The record-union., 1898-02-28
BESELENA'S PRATTLE.

| Especial Correspondence Record Uniono
"Oh, it's you.' said my friend, in
tones of unmistakable relief She was
stretched full length on the couch. with
q pile of pillows at her head. She
pulled over with her foot a rocking
chair. and bade me be seated.
| I've been doing charitable work all
afternoon She explained and, Incl
dentally 1 might add been having ex-
lperiences with the Lords annointed
| Then, in answer TO my look of mysti-
] fication, she explained that the Lords
Amounted We're certain members of the
select upper ten with whom she had
| had dealings that afternoon.
I've rubbed elbows with them all
day" ruefully.
And don't look as though you had a
very cheerful time Of it, either" l VEN
| tured.
Il didn't" was the prompt response,
Some of those people made me feel as
though l ought to apologize TO them for
| living and at the remembrance she
pounded the pillows vieiously,
| Tell me about it, l suggested, SYM
pathetically; perhaps it will make you
| ACCA OSANCi ~ iCAlGNC yum
1T may save me from a case of spon-
taneous combustion. anyway" she re-
piled. Il verify believe l shall explode
! If / don't let off steam in some way,
and since you are willing to listen"--
| Having once more signified my entire
Willingness, the girl on the couch began:
| We'll, as l told You in the beginning.
it's all about my church work. AS you
know, our church is considered one of
the wealthiest in the city, and has on
its membership roll the names of more
than half the members of the so-called
| four hundred. One day last year
was, in rash and unguarded moment,
foolish enough to accept the position of
Church Librarian, and thereby hangs
all of my trouble. l found upon assum-
ing the position that the library had de-
Perforated dreadfully; no wonder it
didn't pay.
| Half the books were missing, and
not only that, but more than half the
members seemed TO have conveniently
forgotten that such thing as fines and
| dues We're absolutely necessary to the
maintenance of the library. Now you
know that I hate to write a letter, but
with stern duty before me / set myself
| the Herculean task of writing indi-
vidually to each of those delinquent
members polite little note, requesting
as prompt reply as possible, and then
sat me down to wait.
| Il might have been waiting yet, for
not one of the members had the common
politeness to answer. / was, of course,
enthusiastic over the work anxious
that it should succeed and all that, so
l next thought of a personal call. 1t
might spur them up to have the privi-
| lege of listening to the powers of my
persuasive eloquence The day 1 Sc
lected happend 70 be dull and gloomy
one, in which a shower was momenta-
rily expected, and 1 dressed accordingly.
| Wore my mittens instead of my gloves,
carried my Oldest umbrella and sailed
| forth.
| Il went first of all to Mrs. Blanks,
because it happened to be the nearest.
| The servant showed me into the parlor,
and then went to inform her mistress.
| The moment the girl disappeared a
young lady, who was sewing in the
| back parlor, laid aside her work. and,
coming out to where / sat, insisted that
I go into the other room, where there
was a fire. She was so very cordial that
thought for moment that she must
mistake me for one of her friends; then
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