Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-04-07

Dear Helena, how glad she will be
tomorrow, to know that her toys have
gone to glad Eastertide for one of Gods
little onesi"
Her heart 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 CrandalIs' 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
chair; 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 Cat 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
glrIhood'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. Ny
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 I
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 to 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 degree as
to the family she assisted out of a tenn
Poi SIOuSIi VI UlStTeSS- one kept a
| protecting eye over the family ever
after, and rejoiced equally with the
mother when, n couple of years later.
| the eldest graduated from the public
| school with fair business education.
and at cnce became wage-earner. 4
| girl at IS and fresh from a grammar
school, who could earn three dollars Il
week, looked to one of the leisure class
like a prodigy.
Life was Frightening for the Gram
dalls. Two years later the second daugI-
! ter did as well. There were three wage
earners now, and they were 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 $50 she now
| thinks), that cit is more blessed to give
| than to receive. "-Keziah Shelton, in
Ladies' World.