Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1895-09-21
THE WIDOWS MITE.
BY MARY E. MITCHELL.

LIZ is suen little thlng tnat IL
seems hardly worth the writing, yet
it is one of the little things that
make US glad. Besides, it is true.
Mrs. Redd stood over her tub. 1t
was wash-day. All days except
Sundays were generally wash-days
at the Redds'.
Totty had just backed up to have
her frock pinned together she had
burst off all the buttons. Mrs. Redd
wiped her hands on her apron and
fumbled with big pin.
''Therel I can't do anything with
it, my hands are so soft with the
water. Run along! I guess you'll
hold together somehow She gave
her daughters fat little body gen.
tie push.
"Let me pin it,. Totty," said an
angular woman who appeared at the
open door with shawl over her
head.
Good morning, Mrs. Conant,"
said Totty's mother. "You've got
your clothes out early"
II haven't got many today. 1
guess that'll do, Totty.' She wove
a pin in and out at the back of the
little girls apron, and bestowed a
kiss on the back of her plump neck.
"Sit. down, won't you, Mrs. Co
nant?' invited Mrs. Redd, hospita-
bly, wlping off chair seat with a
corner of her apron.
"Thank you, but l can't stop. I
just ran in to ask you if you'd heard
about the minister
"Good land, no! hope there isn't
anything wrong about himl" Mrs.
Redd stopped scrubbing.
"Well, there is, though. lie is in
a peck of trouble. 1t seems he had
a lot of money in Portland bank, and
it's gone and defaulted, or something
OF that kind-I don't know just what
they call it. Anyway, he lost every
cent, and it's what he was going to
educate his children with. The
church had to cut down his salary
this year on account of hard times,
so he's pretty bad off"
"You don't tell me! How'd you
know about It'll"
II was up there washing yester-
day, and Lefty told me. She's got
to leave when her months up, for
they can't afford hired help now.
Mrs. Day looked white as sheet,
but the minister was real calm.
Lefty said that when the news come
it was awfI.. Mrs. Day took on,
but the minister chirped her up all
the time.
""Tain't as if we were separated,
says he,''we can bear it together
"But the children = said she.
"'They'll have to be all the bright
er and BETTER says he. 1t may be
the best thing for them to have to
struggle Then he smiled, though
Lefty said he looked kind of teary
about the eyes. Well, I'm sorry for
him!"
"So'm l." said Mrs. Redd, swash-
ing the water again vigorously.
"Mortal sorryl The minister's a
good man, and with those eight
young ones to bring up and Mrs.
Days bad health, it'll go hard. l
never shall forget what he did for
me when Redd was taken"
Island! There's my husband and
me a-gaddlngl What in the worlds
he home for at this hour? Well,
good morning" and Mrs. Conant
went away in hurry.
Mrs. Redd went on with her work.
She finished her washing and hung
the clothes out in the fresh breeze.
She made neat her little house, and
had the frugal dinner ready for the
ravenous children who came from
school and play to devour it. But
she did it all with an distracted air,
as if her mind were far away.
When her noisy crew was once
more scattered-the older children
gone back to school, the little ones
safe in the back yard-and the after
dinner work was out of the way,
Mrs. Redd repaired to the living
room, and deliberately sat herself
down to think.
She sat along time, her hands fold
ed in her lap, her face twisted in
varing emotions. Finally she arose
decisively, and went to her bare little
bedroom.
She put on her best gown, a black
cashmere, thin and old, but neat as
brushing and careful mending could
make it; then, with reverent fingers,
she took out her Sunday bonnet. 1t
was a straw of antique shape, and it's
few limp bows of rusty Grape be-
poke her widowhood.