Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-09-20

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Again the conversation tagged.
What can 1 do for you, my good
womanT said the minister, as be
thought of the unwrItten pages on
his desk
well, sir, | don't knowjust how
to get at it. You're always doing
for us-I sha'n't ever forget what
you did for me when Redd died.
feel dreadful about the trouble
that has come on you.'
The minister WINGED just a lit
tie. 1t was q subject he was not
anxious to converse upon. But
he answered ch eerily:
1T was very kind of you to come
all this way to bring me your sym
pathy, Mrs. Redd.'
There's something else l want
to say, sir, if you won't take Of
ferce at my being so bold. l know
what hard times are, and not to
have any money or know where
your next meal is coming from.
| But Pm fixed comfortable for the
summer with the children shOed
aud hated new, and work reg'lar
and as much as can take in. Pvr
got a little sum In the bank that
I've laid by, and Id be glad if
you'd be so kind as to use tiff
you'll excuse me for mentioning 1t.
lts matter OF six or seven dol.
lars,' added Mrs. Redd, with pride
in this evidence of her thrift aud
careful saving.
'My good womanp
exclaimed the minister. 3D. you
mean that you Come to me to offer
me yaur hardearned sayingsf
20, sir, hope you ain't mad at
the liberty | took! | should be
more'n willing that yon used it. |
thougbtit might kind of help you
over tight place.
The minister rose from his chair
and gently, almost reverently,
took Mrs. Redds hand with Its big,
tapping glove, in his.
Mrs. Red and his voice shook
a bit. 'Mrs. Redd, can't find
words in which to thank you. You
have done me more good than
can tell you. | don't need to
take your money, bat from the bot
tom Of my heart l thank Jou.'
Mrs. Redd looked a little dlsap.
pointed.
Il hope, sir, you don't think me
forward IN offering it to youi You
might take it aud never feel be
holden to me at all.'
MY dear friend,' said the minis
ter you have given me more than
money to dIy, | promise you If l
ever do need what you so lovingly
offer | will come to you. BIT even
if | never have to take your dol
lars, rest assured that you have
brought me today more than you
C an possibly know"
Mrs. Redd went down the hill a
very hapy woman. 1t was good,
after all to know that tue money
way still hers. Ag iust sickness,
or broken legs, or such things,' shr
she said to herself, thinking of heT
rough. and. tumble little ones. Even
the minister could not quite know
what a sacrifi 70 the Olier had II
: vOlved.
Then he had called her his dear
: friend! And he knows he can
come to me for 1t any time, she
said to herself. THIS last thought
gave her pleasing sense of pro
tectorship. On the strength Of
these delightful reflections Mrs.
Redd went into the corner grocery
AMI INDUCED in three whole cents
worth of peppermint drops tor the
children.
Then she went home to her ba'
6les; Meanwhile the minister had
torn up his doctriual sermon, and
had gone to work with fresh pa.
per aud fresh heart.
He wrote steadily as one iDspir
2 ed, and when his wife ca.ue to call
/ him to supper, she was surprised
aud gIaddenen by the bright face
r which greeted her.
b 1t was a good 8 rmon that tb'
: minister preached to his peopl'
3 the next Sunday and these were
the words OF his text:
D 'But as touching brotherly love
ye need not that write unto you
! fDr ye yourselves are t'ught oI
| God to love one another
B Not one of all his hearers guess
{ ed who preached that sermon to
D the minister. Taey did not know
that the little washerwoman, 10 a
!. shabby straw bonnet, who sat III
K a corner pew aud tried to ksel
within decent bounds the spiritl
!. of FIVE restless, fat, perspirIng g