The Forrest City times., 1897-06-25
OSSS*S* vs*sE.X.X.xsxX g, HER OPPORTUNITY. ; By Any Randolph. { rFTTFTETTT%TE~<rcxr.
T does seem as if I never get any

ooes seem as If l never get any
 opportunities to do good" said Charity Chubb.
 Elder Daley lifted his mild eyes over the rims of his silver spectacles-fo it was in the evening meeting that Miss Chubb had ventured to speak forth these her impressions-andv viewed her troubled countenance between the feathers of Mrs. Dixon's hat, and the straight white bristles of old Mr. Moss elose-shaven head
 Opportunities are pretty sure to come to us all, Sister Chubb," said he. 'if only we can possess our souls in patience" Charity Chubb shook her head. Her life was so totally different from that of the others who came, every Wednesday night, to relate their experience in evening meeting. To her there seemed no chance for self denial, for forgiveness, for all the gold en virtues in life's jewel-case She was a poor little tradeswoman who stood all day long behind her counter. dealing put spools of cotton, pennyworths of taffy, yards of flannel and loaves of bread, and in the times when her soul longed for the heroic and self-sacrific- ing it seemed as if the wooden shutters of the little shop into which you stum- bled down three steps. and which al ways smelt moldy, warded off all pos sible chance. She sighed softly at the elders words.
 T don't go anywhere to see people, !" said she, 'and I've no means to send help to the missions"
 "fhe missions of home are around us all the time," said Elder Daley
 "I never come across 'em.'' said Miss Chubb.
 "All in good time-all in good time. |" said the old man, serenely. "Remem- Der. Sister Chubb, that they also serve who only stand and wait!'"
 So Charity Chubb went home some what soothed and modified in spirit.
 She was plain, coarse-fea good-hearted woman, whose soul reached upward as lily leans toward the sun, and who. cramped and fettered by the power of circumstance though she might be, was not so far from the kingdom of Heaven as many another one. And when, the next morning. she entered her shop and took her stand behind the counter, where the smell of new cheese and tallow candles mingled with that of kerosene oil packets of lucifer matches and hanks of stocking yarn, she opened the big day-book with cheerful countenance and thought to herself: Perhaps :he opportunity may be nearer than think"
 But everything went on in the same old routine. Gran'mother Jones hob bled in for a clay pipe just as usual. Mrs, Higgins little red-headed girl came for the regular pint of kerosene, with the change short one penny, as it all ways was. Mrs. Dixey stopped to gos- sip on her way to the place" where she was to wash that day, and Mrs Hopper looked at a gingham and bought cal ico instead Billy Butts purchased a sheet of paper, an envelope and post age stamp. and old Mrs Miggles be- vaijed herself because snuff had gone up half a cent on an ounce, and the s,ln rose, hot and high into the heavens, and the air of Lamb court became intoler- ably close and the sound of wheels seefued to grind into Miss Charity Chubb's very braini
 When a tall. untidyIooking girl, with the air of one who had grown beyond her strength, came in with shawl wrapped about her head and ragged spl,nt basket in her hand, and asked for quarter of pound of starch. And as Miss Charity stopped to the tin can ister where she kept the pearly crystals, she saw the girl hurriedly secrete under her faded shawl one of the reddish brown cards of gingerbread which were piled on the counter. fresh from the bakers basket.
 All in an instant. as it were, Miss Chsrity's first impulse was to call out to