The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-20


in the Brown household. Ladies for
whom Mrs. Brown had written papers
had always dunned her assiduously for
them weeks I'm advance, and. depending
on Mrs. Smith TO do the same she had
forgotten how soon the paper would
be required. Three teas and reception
were booked for that day. and IL was
o'clock at night before. surrounded by
encyclopedias and other books OF refer
ence. she got TO work at the Chinese
missions. II was o'clock before she re-
tired, having completed 25 pages of a
closely written article breathing forth
good things OF the work done by the
missionaries in the land of pigtails.
Mrs. Brown is humorist Besides.
her husband is one OF the cleverest pro-
fessionai testers in the country. while
her youthful daughter has an apprecia-
tion OF the funny side OF life that makes
the conversation in the Brown house
hold far from solemn. Living in an at
mosphere of jocularity IL was very hard
for Mrs. Brown to give her article on
the missions OF China the proper sedate-
ness and earnestness for a missionary
convention. Early in the evening she
had sent an agonized telegram to Mrs
Smith asking her to take the paper and
prompt and decided negative was re-
turned.
"I'll start out In the morning and get
some one to read il for me-" said Mrs.
Brown as she retired. There are a lot
of women on this street who are quite
used to reading club papers. I've writ
ten papers for some of them, and they
can't very civilly refuse TO read this
one for me-"
The morning found Mrs. Brown max
ing a round of the ladies i'm the neigh
borhood known to have had experience
on club or missionary platforms or a
longing for such. II was remarkable,
however, the number OF engagements
every woman was prepared TO bring
forward in support Of her regret at not
being able TO oblige Mrs. Brown.
Even little Frances Brown, moved TO
compassion by her mothers evident
mental suffering, had volunteered to go
across the way and interview Mrs. DR..
Greed, the wife of the clergyman. who
was a connection by marriage of the
Browns. Mrs. Greed admitted having
read many missionary papers in her
day. but gave Frances a cooky and
said she was sorry she could not help
her mamma out of the dilemma. Possi-
bly, Mrs. Greed was suspicious of the
gravity OF a paper that came from the
pen Of the humorous Mrs. Brown. At
any rate Frances went home cynical
and unsuccessful, declining to eat the
cooky.
At luncheon time Mrs. Brown came
home exhausted and despairing and
dispatched Mary. the housemaid, to the
family physician, with note request
ing amy sort of dose that will put
little courage into a forlorn woman who
has to read a missionary paper" The
doctor without "A smile, returned half
dozen pink lozenges. with directions
that they were to be eaten at intervals
of an hour
After having partaken of one OF them
Mrs. Brown felt her courage rally and
started off quite cheerfully TO the con-
vention. saying that she knew in all
| that gathering OF lovely Christian wo-
men there was sure to be one who. see
| ing her anguish, would consent TO read
| the paper. When she reached the
| church. she found il surrounded by car
| riages and the auditorium packed with
| people. There were many lovely Chris
| tian women present, but none of them
was willing TO read the Chinese mission
paper.
| Her faith i'm women sadly shattered.
Mrs. Brown sat near the door and ate
another pink lozenge. Mrs. Smith bus
tied up and shook hands.
You must come right up front and
sit near the pulpit" said she.
II don't want to go up front. and I
just can't read a paper before these wo-
men," feebly protested the victim. Mrs.
Smith was too experienced a worker on
programme committees to heed this and
! chattered volubly on such topics al the
weather and the health of the Brown
family as she lightly drew Mrs. Brown
| to the front pew. where she seated her
among a bevy of eyeglassed elderly la
dies. each armed with roll Of manu-
| script
Whispering a few words TO the usher
who hovered at the end of the pew. Mrs.
| Smith disappeared. Mrs. Brown felt
that her fate was sealed. for the usher
| kept eying the newcomer suspiciously.
She felt sure that Mrs. Smith had warn
| ed the young woman 20 keep an eye on
her lest the writer OF the paper on Chi
! nese missions should escape from the
church. as she had threatened TO do.
| The first speech was from a real live
! missionary lady from Shanghai.
Nothing could have been worse"
sighed Mrs. Brown. she will catch me
| in every mistake"
There was n din In Mrs. Browns ears
! like unto the bombardlng OF Santiago
as the suave. elegantly gowned presi-
dent announced:
I'VE VIII now listen to a paper on the
! condition of the Chinese mission field
| 10 was prepared and will be read by
that gifted writer. Mrs. William Henry
! Brown"
Mrs. Brown says that she was immF-
diatelY stricken deaf dumb ana blind
] Tor thu first vague consciousness she
had was % unrOlling her paper on the
platform Down below the lavender
plume I'm the hat Of the missionary lady
waved mcnacingly. 10 seemed TO say,
Make an error ~ YOU dare"
Far of and trcmulous her voice
] sounded. She read With an eye upon