Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1897-04-23
MARTHA'S PATIENCE.
Nv Lucy MnErLor,s

trom ths doorway OF a little while cot
t0ge which stood at the end OF the vii
lage street.
IL was hoe July day, aud Martha,
who had stopped to rest ia the shade of
the willow trees, drew little sigh OF
discomfort as she h0stened to iii the
biB white pitcher at the spring.
II wish could stop just a minute 10
SET cooled on, she said to herself, ms
Sne hsstened across the sunny, dusty
street.
Welt! complained Aunt Patty, as
she took the pitcher, did YOU stop to
dig a new spring? IL took YOU long
enough"
Il just waited minute TO cool OF
under the willows" said the gel, meek
~. Its so hot!"
"flotl And YOU never thoupht of ne,
I suppose, ready 20 perish with thirst"
said her aunt, peevishfy. Its akvays
the way; no matter what becomes of an
old woman like me-"
"Oh, Aunt Patty" said Martha, IN the
same subdued voice; II didn't think YOU
would care"
oh, dare say not" was the reply.
you don't stop to think about any.
thing but dawdling; but YOU won't
nave much time for that now, IL YOU
expect TO have your fathers dinner by
noon. It's IL o'clock already. And
don't forget 10 have mess of those late
peas" added Aunt Patty, as she hob
bled OF into the cool sitting-room.
leaving Martha alone in the hot Kitchen.
"Oh, dear" sighed the girl, wiping her
flushed face, whatever shalt do? She
wants peas again. and how can stop 10
pick them? There are the pies 90 finish
and the potatoes TO wash! 4 wander
where Tom iS?" and she few 20 the
door and looked up The long, shady
street. calling Toms name at the ton
of her voice.
Let me play am Tom" snid n
pleasant voice in the next yard, and Mrs.
Drew's summer boarder came t0 the
fence.
us IL peas you want? oh, see the
basin! I'm master-hand at peas"
"Oh. Mrs. Vance. said Martha. in con-
fusion. you mustn't, indeed. It's so
hot in the gardenl"
Not in the shade OF the pl UNI tree"
said the lady land ! MI longing FOR n
ehnnce 10 get into your nice garden
again"
Before Martha could find words TO re-
monstrnte, she had taken the dish md
was half way down tho walk.
Martha hurried back 10 her pics and
was putting the last one in the oven.
when the kindly voice spoke again in
the doorway: "Now bring me dish.
and I'll sit here on the step AMI shell
the peas for you"
What busy little womnnl" said
Mrs. Vance. presently, as Martha went
lying from kitchen to pantry. lis IL
hard work sometimes" ?"
"Oh, ! don't mind" was the answer.
when H. isn't SO drendfully hot. oh.
there's Aunt Patty calling" and she
ran TO see what was wanted.
Don't hold the door open and let all
the heat in" cried Aunt Patty. frctful-
ly. II only wanted TO charge you not
TO forget the nutmeg on The custard
pies They were just spoiled the last
time"
'She means patience TO have her per-
feet work i'm you," said Mrs. Vance as
Martha closed the door. II have 81
ways had a fancy for your patron
saint, Martha, and know now how
much more difficult IL is 20 he an nc
tive saint than a listening one, especial
iy in warm weather."
IL always felt sorry for poor
Martha" said the young girl. pausing
in her work. ''i suppose she would
rather have been sitting down listen
ing; but somebody had to get the sup
per-"
but the legends tell us that she
did most glorious deeds for the Lord
afterwards when she became mis-
sionary. and she has been the patroncss
of good housekeepcrs 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 boarder began. and II grew 20
be the brightest thing in her poor bar
rem life.
The pleasant conversation under the
vim trees, bhc lrcSn papers ana maga-
2ines opened n new world TO this hun
gering soul.
There was not much that was inspir-
ing in Martha i}radleys life. The death
Of her mother two years before, when
MarthS was only -. had Obliged her
to leave school and take upon her shoui-
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 n helpless child,
and now that she is old and sick and
feeble. could not die easy TO think
that anybody could ever be unkind TO
Ter. Promise me TO lie patient and bear
everything. Matte"
Martha promised. and never had she
broken her word. however trying and
eXactiDs Aunt Patty might be.
II ike 10 think of the robins that
Tom caught last year." she said once
TO Mrs. Vance. ''Ile shut two half
grown birds up in cage, and one OF
them beat and beat itself against the
wires. and in the morning il was dead
on the bottom ofthe cage. and the other
one never struggled bit. but just hung
lie hood n ,ti mo nal or, th< ,,o~oh T.os.,