The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-26
Miss Marcy's Gift.
By EMILY THORNE.

dropping in after the varied calls Of
the morning. ,, .,
"Thank ee, mum, I'm all right,
was the CHEEKY reply.
"Why, thought you were very
sick. Mrs. Busby told me. that you
were ill last night for short time,
and that she is not hopeful enough TO
consider that you are even very well.
Perhaps ought not to have told you
the latter She added, self-leproach-
fully; .uoo;d,1 Mice Marcy.
smiling one of those patient shliies
which seemed to mirror torth worries
of peace and rest behind it. IL Know
that never am goin' to nave my
health back agin, so l can always pe
tellin of the truth when l say all
aI wish could always say these two
words over pain" said Mrs: cary.
s.lt seems to me that L aO'H unqef
the least bodily infirmity, and ma II
hard to recover myself. People are SO
differently constituted. | suppose you
are accustomed to pain ?'
Miss Marcy smiled again before say
ing: II can't say be-"
Mrs. Gary was young, anu had Deen
q nastor's wife but six months, so the
matter of touching hearts and tasting
experiences ripened by years and grace
wac new to her. She craved more OF
this novel food, so asked: Il wish
YOU would give me your secret, MISS IS
Marcy, for you seem Wonderlul 10
me-" 1,o,a
era for the children to sell for Missions,
and the needle flew a trlfle 1aster as
che said II amt much fond o.
snreadin' myself out, but I'll tell you,
os van care for it. | was the Worrl-
nest saint that ever lived, and the
comnloininist. Nothin' never went
STRAIGHT with me. The weather was
other foo hot or too cold or too unsar.
fin never was suited. My food
warn't right neither. There was Jumps
in the mashed potatoes, or tne ialnp
warn't done, or the viel was scortcheu'
or somethi'n' mother was ter pay;
NV neighbors never was sui.ii.
Mrs. Bourrow's even come Vlslllng my
clover patch too frequent, ana sister e.
Jones was too pryin' in her ways lol
me. Then the church dldnt run 70
suit. Brother Merkson, he pieacheu
too much to saints and TOO uttle 70
sinners, and his wife didn't Nisit
enough Bro. Crane warn't suited TO
be a deacon because he was 100 close
listed. and Brother Tomkins was
driyin' the young folks from meetin
becanse he was too long-Winded.
Then the choir folks used their
mouths more for quarrellin' than sing
in; And the prayer meetin,s warn I
weip tended, and take it all in all, L
had more burdens to kerry than any
woman in town. I had mighty. big
stack Of church-goin' religion in them
davs. I preached to all the sinners,
wien 7 would get at 'em, for they'd
rnn when they seed me), and l lectur-
ed tie young disciples spoke out 10
Brother Crane and the rest when they
didn't suit me, and carried the whole
Iist q, sinners to poor Brother Merkson
avery day. AT last one time when L
was noIirin' out more IN common,
brother Merkson said, kinder fearful
like: Sister Marcia, will you 10 one
thing I ask you every, day lor d d
month, and not get. mad at me i'I
askin'?' My curiosity was up ';1i sG !
said, glibly: OF course L WILL WILL
What is it?' never dreamed ouI "nu.
twas private collection, 1or l was a.
mighty handy at gettin, money ou. Il
folks. Bro. Crane used 10 caii 'nGi
tSpecial and General Collector LOT az
public and private objects: Mel, a, i L
warn't ready for Bro. Melksoii ;o >
words. He said: Dear sister Mercia.
Won % home, open your Bible at the
fiftveffth Psalm, and do c1dctW what
the first clause of the twenty-second
verse tells YOU every day all DAY long
for a whole month, and at the emu OF
that time come to see me, for want
to have long talk with you about 'he
condition of the church, ] promised
anoin. went off quite elated-iike. !
was right mad when first looked at
the tent. I been doin' of that all the
time, said. Anyhow l had prom
| ised, so I set about anew 10 cast ny
6urdens on the Lord. Peop'e Nm
Mink it's easy who has never triea II
Gre jnough. I found it hard-do"h
r;ta bard at first. When that plagur,
ino cow got in the lot | knew 1t wouid
~, Ieen easier for me to holleras usual:
.Run linn. run! Don't yon see thal
svarlastinp, worriin' cow eatln' my
clover. Run quick, Jim, ana mt ,I heI
hard than it was to say nothlh sep
Lord take my burden, land then sit
oniet and patient-like while she LOOK
+ Presn,v I said to myself: I'm Just
ooin, TO let that COW have her NIL
So when Tommy come to fetch the
cow TO his mother, / begged TO let heI
stay. for she had been blessing anu
Give as much as she took. so twas
Sy;tb all NV stock o. weighin'-doWn,
burdens-they went OH INTO ar "hen
the Lord put His hand OH 'em.
), "At the end o. the montn l wen.
to Bro. Merkson with shlnln. lace
and saws: Il been playin' Chrlstlan
all these wears, pastor; l know wnere
in harry burdens to be melted, ana
thank vou for it, Then he said happy
like: Now, We'll have our talk apou5
the church, No we won't, Il jerked
ont. What I has to say 'bout tlle
chnrch T saws to the Lord, for Pm
the worst member in II, an INV ! wa n.o ro
Him to begin OH me. what Ilne NV. we
has to talk together we'll tax 'pou'
the Lord HIMSELF We'll, tha1 was
the beginnin' of the ir'acardacSS OF my
life in the Lord. I got so never
wanted to tells any human soul any
sorrow T had. I ran to Him first, ano
then if any brother or sister came 10
me bout it would say all right' al, a.
T did to YOU jess now. Irouoles uiG
come @ after that, thick and fast but l
gave 'em to the Lord so QUICK, oatnr ahu