Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-27

bled through child's book which had
once been her delight. Fatigue, Jim.
not fatigue" she corrected.
"Yes'm.'' said Jim. Then he put
down the books to answer ring at the
bell.
| SIS Miss Rowe in ?'
| The dressmaker instantly recog-
nized the brisk, CHEEKY voice. This is
the much-delayed call, I suppose" she
murmured. There was not a bit Of
bitterness in her smile. 81 am not
lonely now.'
miss Rowe, shall confess imme-
diately that 1 first determined to call
on you because / wanted to be kind
began Mrs. Evans, "but now I have
run away from all engagements be-
cause 1 wanted to please myself by
coming. How do you do, Jimmie Fen
ton? You see know you. Do you
know who / amp
Nobody but Miss Grace can call me
Jimmie" he calmly stated.
"Oh, Jimmie, dear!" reproved his
friend. "Will you not run out now and
see if those boys are working right p"
Yes, l knew he was the neighbor-
| hood plague said Miss Evans. 81 know
that you have made him over into a
benefit to the community. And know
sli about what you have been doing
for those wretehed people this sum-
mer. No, I won't hush. I want to talk
about it. You may be able to convert
me to your ways. Tom Blake worked
for my husband before he was such a
drunken sot."
"He Is not"
eve have tried him again." COM
posediy continued Mrs. Evans, "and of
course have to listen to your praises.
know you are the darling of the hor-
rible alley, and the pride of that mean
side street, and the loving friend to all
such. Now I want to ask how do YOU
do it?''
Il don't do it, at ALL" smiled Miss
Grace. 81 was lonesome and so was
Jimmie. We comforted each other for
awhile. Then we wanted friends, and
SO we hunted for some"
''And were more successful than
Master Jim in his first hunting expe-
dition!" laughed Mrs. Evans. cal
though I laugh l am really serious and
admiring. How your neighbors have
exclaimed over your aowery visits to
the hospital, and your bread and tea
home receptions, and your alley Bible
readings. Aren't you afraid?"
Il am an old maid and not pretty
one. Besides, you would not live close
to people who could not be respect
able. They are more sinfully wretched
than wretchedly sinful. But all of
these circumstances of my life are
nothing to what they signify. We are
friends. Let me show you
She took off her spectacles and
proudly showed the gold rims. In
some way Jimmy found out that those
steel rims were a sharp thorn to me.
l thought | had hidden that vanity so
we'll. had birthday this week. My
friends in the horrible alley and the
mean street gave me the gold. 1t sig
nifies sacrifice, which was not a Eacri-
flee because of the love that prompted
it,"
"My dear!" was all Mrs. Evans said,
as she wiped away her tears. Then
she Strengthened herself. "By the by"
she said, your neighbor on the corner
wishes me to offer you the blossoms on
her plants that will be benefited by
frequent cutting. She would like to
help that much with your work. Isn't
she kind?"
isn't there some kindness in the
offer?" quietly asked the dressmaker.
81 am glad to accept it. But it ism t my
work. It is the people and things that
come into my life, just as the rich and
talented people come into yours"
AT dinners, and teas and recep- |
tions," supplemented Mrs. Evans. MY |
dear, 1 call all that work. Will you |
share some of your friends with me? |
Do you want any of my friends?"
81 believe not" answered the dress |
maker, slowly. 81 haven't time. Yes,
I will share, if you wish to be friendly |
again" She smiled to herself as she |
led this richly-dressed lady to her |
kitchen window and pointed out. It |
was a sunshiny day. The warm blue
sky looked down on the little garden,
where bloomed the chrysanthemums,
cosmos and china asters. Six bright
faced boys were digging up weeds, hoe
ing the soil and watering the plants.
AS many girls were cutting off the
blossoms and making them into small
nosegays. Jim moved from one to the
other to see that each worked as they
should. 'The children and the flowers
can help each other. Aren't they
dcars" said the dressmaker.-North.
crn Christian Advocate.