The Universalist., 1896-01-11

%YYSM In l6r UdfIOW AAO w ~
XXX thankful for, and moth
S ing to hope for. And
vet to those of the limit
ed number who grew to know Miss
Thankful the name was, after ALL
quite appropriate.
She was faded looking little
woman of forty five, whose plain lace
was only redeemed by pair OF smll-
ing brown eyes. She was a day
seamstress and made enough to pay
her board and usually to keep her.
self suitably clothed.
1t was standing joke among the
other boarders that no matter how
disagreeable the day Miss Thankful
could always find something pleasant
to be said about it. And,n matter how
unprepossessing the last new board
er, Miss ThankfuPs kind heart was
sure to discover some excuse.
She had watched Florence, Mrs.
Simons' young daughter, grow up
into womanhood and had shared her
timid condolences and opinions about
the different young men of the house,
condolences which Florence would
never have thought of telling her
practical mother. There was some
thing about Miss Thankful which in
vited confidence, and the two were
warm friends. U
1t was dull February evening,
slight snow was falling, and Miss
Thankful hurried along toward home
in the early dusk. The windows
were lighted up and presented
tempting array of millinery, dry
goods, flowers and confectionery.
But Miss Thankful did not notice
any of them until she turned into
Bond street, and there she walked
slowly, coming to standstill at last
in front of Cooper & Cooper's large
dry goods house.
She smiled as she looked in at the
window. "Yes," she said softly, sits
there yet. l made sure it would be
sold. So cheap too. Only $1.50."
She was gazing at blue satin party
bag, lined with delicate pink, one of
those dainty French affairs which al
ways catch a woman's eye if she has
any soul for pleasing effects.
81 can't afford new dress this
year. That three weeks l was sick
last month put that out of the ques-
ton, and so it does seem as if l could
buy that bag if want to. Only it
would be silly downright sillyp
and she sighed.
81 never had anything as pretty as
that Maybe that's why seem to
have set my heart on it. Even my
dresses have been brown or black.
They last better. rf
"I've had kind of brown and
black life anyway. But there now,
that sounds complainin' and I've no
cause to complain. The Lords been
good to me and prospered me right
along"
"Good evening, Miss Thankful"
said a CHEEKY voice at her side.
"Right nice window. Our trimmer
beats any in town. Lots of pretty
things, too," he added, with the par
donable pride of head clerk.
"Good evening, Mr.. JONES'" an
swered Miss Thankful. "Yes, l was
just looking in at the goods. p
she hesitated- twas just noticing that
blue satin bag over there in the cor
ner-seei"
"Oh, yes, that pretty bag. Pretty
thing. Cheap, too. know good
piece of tin when l see it, Funny
it was not sold to-day. Will be to-
morrow likely"
Miss Thankful felt her desire to
possess the bag increasing.
son your way home? Let me take
your umbrella" and they walked on
together.
Miss Thankful had a decided lik-
ing for this one Of the boarders, part
ly because he never forgot to show
her the same courtesy that he would
show TO Florence or any younger
woman. And this is very gratifying