The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-08-05
ExXxT1 :" - SsW*w%Vs09
!: Her OPPORTUNITY. ;
( BY Amy Randolph.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

UT does seem as if | never get any
opportunities to do good" said
Charity Chubb.
Elder Daley lifted his mild eyes over
the rims of his silver spectacles-for it
was in the evening meeting that
Miss Chubb had yentured to speak
forth these her impressions-and viewed
her troubled countenance between the
feathers of Mrs. Dixon's hat, and the
straight white bristles of old Mr.. Moss
close-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 iewel-case. She was
poor little tradeswoman who stood
all day long behind her counter, dealing
out spoos 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 STUN
bled down three steps, and which al
ways smelt moldy, warded off all pos
sible chance. She sighed softly at the
elders words.
II don't go anywhere to see people" :"
said she, land I've no means to send
help to. the missiuns.'
""The missions Of home are around us
all the time" said Elder Daley.
Il never come across en- said Miss
Chubb.
"All in good tme-all in good time" "
aid the old man, serencly. "Remem-
ber, Sister Chubb, that they also serve
who only stand and waltz"
So Charity CLubb went home some
what soothed and Modified in spirit.
She was a plain, coarse-featured,
good-hearted woman, whose soul
reached upward as lily leans toward
the sun, and who, cramped and fettered
by the power of circumstance though
size 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
OIL stocking yarn, she opened the biz
oay-book with cheerful countenance
anu thought to herself: "Perhaps the
opportunity may be nearer than
think!"
But everything went on in the sam,
o'd routine. Gran mother Jones hob
hled in for a clay pipe just as usual
Mrs. Higgins little red-headed girl cam,
ior the regular pint of kerosene, will
'he change short one penny, as it al
ways was. Mrs. Dixey stopped to gos
sip on her way TO the place" where sh'
was to wash that day, and Mrs. Hoppe
locked at gingham and bought cal
aeo instead. Billy Butts purchased
sheet OF paper, an envelope and a post
age stamp, and old Mrs. Miggles be
walled herself because snuff had gon
up half cent on an ounce, and the SUI
rose hot and high into the heavens, an,
'he air OF Lamb court became intoler
aoiy close and the sound of wheel
seemed to grind into Miss Chart
@nubbS very brain!
"nea tall, untidylooking girl, wit
me air OF one who had grown beyon
hef strength, came in with a shaw
wrapped about her head and a ragge
spiint basket in her hand, and aske
'of quarter Of pound Of starch. An
as Miss Charity stopped to the tin car
's'er where she kept the pearly crystal!
sae saw the girl hurriedly secrete unde
her faded shawl one of the reddish
Efown cards of gingerbread whic
were piled on the counter, fresh frol
,ae bakers basket.
aa In an instant. as 1t were, Mis-
eSats'ys first impalss was to call oul