Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-12-12
The Stpru Teller.
HIS INSPIRATION.

Hope Whitney laid the crisp new
bills and the worn ones one upon
another.
"Just 90" she said, with low
laugh like the trill of a happy bird.
But before I 90 any further, let me
tell you something about Hope Whit.
ney.
Her fathe- died before her birth,
and the pale young mother, baptizing
the unconscious baby face with bitter
tears, had named her Hope.
Then she had taken up the hand-to-
hand struggle bravely-almost cheer
fully, for little Hopes sake-as women
of deep natures, who have loved once,
are apt to do.
She hung out small sign, "Mrs.
Whitney-Dressmaking," just at the
side of the door, and above the red
rosetree Harry had planted the very
day he brought her home to the
"bird's nest" as he called the little
one-story cottage. And after that the
headaches and backaches, because
there was no one to care-began in
earnest.
Seventeen years of struggle, of in
genious turnings to make the most
out of little, and then the story OF
her life ended-as nearly as life-stories
ever end; for this life of ours possess
es strange element, that is not only
to 20 on eternally into the great un-
seen, but is also to leave behind upon
the earth an enduring influence either
for good or evil.
The heat of the summer had been
intense. Mrs. Whitney had over
worked, and there had followed a few
days of quiet, unalarming illness.
1t was the early evening Of a sultry,
summer day. The sun had set in a
food of splendor, the birds had
chirped their goodnight, and the moon
light flooded the room with the halo
of pale glory.
Mother and daughter were alone,
with low heart-talks falling in between
the tender pauses that seemed filled
with nameless something that drew
Hope closer to her mother.
Mrs. Whitney had been lying with
her face turned towards the open win
dow, where the red roses nodded their
sweet heavy heads, when suddenly
she stretched out her thin white hands
with a glad cry:
"Oh, Harry! HarryG"
And Hope, kneeling beside the bed,
awed into silence by the smile as of q
great peace that lay on the still face,
knew that she was motherless.
The three years that followed were
hard ones to Hope, but she possessed
q brave, bright spirit, and courage
that knew no faltering.
For two years she had been teacher
Of the village school, and, by careful
economy had made the debit and
credit of her accounts balance at the
end of each year.
For months she had been laying by
a little, now and then, for the purchase
Of winter cloak, until the dollars
up to 20.
Do you think the getting of a new
cloak an easy matter?
To her it was not. But her old one
was worn, and had behind-the-times
ook that annoyed her every time she
put it on.
1t is natural for young girls-and
old ones, toto like nice becoming
Hope, my little heroine, was only a
brave, sweet natured girl, and like
her all the better because she did
care for the pretty effect of bow of
ribbon, fall of lace, or bright flow
sr at her throat or amongst the waves
Of her brown hair, and because she
wanted new cloak to show off her
rim graceful figure.
"Just the very thing, is it not?"
asked the polite merchant, as Hope
viewed her reflection in the full-length
habited in a handsome warm
cloak.
The girl smiled softly, while bright
rose flush touched her face.
She was about to say, 81 will take
IT," when her attention was arrested
BY two plainly dressed women at her
right.
"Yes," one of them was saying,
they are going to take Grandmother
Harris to the poorhouse next week.
You see, she's down with the rheuma-
lis same as last winter, and they think
hats the best place for her."
"But think of it," the other retorted
there is hardly family in the village
but at some time or other has been
clad of Grandmother Harris's help
and sympathy in the dark days of
sickness and DEATH"
~ know, br" it's the way of the
world. Old folk are like old horses
when their day of usefulness is done
The quicker they are out of the way
he better"
"There was strange look in Hopes
eyes as she put aside the new cloak,
and took up the old one again. And
firm lines began to replace the smile
about the corners of her mouth.
"Shall 1 do up the cloak, miss ?"
"Not today"
And. before he recovered from his