The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-10-29

Jim. tel; your friends 10 come here"
lie hesi.~ted, cycling her doubtfully.
They amt my friends, / guess.
They're just fellows / know" he pro-
tested. But he obeyed.
The fellows were more ragged and
dirty than Jim had been. As they
sullenly stood before her they were
far from pleasing.
IF Jim had told me you wished TO
come / would gladly have saved you
the trouble OF climbing over the back
fence" said she, with twinkle in her
eyes. "As IL is, am glad that got up
so early This morning. Throw those
dead flowers away. / want TO send
your grandmother some fresh ones"
IF you're a-goin' to send granny
some tony ones, I'll give these here to
the kids" stammered the boy.
"Oh. IL you want them!"
"Yes'm, the kids'll like 'em. They're
feared to steal looks al the big mems
flowers"
.Give these TO your grandmother.
Tell her I'm coming TO see her Sunday
with some more Here Is bouquet
for each Of you"
Some months later Miss Grace sat
at her sewing while Jim audibly STUN
bled through n 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 10 answer a ring al the
bell.
as Miss Rowe in"
The dressmaker instantly recog-
nized the brisk. CHEEKY voice, This is
the much-delayed call. l suppose" she
murmured. There was not a bit OF
bitterness in her smile. 81 am not
lonely now"
"Miss Rowe, l shall confess imme-
diately that | first determined 10 call
on You because l wanted TO be kind"
began Mrs. Evans. "but now / have
run away from all engagements be-
cause j wanted TO please myself by
coming. How do yom do, Jimmie Fen
ton? You see know you. Do you
know who / amp"
Nobody but Miss Grace can cal me
Jimmie" he calmly stated.
"Oh. Jimmie, dearl" reproyed his
friend. "Will you not run out now and
see If those boys are working right?'
"Yes, ] knew he was the neighbour
hood plague" said Miss Evans. "Iknow
that you have made him over into a
benefit TO the community. And know
ell about what you have been doing
for those wretched people this sum-
mer. No, won't hush. | want to talk
about il. You may be able TO convert
me TO your ways. Tom Blake worked
for my husband before he was such
drunken sot."
"IIe is not"
1--WE have tried him again" com
posed,y 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 / want to ask how do you
do it?'
~ don't do il at ALL" smiled Miss
Grace. ~ 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. AL
though / laugh am really serious and
admiring. How your neighbors have
exclaimed over your fowery visits to
the hospital, and your bread and ten
home receptions, and your alley Bible
readings. Aren't you afraid?"
III am an old maid and not pretty
one. Besides, you would not 1--we close
10 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 oil her spectacles and
proudly showed the gold rims. In
some way Jimmy found out that those
steel rims were a sharp thorn TO me.
thought / had hidden that vanity so
well! had birthday this week. My
friends in the horrible alley and the
mean street gave me the gold IL sig
nifes sacrifice, which was not sacri-
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 ncighbor on the corner
wishes me TO offer you the blossoms on
her plants that will he benefited by
frequent cutting. She would like to
help that much with your work. Isn't
she kind?"
isn't there some kindness i'm the
offer?" quietly asked the dressmaSer.
81 am glad to accept IL. But IL isn't my
work. II 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, 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
4 n - A. Il n