The Van Buren press., 1895-04-06

asked her brother Charley. ~
II was thinking Of Miss Martha Dun
bar, and what life she leads, with all
that tumult Of nephews and niecea
about her ears the whole time"
Pretty stiff, to be sure. l can see
the pity Of It, but where Is the folly2
That strikes me as an extraordinary
word in connection with Miss Martha.
thought she was painfully sensible. "
$50 she Ia There 10 Just the trouble.
She gives her life to being sensible,
and then isn't sensible enough not to
make 1t painful to everybody who
comes near her" ~
Charley nodded an energetic assent.
"She certainly is person you would
rather admire at q distance"
eyes; every body feels 80. And isn't
1t pitiful? Miss Martha Is really maxi
ing a great sacrifice, the kind that
would bring tears to your eyes In q
tract. She has given up her work that
she loved, and was making such q sue
cess OF, and has settled down entirely
to the, care Of those children. They
are nice children, but very much alive,
and up to date; not at all the old
fashioned, theoretical kind that Miss
Martha has been imagining to herself
for the last twenty years. They give
her plenty 10 do. Keeping their clothes
mended. and all those faces washed
and hands clean isn't any sinecure,
can tell you." sss N
more like manicure, isn't it?" in
quired Charley, with a chuclsle.
Helen looked doubtful whether TO
recognize this hit, but concluded she
would, and then went on: .Ft.stf
."She does her duty by them very
thoroughly and very raspingly, poor
little midgets. am afraid they are
In 0 constant state Of rebellion and
disgust. You see, their own mother
was so different; they are not accus-
toned to 'prunes, prisms,' from morn
ing to night"
ut must be pretty doleful for them,
that's q fact" agreed Charley. II
should hate to live In the house with
an incarnate strait-jacket myself"
miss Martins is too. fond Of right
eous indignation" said Helen. MRS.
Dunbar's righteousness took another
form whenever 1t possibly could; and
1t worked lots better. But doesn't 1t
seem tragic for good, superior woman
to be taking up her cross daily and de-
nying herself Just to make her own life
and everybody's else uncomfortable?''
.Are, you going to write her an an
Onyulous letter about it?"
~ wish could-I wish could do
something. Isn't there anything you
can suggest?" ssa
"Only the letter." .s..lssi R
It was much later in the day that
Charleys idle words camo back into
Hclen's mind with some sort Of seri-
BUSINESS. She was passing q counter
loaded with Easter cards, of which one
instantly caught her eye; 1t showed
the open sepulcher and the sunlit
morning and the budding spring, with
the words: II am the Resurrection
and the Life."r
"How pretty" thought Helen, stop
ping to look. II don't know when l
have sent an Easter card; but l should
like to send that. It Is 80 sweet and
hopeful and sunshiny; 1t might speak
peace to anybody y-even Miss Martha.
Why, yesl 1t will do instead Of Char
ley's letter"
So she bought It; but when she got
home she hesitated long about actual
ly sending 1t.
miss Martha will not see It with my
eyes. 1t will just mean pasteboard to
her and the compliments Of the season.
You couldn't expect it to preach her
| the same sermon that 1t does me. And
can't very well add footnote to say;
BE happy and you will be good, and
will give those poor children a more
Christian idea Of Easter
She changed her mind half dozen