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

we follow the other path, we go
stumbling blindly over our griefs,
bruised and crushed at every turn,
with only frail, failing arms of flesh
to lean upon. Don't you wonder that
any one can prefer this dark, hope
less way when the other is freely open
to them?"
A few days after this, Miss Polly
was greatly surprised to receive a
daintily written invitation, which read
as follows:
You are invited to attend
A Brocade Sale
for the benefit of
Miss Polly's little girl,
at the residence of
Miss Mary Morrison
No. Ia Exeter Ave-,
January Is,
from to 6 o'clock.
Refreshments served at profitable
prices.
With this there was note from
Mary begging Miss Polly to come
early and be the guest of honor. "We
must have you, dear Miss Polly. So,
please be ready when the carriage
comes for you at half past three
o'clock"
The girls were all there to receive
her and to enjoy her speechless sur
prise when she found herself appar-
emily in bazaar where every article
was made from her brocaded gown.
Pin balls, pin-cushions, needle books,
in all imaginable shapes, work bags,
fan-bags, knitting-ba party bags,
headrests, sofa pillows, cushions and
all sorts of other useful articles, each
one beautifully made by the skilful
fingers of the Mission Band, met her
eye at every turn. Earnest hearts and
persuasive tongues had also been busy
for soon after four o'clock the parlors
were filled with those delightful peo-
pie who possess both generous hearts
and long pocketbooks. Every one
was anxious to become the owner of
something made from Miss Polly's
gown, and to express kindly inter
est in her little girl.
The refreshments also sold we'll,
and the busy girls were happy enough
over the success of their enterprise.
During the latter part of the after
noon gentleman stood little to one
side of the laughing, chatting crowd
quietly looking on. He was Mary's
Uncle Robert, who had come to see
her, not knowing of the sale, and who
had not yet spied her out. While
waiting for favorable moment, his
eyes fell upon cushion of creamy
satin over which wandered long sprays
of delicate pink roses, and his
thought went swiftly back to June
evening thirty years before. He found
Mary and learned from her the story
of Miss Polly's little girl.
"Tell her that | will double every
dollar made from the SALE" he said
and was gone before his astonished
n zee could thank him. | can find no
words with which to describe to you
Miss Polly's amazed delight when,
after the last guest had departed, the
cashiers box was emptied into her
lap.
There's just an even hundred, and
ten cents over" exclaimed Mary, land
Uncle Robert told me to tell you that
he would double it, Miss Polly. He
is the most generous uncle l ever
heard Of" Miss Polly would have
been still more overcome if she had
suspected the true reason of Uncle
Roberts generosity. AS it was, she
sat there completely overwhelmed.
1.-TWO hundred dollars! o girls!
how can l ever thank you enough.
I'm hardly able to believe my eyesp
"I'm rather surprised myself" de-
clared Mary, frankly. 81 thought
we'd probably make SIS. But then
the things were lovely, and ever SO
many people gave us more than the
price. You see, they all were so glad
to help you get your little girl, Miss
Polly. You can go for her very soon
now, can't your" This was a new
idea to Miss Polly, but the more she
thought it over the better she liked
it, for who could make the all-import-
ant selection more satisfactorily than
she herself7'
You would enjoy hearing of her
journey to the marvellous mountain
country in company with the mission
worker who had first told her of the
neglected people there; of the dismay
with which she first entered their bar
rem homes; of the deep and tender
sympathy she showed in friendly
ministrations to their comfort. And
it would be more pleasant still to tell