The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-02
Three Little Words and u Shrug.
(Congregationalist)

(Congregationalist)
"Don't ask me-" Mrs. Patterson
smiled Significantly into her frierd s
blue eyes, then she gave her shoul-
ders a little shrug.
"But if you know anything against
Mrs. Bryce you ought to tell me, Ma
bel.n
Hannah stood still by the door
swinging her garden hat with all im-
patient hand.
"I shall not say another word" said
the little woman in the sewingchair.
30, tell your mother I expect her
over to supper tonight. "Mrs. Patter-
son will 90 to meeting with u.s."
The tall girl by the door, seeing that
this was all she was likely to receive in
the way of Information, went sloaly
on, by the time she had reached home
her mind being quite made up.
Il would not rent the cottage to Mrs.
Bryce, father" she said going in by
the side door to his small writing
room.
"Mrs. Patterson has told you enough
to prove her an undesirable tenant,
eh?i'
Mr.. Prescott dropped his pen and
glanced keenly at his daughter.
81 am afraid So" she said, reluc-
family, and twirling the string of her
absently around her fingers. Sudden
ly she started, threw the hat on the
table ana sat down by her fathers
side.
"Father, would it be very serious
thing if this rent were not paid
promptly" her eyes pleading that
the answer may be mo"
at would make such difference in
our income that I should not be war
ranted in assuming risk" said her
father gravely. 'Pine Cottage must
help us pay our next years bills, Hau-
nah"
"Then the letter refusing to rent it
to her ought to be sent at once" said
his dauther, with decision. She did
not even voice her regret that the gem
tie widow had come to Maybury,
bringing her little daughter Dorothy
to win all their hearts, had proved i'll
some mysterious way unworthy OF
trust. She had only been there Il day,
vet Hannah had begun to love her and
to hope for future friendship 1t was
now all over-the delightful prospect
of having them for permanent neigh
bors-and at once her father anu she
must be on the lookout for another
prospective tenant.
Mr.. Prescott did not give himself
the trouble to inquire into the nature
of Mrs. Patterson's verdict. AS she
had b, en- at the same boarding school
with the applicant for his house and ut
one time had visited in her family, she
surely ought TO know something as "a
the reliability Of the women That
Mrs. Patterson could not know about
the little widows hope Of becoming d
resident at Maybury, since, for pri
vate reasons, Mr.. Prescott preferred not
to let it be generally known that Pine
Cottage was OH the market, he Gid not
stop to consider.
He pushed away his writing and
drew up fresh sheet of paper, and
Hannah went off to her household
duties.
~ feel" said Mr.. Patterson. on the
way to church meeting that eveing
"that we can not do enough, Mrs.
Prescott, to hold up our PASTORS hand
in the parish work.
Mrs. Prescott gave Sigh. She was
one of those weak Christians who Ia
ment in sackcloth and ashes their in
ability: meanwhile, the work goes
steadily on with a fingers help from
them.
II shall throw myself into this new
work he is opening up for US in the
Mission chapel" continued Mrs. Pat
telsou, in her Most energetic way,
land shall begin tomorrow to canvass
u district"
"You do so much," said Mrs. Pres
colt, helplessly.
80, n0,n protested Mrs. Patterson,
yet immensely gratified and she pass
ed into the lecture-room with a serene
expression of duty well done aud took
her seat, settling back to well-earned
enjoyment of the service.
The tongue is u little member; be
hold how great fire it kindleth."
For hearts male tender by commun-
ings with the Divine Giver of all grace
their PASTORS words were full of earn
est, solemn inspiration US he opened
up the text to them. Hannah, in her
seat back Of the piano, weary and de-
pressed, bent her head upon her hand
to l0.e herself in the words that scenl-
ed meant for her. They burned them
selves into her soul, attacking, like
tongues of fire, all. idle or, unkind
speech that thronged her memory.
"Help ME, y my Father" she pray
ed $50 to watch the door Of my lips
that nothing evil cali issue from
them"
What beautiful eXhortalion :"
breathed Mrs. Patterson, as they came
out, 80 spiritual and inspiring"
At this moment a woman was sltllng
in her widowhood, her head bent over
letter in her clasped hands and Sob
bing as if her heart would break.
God forgive me thought l could
bear anything, but 1 was SO sure of
this. D, my Dorolhyw
The letter read;
my DEAR MADAM 1t will he
impossible for me 70 rent YOU the cot
tage under consideration, and hasten
to inform you without delay. Trust
ing that you will be able to secure a
house that will please you, am
Yours respectfully,
'MayDufy."
The child in the corner stirred fret
fully and murmured in her sleep.
The mother shivered at the sound.
"She would have been so happy and
strong there" she sobbed. "She was
so delighted that we were going, and |
could have opened my little school and
had chance of life for us two. But
now % God, help me, for | Know not