pa-
c;fc for The Womaus beard.
Wun't you sil DOWN." Tie interview
promised to be interesting.
She dropped suddenly into her chair.
and revealed as she did 20 Il goodsz' d.
covered basket, which stood 10y h,r side.
wall, now, am mighty glad have
found YOU Ny old man he lakes the Pa
c,fc, bein' brought up Congregational,
aud ! read it for my SUNDAY readin'-
l,a>tways your part Of it parlikelcr, and
very often pclniskus too. So felt knd
. quaiutcd with YOU like. and thinks
tn mys, IT, the very lust time 20 10 San
Franci,kcr I'll take run over 10 Ilcak-
land. and see il | can make her ont"
81 ann very glad 10 ,ce you-v'ry glad
vou like our column 81 well we want
all orr friend- to like it.
wall. when ym fu>t begun that col
umr, all about The missionaries and ,ich.
il kind q ak me. and determined !
would do all | could tn raise little mon
cy. I've knocked rurd the world cot.
sidcr'hlc myself, through not d"lp' ii for
the h,aihcm-which amt ,a, in ] hainl
never found none but that amt miihr
here nor thor,. But know ! Y NY own
Ic,lins what it j. 10 be- in Il strange eoun-
try, and everything queer anil home sick
likc-let aloue the language, Which must
he powerful di,c"uragin, ~p' cially il Il
body's hard to learn. which don't sP"se
the mi-sim mari,s i, hut :, me on I'm may
NJ. We live on rah,h hare aways =
vi ha j,rk of the h,ad-aLd my old al
hv's tel. rabIy close; and no wonder, b' IN
we've tuict been burr out. and moved
three tinie< and haint no children % look
aFlcr us bimehy and old age eomin', il
we live, aud orr sheep dyin off the la>'
wear or io''-and she made sudden halt,
lonkiua at us intenilv.
Here was evidently warm heart -onC
that ha learned sympathy for others by
is own cxp rience--one that was TOO loyal
likewise, to cast reflection on any one
else in doing lis own duty.
i dare say" we replied. sceing that :
reply wa expected. and not knowing very
well what else to say.
Wall" she resumed. in tone of eood-
narurcd rnlcritinn. Il knowr'l he had
cnou .h 10 see art. r. and "a deiarmin'd &
raise what mUne; could, myself, and give