Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-23
MARTHA'S PATIENCE.
nY LUCY M.lnEELork.

from the doorway OF little white cot
tnge which stood at the end of the VII
lnge street. \.
IL was a hot July day. aud Martha,
who hnd stopped to rest la the shade OF
The willow trees, drew little sigh OF
discomfort as she hustened to iii the
big white pitcherat the spring.
vi wish l could stop just minute TO
get cooled OIL" she said to herself, MS
SHE hastened across the sunuy, dusty
street.
Nell! complained Aunt Patty, as
she took the pitcher, did you stop to
dig new spring? IL tool, you long
enough"
u just waited u minute to cool Oft
under the willows" said the 4 81. meek
~. Its so hot!"
| Hot! And you never thought of me,
' I suppose, rendy to perish with thirst"
SAID her aunt, pcevishfy. Its always
the way; no matter what becomes of u n
old woman like me-"
"Oh. Aunt Patty" said Martha, In The
samc subducd voice; II didn't thlnl, YOU
would care"
"Oh, dare say not" was the reply,
you don't stop to think about any.
thing but dnwdling; but you won't
have much time for that now, III YOU
expect to have your fathers dinner by
noon. It's IL O'Clock already. And
don't forget TO hnvc mess OF those late
pens" added Aunt Patty, as she hob
! Died OF into the cool stting-room.
leaving Martha alone in the hot kitchen.
oh, dear" sighed the girl, wiping her
flushed face, whatever shalt do? She
wants peas again. aud how cnn stop TO
pick them? There are The pies TO flnish
and the potatoes To wash! | wonder
where Tom is?" and she flew 10 the
door and looked up the long, shady
street. calling Toms name ut the top
of her voice.
Let me play am Tom," anld n
pleasant voice In the next yard, and Mrs.
Drew's summer boardcr came to THE
fence.
rs 1t peas you want? Oh, ! sce the
bnsin! I'm n mns.cr-hand Mt peas"
"0h. Mrs. Vance" said Martha, in con-
fusion, "you mustn't. indeed. It's 10
hot In the gnrdcnl"
Not In the shade of the plum tree"
said the lady. 'and ~, longing for
chnnce to get into your nico garden
again"
Before Martini could find words to re-
monstrate, she had taken the dish nnd
was half way down tho walk.
Martha hurried back TO her pics and
was putting the last one In the oven.
when the kindly voice spoke ngnin in
the doorway: "Now bring me n dish.
and iii sit here on the step and shell
the peas for you"
What n busy little woman!" said
Mrs. Vance. presently, as Martha went
lying from Kitchen to pantry. "fs IL
hard work Homctimcs2"
"Oh, don't mind" was the answer.
when IL isn't SO drcndfully hot. Oh.
there's Amt Patty calling" and she
ran to see what was wanted.
Don't hold the door open and let a II
the heat in," cried Aunt Patty, frctful-
ly 81 only wanted TO charge you not
TO forget the nutmeg on the custard
pies. They were just spotted the last
time"
"Shc means patience to have her per-
feet work In you" said Mrs. Vance as
Martha closed the door. al have aI-
ways had n fancy for your patron
saint. Martin, and know now how
much more difficult Il Is to he an nc
tive saint than a listening one, especial
iy in warm weather."
~ always felt sorry for poor
Martha said the young girl, pausing
in her work. III suppose she would
rather have been sitting down listen
ing; but somebody hud to get the sup
per-"
"Dut the legends tell us that shc
! did most glorious deeds for the Lord
afterwards when she became mis-
sionnry. and she has been the pntroncss
of good housckeepcrs ever since. You
must come over and sit under the trees
| with ME this afternoon when your
work Is done. and will read you some
of the tales Mrs. jameson gives us OF
her holy life"
Thus Martha's acquaintance with the
summer Bonrder began, and It grew to
tie the brightest thing In her poor bar
rem life.
The pleasant conversation under the
elm trees. the fresh papers md mngn-
7ines opened new world TO this hun
geriDg soul.
There wns not much TINT Was inspir-
ing in Martha I1radlcy's life. The death
of her mother two years before, when
Marth2 was only II, had Obliged her
To leave school and take upon her shonI-
dcrs all the care and work of the little
household.
don't neglect Aunt Patty" was one
Of her mothers parting injunctions
'.She has been like my own mother
10 me ever since ] was helpless child,
and now that she is old and sick and
feeble. could not die easy to think
ihnt anybody could ever be unkind to
hcr. Promise me to bc patient and bear
everything, Matte"
Martha promised, and never had she,
broken her word. however trying and
exactins Aunt Patty might be.
81 likesto think of the robins that
Tom eaught last year." she said once