The Philipsburg mail., 1898-08-05

Mrs. Hubbard responded heartily;
there was much talk about the flower,
how fears had been entertained that
the blight had got to it, ETC., etc.
go in, my DEAR she said to Sarah
Wigley; you will catch your death of
cold"
Mrs. Wigley retired, eliza Hubbard
drew the door close. Her face was
crimson, her heart beat fast.
''It isn't as though she could see, "
scid she; "she won't even know it is
gone, and if she does, what does it
signify? What the eye don't see the
heart can't grieve for!"
She seemed rather proud of the quo
tation; of certainty it had never been
used in such q connection before. But
pride was replaced by dull sense oi
shame as she lifted up the geranium
and, hiding it under her shawl, sped
home with it. As she walked she
planned where she would place the
geranium; it would look best, she
thought, between two fine white ones
of which she was uncommonly proud,
and there she depositedit it in the dark
ness. Having done so she retired to
bed, having first knelt down to say
her prayers. Oddly enough, however,
the words would not come.
A few days later Eliza Hubbard
called on Sarah Wigley. She peeped
in through the window and saw her
old friend sitting over the handful of
fire, though the evening was sultry,
shivering and holding her thin hands
to the blaze.
"My gracious!" said she, stepping
briskly in, "you amt cold tonight,
are you?"
Sarah Wigley rose stiff1y.
''Tm bit poorly, my dear; I amt
felt myself since my loss. You've
heard tell how some tramp or the
other made off with my pink geranium,
'haven't you?"
81 did hear some such tale." said
she. "But don't suppose you grieve
much, eh, Sarah? 1t amt as if your
eyesight was as good as mine. You
can't keep looking at the blossoms.
For answer Sarah Wigley burst in
| to Hood of tears.
81 know I am worse than fool to
make fuss about geranium plant"
said she, "but l suppose am kind of
low in health. Anyway, can't help
myself. l ought to be ashamed Of
myself said she, lat my time of life
not to have faith greater than a grain
of mustard seed. Haven't I prayed
tie good Lord to put it into the heart
of that tramp to bring me back my
geranium, and who knows that He
won't see fit to do it, I'd had that
geranium three years, Liza, and I'd
got to set store on it as though it was
a child. 1 hope you don't think me a
weak sort"
Eliza Hubbard cleared her throat.
"No," she said softly II don't. I
wish l was half as good as you. But
] amt. ] yield to temptation right
away. L amt more strength of mind
than baby. l say. Sarah, I wouldn't
take on so if / we" you. Perhaps
perhaps" she hesitated and cleared
her throat again. perhaps you'll
get your flower back again, after ALL.
She leaned forward and kissed her
friends wrinkled cheek. 1t was an
unusual action, but accounted for by
the unusual circumstances.
Good night, Sarah" said she.
"Td pray again to night, if I was you,
just as you did before.
YES replied Sarah meekly, II
mean to-.
She was cheered by her friends
sympathy: there was a glow at her
heart, ring of confidence in her
quavering tones.
The moment she rose the next
morning she glanced out of the win
dow. Did her weak eyes deceive her?
Was it really the geranium she saw
below? She dressed herself hastily
and hurried down stars. Yes, there
was no mistake about it; 1T was her
pet flower, in the same pot, with the
splotch of red paint on its rim
"The Lord be praisedn' said she,
hugging it close; 'the Lord be
praised!"
And Eliza Hubbard, meanwhile,
her face red with flame, clasped her
hands together and offered her prayer.
"Ihere amt meaner sinner on
earth than me-" she said. "but 1
never found it out till now. She
stopped low and dug up her finest
white geranium.
I'm going round to Sarah's now
at once" said she; land while I'm
about it I'll take this other white
geranium to her as WELL The pink
one will look uncommon nice between
them two. Windsor Magazine.
Handling Grain by Electricity.
Pittsburg machinery is to onerate