Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1897-03-11
MARTHA'S PATIENCE.
RY LUCY wHEELoCk,

0AdIthds w uaL uO6S keep
you SO long?" called querulous voice
from the doorway of little white cot
tage which stood ut the end of the vii
lage street. ,1l4s $40
1t was a hot July day, and Martha,
who had stopped to rest in the shade of
the willow trees, drew little sigh of
discomfort as she fastened to fill the
big white pitcher at thespring.
Il wish could stop just minute to
get cooled off," she said to herself, as
she fastened across the sunny, dusty
street.
WELL" complained Aunt Patty, as
she took the pitcher, did you stop to
dig a new spring? 1t took you long
enough"
II just waited minute to cool of
under the willows" said the girl, meek
ly. Its so hot!"
"Hot! And you never thought Of me,
I suppose, ready to perish with thirst"
said her aunt, peevishly. Its always
the way; no matter what becomes of an
old woman like me-"
"Oh, Aunt Patty" said Martha, in the
same subdued voice; ~ 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
have much time for that now, if you
expect to have your fathers dinner by
noon. It's IL o'clock already. And
don't forget to have mess OF those late
peas" added Aunt Patty, as she hob
bled off into the cool sitting-room,
leaving Martha alone in the hot kitchen.
"Oh, DEAR" sighed the girl, wiping her
flushed face, whatever shall do? She
wants peas again, and how can stop to
pick them? There are the pies to finish
and the potatoes to wash! I wonder
where Tom So" and she flew to the
door and looked up the long, shady
street, calling Toms name at the top
of her voice.
'Let me play I am Tom," said
pleasant voice in the next yard, and Mrs.
Drew's summer boarder came to the
fence.
"Is it peas you want? Oh, see the
basin! I'm u master-hand at peas
"Oh, Mrs. Vance" said Martha, in con-
fusion, you mustn't, indeed. It's so
hot in the garden!"
'Not in the shade of the plum tree"
said the lady, land am longing for a
chance to get into your nice garden
again."
Before Martha could find words to re-
monstrate, she had taken the dish and
was half way down the walk.
Martha hurried back to her pies and
was putting the last one in the oven,
when the kindly voice spoke again in
the doorway: Now bring me a dish,
and I'll sit here on the step and shell
the peas for you"
what busy little woman!" said
Mrs. Vance, presently, as Martha went
flying from kitchen to pantry. "Is it
hard work sometimes?"
"Oh, don't mind" was the answer,
"when it isn't so dreadfully 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, fretful-
ly. 81 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 in you." said Mrs. Vance as
Martha closed the door. II have al
ways had a fancy for your patron
saint, Martha, and I know now how
much more difficult it is to be an &C
tive saint than listening one, especial
1y in warm weather"
II always felt sorry for poor
Martha" said the young girl, pausing
in her work. II 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
sionary, and she has been the patroIess
of good housekeepers ever since. You
must come over and sit under the trees
with me this afternoon when your
work is done, and 1 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 it grew to
be the brightest thing in her poor bar
rem life.
The pleasant conversation under the
elm trees, the fresh papers and maya
xines opened a new world to this hun
gering soul.
There was not much that was inspir-
ing in Martha Bradley's life. The death
of her mother two years before, when
Martha was only IA, had obliged her
to leave school and take upon her Shout
ders 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
to me ever since was 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
her. Promise ME to be patient and bear
every thing, Matte"
Martha promised, and never had she
broken her word, however trying and