The sea coast echo., 1895-10-05
MISSIONARY TREES.
ny SIDNEY pAYRE.

"Not n cent 10 give--not one cent.
And, oh, them poor creeturs acrost the
seal Ifitdoesn't break my very heart
70 think OF 'cm.
Miss Susan DofT rocked backward in
her chair, now and then wiping tear
as in thought she dwelt upon the mis-
sionary talk she had heard at meet
ing that afternoon. Her soul had been
stirred TO Its depths by tho rehearsal
OF the old-time cry from Macedonia.
''Help!-ah, mel Wouldn't like to
help 'cm, poor souls And the Lord
don't give me any chance"
II there was touch OF robellious
feeling In the reflection It was put aside
with vigorous hand.
"Susan Duff, what are you, I'd like
70 know, to be setting yourself up as
one the Lord can't get along without?
II lie needs your help it's like cuough
He'll give you the ways and means to
give title that owns cattle on thou
sand hills. lie knows you're willing
enough, without your taking the
trouble to make baby OF yourself In
tellin' Him OF IT,
'But it Is wearing 1.-The 1roclsing
went Onto think Of me living in
comfort and plenty, and 40 fixed ] amt
cent to give. My garden sssssse-
enough for me and to spare, and the
Lord forbid should have n grasping
thought Of what I can give 10 my
neighbors; but there's no money TO be
got by 1t. Only store pay for my eggs.
So with my hops; so with my few po-
tatocs more'n | need TO keep for my
self"
II was no use. Miss Susan had, time
and again, beaten her brains to try and
discover some way of raising little
money for the heather. And she was
obliged, as time and time before, TO
settle back upon the same wise conclu-
sion as TO the Lords needing her help
never realizing, in the depths Of her
modest self-deprcciation, the value Of
the service brought by her willing
hands, In the way OF cheer and com
fort, to the burdened and the suffering;
service given alike In loving earnest
ness for the scant pay offered, or for
no pay at Ell.
She eked out her frugal living by
sewing carpet rags for eher country
reighbors, knitting coarse hose and
mittens without number, acting as
nurse in times OF sickness, and as gen
eral help and comforter In seasons of
family uphenvals and affiictions. But
for all these services she received paw.
when pay came, in such everyday com
forts as came easiest from those for
whom She worked. &4S kSa
"Nota cent TO be got out OF any of
'em;' by which she meant, not her
neighbors, but the various shapes In
which their pay came. There is no
telling how far Miss Susans perplexed
thought might have gone but for the
sudden demand upon her attention
made by an unusual noise and commo-
ton outside her small house.
The land! What ails that horse2
And woman and children!n
Miss Susan ran out and confronted
,lie danger offered by a frightened
morse driven by q woman accompanied
Dy Two children, all equally fright
ened. Something wrong with the har-
ness had disturbed the nerves OF farm
animal not giyensto disturbances. and
ne was backing in q way which threat
ened disaster to the occupants of the
spring wagon.
with bravery and energy. out OF all
proportion to her small frame. Miss
susan seized the horses head.
Now-whoa-whoal"
the woman.
monentary pause in the backward
movement gave Jimmy courage. lie
jumped, and joined in his own efforts
..,, y snose OF Miss Susan. But the horse
still backed.
Jump. mother; he's backing down
IN an agony Of doubtto 20 to her
nelp Or hold on TO the horse. Jimmy
watched while his mother and small
slrl contrived to tumble fhemseives
NY q the wagon. The next moment
%pped over the steep bank al. the
~ snis time man who was passing
same ,. . add his strong hand to the
. Sss ones The horse was auiefed.
auu ne looked to see what the damage
might be. ~
s NOT much" he pronounced. .sIf
sgu say SO, nam, I'll hitch it on to
,T,.e .e ana haul II TO he~blacksnith's
.'sI iaS He'll get 1t fixed SO YOU
~ nayeit in the morning
!. n the mornine.' Miss Susan saw
,s,s ,as look Of perplexity overspread the
mothers face.
n yeu'll stay with me OVERNIGHT
~ IA she FASTENED to saw. ..rll be
gss ~ delighted to have you.s
n, ne offer was gratefully. accepted
Mn Ea., accompanied the wagon to the
,s.a, ,,a,sAsmith' s shop for repairs and then
-Is ~~A we horse and rode to his home Z,
n.s ns.., news Of the detention to those ex-
psetlng them there.
,,,I apd now was Miss Susan charmed IN
niss,..e s rare opportunity Of showing hos
MN h9 She was Obliged to sit m In
asI ae1 chair through the night baying D
xnow that. ~ V0s's Wy nor
uI,S IA .as y following morning lin oarno
wv ~ aosae n talp his mother and