Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1895-08-31

shafts Of dusty light through tn
shaded room.
The sounds of children's voices
shrll and happy in out.ot'door free
dom, tloated in Mt the open window
The blank sheets of paper lay on the
desk, waiting for the sermon thai
would not be written. Suddenly the
the study door opened,
"'m so sorry to disturb you, John, y
said Mrs. Day, laying n gentle hanc
on the bowed head, "but there's {
woman here who says she must SET
you"
as that you, Nary" said the min.
lister, Strengthening up and resuming
his pen with busy air, "Well, who
is 1t, dear?"
OTIS Mrs. Redd, the washerwomau
who lives in the Hollow. You remem'
Der her husband was killed at the mill
last year. hate to interrupt You so,
but she said she must see you, "
"Never mind, wife. Send her in. ,
The minister gave little sigh. lie
felt that the world was full of veXing
troubles, and that he must help bear
them all. Even the smallest burden
seemed too heavy to add to his own.
In came Mrs. Redd--a smlll black
figure which seemed to shrink into the
shadows, aud which timidIy seated it.
self on the edge of the most uncom.
Portable chair in the room.
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Reld. You
must have hat warm walk up the
hill, said the minister,
"Well, sir, it was trine VAIN. But
| didn't feel it any to speak of, and
it's tirst-rNte drying weather"
Then onsueda long silence, IN which
Mrs. Redd nervously worked the fin
gers of her black cotton gloves, and
the minister wished that she would
come to the point
care You and your lttle ones all
well, Mrs. Reld?" inquired the min
lister.
"Oh yes, sir. There's nothing the
matter with us. Anyway, nothing to
trouble you about, sir" Again the
conversation haggel.
"What can do for you, my good
woman?" said the minister, as he
thought of the unwritten pages on
his desk.
"Well, sir, I don't know just 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 dread.
full about the trouble that has come
on You.
The minister WINGED Just a little.
1t was n subject he was not anxious to
converse upon. But he answered
cheerlly:
at was very kind of you to come
all this way to bring me your sympathy,
Mrs. Redd."
"Thero's something else I want to
say, sir, ii you won't take offence at
my being SO bold. [ know what hard
times are, and not to have any money
or know where your next meal is com
ing from. But Pm fixed comfortable
for the summer with the children
shoed and hated new, and work regular
and as much as | car take in. I've
got little sum in the bank that I've
laid by, and I'd be glad if you'd DO so
kind as to use tiff you'll excuse me
tor mentioning it. It's u matter of
six or seven dollars" added Mrs. Redd,
with pride in this evidence of her
thrift and careful saving.
"My good woman !" exclaimed the
500 you mean that you
come to me 10 offer me your hard.
earned savings?'
80, sir, I hope you amt mad at the
liberty | took! | should be more'n
willing that You used it. | Thought it
might kiad of help you over tight
place"
The minister rose from his chair
and gently, almost reverently, took
Mrs. Redd's hand with its big, flap.
ping glove, in his.
"Mrs. Redd-.-" and his voice shook
a bit. "Mrs. Redo, | can't find words
in which to thank you. You have
lone me more good than I can tell
you. l don't need to take your mon.
sy, but from the bottom of my heart / |
thank you"
Mrs, Reed looked a little disap-
pointed.
81 hope, sir, you don't think me
forward in offering it to you? You
might take it and never feel beholden
10 me at ALL"
'My dear friend" said the min
ster, you have given me more than
money to-day. | promise you if |
aver do need what you so lovingly
offer I will come to you. But even if /
never have to take your dollars, rest
assured that you have brought me to-
lay more than you can possibly
inow."
Mrs. Redd went down the hill
very happy woman. 1t was good,
after all, to know that the money was
till hers. against sickness, or
broken legG, or such things" she said
o herself, thinking of her rough-and.
tumble little ones. Even the minister
'ould not quite know what sacrifice
he offer had involved.
Then he had called her his dear
riend! "And he knows he can come
o me for it any time" she said to
herself. This last thought gave her II
pleasing sense Of protectorship. On
he strength of these delightful rehec.
ions Mrs. Redd went into the corner
grocery and INDUCED in three whole
cents worth of peppermint drops for
he children.
Then she went home to her babies.
Meanwhile the minister had torn up
lis doctrinal sermon, and had gone to
work with fresh paperanl fresh heart.
He wrote steadily as one inspired,
nd when his wife came to call him to
upper, she was surprised and glad
lened by the bright face which greet.
ID her.
1t was good sermon that the min.
ster preached to his people the next