The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-06-01
.RHE EAlYlEYT H0[YE


love of Christ alone can bring. And
beside her she seemed to see figure
from whose face eyes of wondrous
beauty looked down upon her in
tender reproach, and to hear loving
voice say: "Whoso shall receive one
such little child in my name, receiveth
me-"
Then the mountain with its goddess
homes, the figure, the face and the
voice melted away, and she was left
alone with her own heart, on her
knees now, gladly willing to give up
even her chief treasure. Her hands
trembled, but her eyes were clear
shining as she unlocked the small,
old fashioned trunk which stood in
one corner and took from it parcel
wrapped in fine linen.' Carefully
unpinning this, dainty gown OF
richly brocaded silk was revealed.
She shook out the soft, shimmering
folds which seemed to fill the room
with splendor.
As she gazed down at the sprays
of pink roses lying gracefully against
creamy satin background, she was
no longer poor and lonely, she was a
beautiful young girl, robed in gown
which was her grandmother's extra
VACANT gift, and the envy of all her
girl friends, walking with Robert
under the old oaks at her fathers
home. "That is the prettiest dress |
ever saw, Polly" he was saying
again. Wont you keep it for our
wedding, dear?"
And 80, although there had been,
for her, no wedding, she had kept it
all these years. One by one her other
dainty belongings had been given to
happy young friends; her jewels and
laces had been sold to relieve the ne
cessities of herself or others, but this
gown she had never been able to
make up her mind to part with.
mo one would buy such an old
fashioned thing" she would say to
herself in excuse, even while she
knew in her secret heart that she
kept it because she still loved the
memories its hidden presence evoked.
But she was resolved, now.
cit is choice between this and my
little girl" she said, folding it with
tender touch. II suppose it is foolish
to feel as | do about giving it up,
and 1 am glad the Mission Band
meets tomorrow so can get the mat
ter settled. Not that I'm not willing
and glad to do it," she added as
though to an unseen listener-"but
only" Her sentence was unfinished.
Her eyes were dim as she tied the
last knot and laid the package away.
The young ladies of the Mission
Band were surprised to see Miss
Polly walk in to their meeting the
next afternoon carrying large bun
die in her arms.
GIVE made up my mind" she be
gan at once "to have one of those
poor, little North Carolina girls for
my own, and | must sell this dress to
get the money. / know it isn't made
in The present style, but i. is "a good
silk and can be made over"
There was pathetic culver in her
voice, and an unwonted color flushed
her cheek as she opened the parcel
and displayed the elegant gown to
the girls. 1t was harder than she had
thought it would be to offer it for
sale. She felt as though she were
bargaining away part of herself.
But she did not waver. She, looked
anxiously from one to another of the
little group who had gathered around
her. What if, after all, no one cared
for it. Her heart grew heavy with a
doubt which entered it for the first
time. She scarcely noticed the cries
of admiration over the exquisite fab
ric and it's quaint fashioning. 1t
seemed to her an hour before one of
the girls said:
"Do you care, Miss Polly, if we
don't use it as a dress?"
"N-no," came at first the hesitat
ing answer. mo, dear, not bit"
she then said heartily. "Only sell it
some way"
every we'll then, Miss Polly, I've
a plan but I'd like not to tell you
vet, please. And l think it is just
lovely of you to do this. You are al
ways doing nice things for some
body"
Miss Polly's blush this time was
one of pure surprise. az OH no,
my dear, Pm not. only wish l
might
Meantime the dress was being
more closely examined by the others.
(sTN.l rvRan rot, x.-ora N