Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-17
MISSCYNTHIA'S
WRITTEN EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE EVENING
STAR BY MRS. D. TAsKER.

hour. She had lived in the little town Of
Middlebourn fifty uneventful years, and
since the death of her mother. four years
before, all alone in the gabled-roof home
stead that had sheltered her childhood.
Miss Cynthia worked hard to make both
ends meet and also to lay by small sur
plus yearly for a cherished object. She did
clear starching for Mrs Person up on the
HILL made jellies and preserves, which the
grocer sold for her, and pieced innUmerable
quilts for the neighbors who had no time
to work up their own calico and worsted.
But she did not mind the work. She .was
thankful to possess this home of her own.
IL there were only four rooms, two above
and two below, simply furnished, but clean
and neat as hands could make them. There
was tiny yard in front, full of old-fash-
Toned flowers. kitchen garden back and
long green strip running down to
thread-like stream, rather stony and of
little value. but convenient, Miss Gym
thia said. to bleach clothes.
On this particular evening Miss Cynthas
usually serene countenance wore a look
of unwonted cheerfulness and animation.
Presently her evidently happy thoughts
broke forth in words, for, from being SO
much alone, she had fallen into the nabit
of talking aloud. ''Sakes alive! an I'm
agoin' TO have my front porch at last! Let
me see how many years I've been saNln
up fur it, an setten on this same door
step an plannin' ii out in my head! Three
years or more! an now the money is all
ready fur the carpenter, safe jn the blue
mug in the corner cupboard. l always did
want front porch. it's SO comfortable
an stylish like.
Being as this is Saturday night, bright
an early Monday mornin' I'll go an see
Mr. Thomson. fur they do say he is the
best workman, an l must have the best On
that porch. I'll have some frescoes on it.
as Mis- Smith calls 'em, an il shall be
painted white, with a green band. I'll git a
Martha Washington rose to climb over it,
fur hear it's fast grower, an a Virginia
creeper to make shade. Mis- Cannon
promised me a Cuttn.'"
Miss Cynthia's heart was full of hope and
expectation, and her thoughts did not dwell
fer moment on the truth that her con-
templated porch represented months and
years of Self-denial-bread without butter
ofttimes. meatless dinners.a thrice-trimmed
bonnet. and made-over dresses; those minor
trials We're as nothing, now that she had
attained her desire
1t was Miss Cynthia's rule to close her
house and retire early Saturday nights, so
as to be fresh for Sunday morning, and on
the same principle she always laid out on
the spare bed her simple Sunday attire; a
straw bonnet and plain black dress. with
a starched white skirt, the latter a luxury
Miss Cynthia delighted in, and which she
maintained was no extravaganza, as she
die, it up herself.
Miss Cynthia never allowed anything, ex-
cept Illness, to keep her from her seat. on
the Sabbath day, in the meeting house, at
the end of the street. Some one once sug-
gested to her that, as she worked SO hard
during the week, she would be eXcuSable to
sometimes remain at home, but she replied !
that it rested her to go, and, indeed. any
one beholding her earnest countenance /
while in the sanctuary. and her look of
peace and satisfaction when she came out, |
could easily divine that her soul had been |
refreshed in green pastures and by still |
waters.
Miss Cynthia. hymn book in hand, wended |
her way to meeting, little thinking that |
ere she retraced her steps her whole life, /
in certain sense would be revolutonized. !
1t was little difficult at first for her to 1
keep her thoughts off the porch, and her |
tender conscience gave her q twinse at /
every dereliction, but when the singing and |
prayer were over. and the pastor began his
sermon, every faculty became absorbed in
his theme His text was, "Insomuch as We
have done 1t unto the least of these, my
brethren, we have done II unto me-" He |
made touching appeal to his people for
the many poor, suffering little children,
smut up in the hot city, to whom a few
weeks spent in the country village would
open mine OF joy and pleasure. and be-
sought those who could TO open their hearts
and homes to some of these little waits
1t might entail self-denial and inconveni-
ence," he said. but were they not willing
to do it, in His name?"
And now there came to Miss CYNTHIA a |
thought, pang and fierce conflict
She walked quietly home directly after
service, and all the way new path and a
new lie seemed spread before her; she
could not define her emotions She did not
stop to caress the large tabby cat that
fawned upon her at the doo- but going nm
STAIRS laid aside her bonnet, took off and
FOLDED up her dress and stiff white skirt
and put them on their accustomed shelf in
the closet. for Miss Cynthia was very me
thodlcal in her ways. even under such press
ure as the present. and went down 70 Ga,
tha toll> ca |
she again went to her room, closed the
door, and sat down in the splint bottom
chair to think
Il can't do it." she said aloud: IT can't
I'm not used to young ones around; they'd
pull my flowers eat the green apples dirty
my noors an ruin the new red an black
carpet, poor tabby would be leased out OF |
her precious old life Put them children in
my nice, clean beds? Use my best, lavender
scented sheets. an the quilts me an mother
niaae: Inc mouse is too small-there mint
an tabby, an, BESIDES where's the money
10 come from but off of that porch? No;
l amt called upon to do it."
Above, below, all around her vibrated tre
words, In His name" Impulsively She
sank down on her knees, and with uplifted
eyes and clasped hands she made her sacri-
wtllin' to give 1t all. porch house my time.
myself. everything blessed Master"
simple soul and simple faith, but II
made her happy and benefited others
Monday morning Miss Cynthia arose with
the dawn. did up her work. and then sat
down with paper and pencil to make some
calculations.
She had laid by $40, and that amount
would suffice to keep six little ones four
weeks at the least. If she only had enough
room suddenly there came an inspiration
odd Mr.. Dents tent" she exclaimed Ii
The one he used to travel around with his
patent medicines, and a little side
show thrown in free. He amt in
that business this summer and NAV
be glad to make little rent on
It. We can pitch it on that green strip
back OF the house. put the cooking stove
up IN It. an the table. an eat there an
keep the house cool and tidy to sleep in an
that Will give room fur the six fur / guess
can move my bed in the regular kitchen:
1t will be a regular outin' fur me an them |,
children. l must put on my bonnet an go
down to Parson Cranes an send in my or
DER before they all be TUX up"
For now, that Miss Cynthia had thrown
her whole heart in this work of charity she
began to derive great happiness from II
and imagined that others would be as zeal ,
Gus as herself.
Yours is the first response to my appeal
Miss Cynthia" remarked Parson Crane as
she entered his study and made known her
errand. 1t is very encouraging but are
you sure that six will not be too much of
an undertaking for your
The tears rushed to Miss Cynthia's ewes
She could not tell even her kind pastor of
her struggle, the sacrifice of her cherished |
scheme and above all the handspring of her
action, but he guessed in part and said