The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1894-12-06

have been very spry to get home be-
fore us. / was pleased to see thy in
terest in the meeting today"
The good woman kissed ne and
thanked me for the little aid L was
able to give in unpinning her shawl.
Directly afterward, sweet Jane Spen-
Ger came tripping up the stairs. She
was frequently spoken of rs exhibit
ing "overmuch ardor" in all her good
works, but we children loved the en-
thusiastic little woman.
go Katherine, I am glad to make
use of thy quick fingers. My cap
strings are sadly awry. 1 have been
most uncomfortable in them all
through the meeting. Our breakfast
was trihe late this morning, and we
had far to drive"
One and another arrived, each with
thought of me. "How thee grows,
child, or "Thy mother is blessed in
her little helpers.
The room was we'll nigh full, when
some one asked the question that had
been trembling on my lips.
"Where is Sarah S1dney?"
No one directly replied, but after
moments reflection nearly all had q
suggestion or little interest in her
to express.
"Methought her face bore traces of
anxiety this morning. trust she has
met with no further financial disaster.
Thee knows, Rhoda, she is benevo-
lent to surprising degree in one
whose purse is not lengthy, and it is
therefore a serious matter to be forced
to curtail in her giving"
"Sarah is too true follower of the
Great Teacher to be long affi cted by
the things of this world" replied an
aged friend.
"Ah, Hannah DEAR" answered the
first speaker, ''thee has never had the
bread and butter trouble, and there
fore thee can hardly compass its
misery"
think we all felt the force of this
argument, for Hannah was richly
lowered. Presently Jane Spencer
sighed: 81 cannot help wishing that
Uncle Joseph would recognize that
the hand of the Lord is pointing him
to Sarah Sidney"
''If such be the will Of our Heaven
ly Father, / doubt not it will be re-
vealed in due time" and Hannah
spoke with great deliberation.
''That is quite true, and undoubted-
ly it is only those among us who are
trife worldly minded that show dis
position to hasten these things" Jane
Spencer was always very meek under
reproof, and felt glad that others
sustained her desire that Uncle JOS
eph should be a little less deliberate
in his action"
81 can hardly think that he realizes
Sarah's worth" said late conner.
"On the the contrary" it was Rho
da Longstreet's voice, 81 am some
times inclined to believe that his
doubt rests upon his own merit If
he were of the worlds people | should
say he was bashful. AS it is 1 call
him slow in perceiving his adoption to
any peculiar calling"
"Thee may be right, responded
Jane Spencer, and l was struck with
the note of merry-making that ac-
companied her words. eff SO, 1 can
only wish that somebody would give
him hint, for 1 really believe that
Sarah has perceived their true rela-
tionship, and that her spirit is troub-
led since no sign is given unto her."
"Ah," interrupted Hannah, "shall
we never learn that God does not wish
us to call upon Him for signs?"
Now it had chanced, although none
of those present were at that time
conscious of it, that Sarah Sidney
had given up her seat IN friends
carriage to a person who was suffering
from weak limb, and had walked
briskly along the frozen road toward
our house.
Uncle Joseph, too, had chosen to
leave his vehicle at home, and, seeing
in the distance familiar, plump little
figure, he made haste to overtake her.
For few moments they talked to-
gether of the lesser things OF life;
then they fell into silence which was