The Forrest City times., 1898-04-08

sHt NOuld take all my things over
there and do them for me, and she said
she would, and the neighbors are talk
ing about "A pocr woman she must be
and hire her washing done!' And here's
Minnie has told everybody that has
come into the house that have given
her doll away, and told her not to do
it again and now l will have to whip
her
NO, no, Promise me. Mrs. Crandall,
that you will not punish that mere
baby! 1t was all my fault"
mo, it was my doll, and it was all
had, an now amt got nothin'. OH, oh,
oh," and she sobbed aloud again.
What wonder that Mrs. Estabrook
took the weeping child in her arms and
"loved her" till she ceased crying? Was
not the child's wall very similar in
word and spirit to the wall she had given
voice to when Helena was taken from
her? What was she, herself, but an
older babe?
do not worry, Mrs. Crandall, about
getting sewing to do; will see that all
your present needs are provided for,
plan for your future"
Each knew that "by the by" meant
when "all was over"
Mrs. Estabrook went back to her
carriage and was driven to her home, a
wiser if not n sadder woman than she
had been for many a day. To think
that she had been selfishly bemoaning
Helena's transition to a higher life,
when there was such real, living trouble
at her door, needing the comfort that
she could so easily give.
She had said that she could not give
up Helena's dolls, and little Minnie
Crandall had had to give her only doll
to the washwoman, to ease a suffering
father.
Dear Helena, how glad she will be
tomorrow, to know that her toys have
gone TO glad Eastertide for one of Gods
little ones!"
Her neart as last was stirred to its
most generous depths, and early Easter
morning, on her way to church, she
drove to the door OF the Crandalls' poor
home, for this time the carriage held
that which made it needful to drive into
the narrow court.
The faithful John had had to make
several trips to and from the carriage,
for there was basket of dainty dishes
for the invalid; and the dolls bedstead
with its sleeping twins, that would open
their eyes when Minnie should take
them up; the tiny tea table and arm
chalr; the china tea set and boxes full
OF other toys. There were Helena's
gowns and other clothes for Minnie,
and plain gowns of her own for the
other girls. (At home she had left in
box, ready to be sent when needed,
her own plainest suit of black for Mrs.
Crandall.) There was a box of books.
many OF them juveniles from her own
girlhood's library, and there was not
only Bible, suitable for use on that
last OCCASION" now so close at hand,
but there were Testaments for Bella
and Carrie, to replace those that had
been sold for food and medicine.
Il could not sleep last night. My
mind was so full of the sadness of see
ing that poor little Minnie sitting up in
that armchair so primly, with nothing
at all to play with as she so quantity
said; and there were dear Helena's
treasures doing no one any good, and
am quite sure now, though have long
refused to see it SO, that they were do
ing me great harm, by keeping my loss
ever before me and helping 70 make my
heart hard and selfish"
When it was all over, Mrs. Crandall
was helped to move into a brighter and
healthier locality and the tenement.
though small, was made tidy and COM
Portable by gifts from several who be-
came interested in her case" and fine
sewing in plenty was given her to do
by Mrs. Estabrook and others, who re-
quired fine, plain sewing and were will
ing to pay for having it done
Indeed, the Easter gift of Helena's
toys was the harbinger of good to Mrs.
Estabrook in full as great a degree as
to the family she assisted out of tenn
porary slough of distress. She kept
protecting eye over the family ever
after, and rejoiced equally with the
mother when, couple of years later.
the eldest graduated from the public
schOoi WITH 1dIF business education.
and at once became a wage-earner. A
girl at 10 and fresh from a grammar
school. who could earn three dollars
week, looked to one of the leisure class
like prodigy.
Life was frightening for the Gran
dalls. Two years later the second daugh-
ter did as well. There were three wage
earners now. and they were a self-sup-
porting family, all owing to the timely
help given.
In remembrance of her own gain, each
Easter sees its package marked for
Mrs. Crandall and family"
She feels that God sent her to them
for her own good, fully as much as for
theirs, and that then, for the first time,
her eyes were opened to the real truth
of those words that she had often re-
peated, but never believed ESQ she now
thinks), that 1T is more blessed to give
than to receive. ."-Keziah SHELTON, in
Ladies' World.