The sea coast echo., 1898-07-02

The missionary and his wife did moi
look at each other; the mans hand
rested tremulously on little pile OF
childfen's toys; the woman held q
long heavy overcoat with fur collar;
with studied carelessness she thrust
her fingers into all the pockets, keep.
ing her tell-tale face turned from the
light.
"It was fno box said the mis-.
sionary. His voice was husky; he
struggled with it and added more firm
ly: "a generous box"
Yes" answered tho woman me-
chanically.
Suddenly she dropped the coat in n
heap on the floor and buried her face
in her hands; she made no sound, but
her thin shoulders shook pitifully.
The man crossed the room, stumbling
over the piles of clothing on the floor,
and caught her in his arms. His voice
was broken with pity.
Annie" he CRIED; "oh, you poor
little grill"
The woman did not lift her face; the
words came chokingly from between
her fingers; II was so sure of the
money" she sobbed. "They've nj.
ways sent us money before, and they
knew how much moro we needed It
this year. thought that now we could
pay the bills for all last summers
sickness, and you could have hot cof-
fee when you came home these dread
ful nights, and the children more meat.
Inever doubtedit. had been thank
ing God all these days that the box
was on its way. And now"
The man looked about him at the
motley heap of old and new, poor and
fine, with a pitiful appeal for com
fort.
"And now you have o good new
dress at last, dear; and that overcoat
is just what need; and there is much
to give away" Then his eyes fell
again upon the little pile of toys, aud
his face frightened; and he ended
with cheerful condolences: "And we
can have Christmas for the children,
Annie. They never sent toys in the
box before"
The woman lifted her head eagerly.
II forgot the children" she said; 'I
was thinking OF you and the dreadful
winter. 1 am glad for the children
oh, L am! / can write-to-morrow-I
am sure" She spoke with pathetic
eagernosa and touched the toys loving
ly, trying in her thought to override
her disappointmentwith the children s
joy.
Her husband stood looking at her;
as she bent over the toys, he noticed
how heavy were the blue veins on her
temples and how thin the hand That
set the dolls dress in order; and he
felt sudden tightening at his heart.
annie" he said, pleadingly, ''tako
the children and go back to your
mothers this winter. 1t is too hard
for you here"
She looked up, startled and hurt
and indignant all at once. Gas if I
would think of It'll" she cried. Gas if
it is any harder for me than it is for
you'll I don't have to go out in all
weathers. Besides" she added, with
a laugh that disappointed her by
struggling uncertainty with the sobs
that choked her throat" "besides. |
couldn't; the money didn't come, you
know"
Eyes, answered her husband, heav-
lily; 'that is true. We haven't the
money. But l wish you could go,
Annie.
She dropped the toys and looked
across at him, speaking with slow in
tensity. ST believe you're making mo
glad that the money didn't come" she
said. .,s
They folded the clothing and put it
back in the box; there was much to
spare, they planned; and the check
the minister had received-it was for
only half his quarters salary, for the
Board was in debt--would pay their
debt and leave enough, with careful
planning, to buy food for six weeks.
Beyond that they would not let them
selves look.
The winter settled down on them.
hard and cold and pitiless. The chill
dren were warmly dressed, thanks to
the box; but they needed better food,
and their white, patient faces con-
stantly appealed to the mother for
what she could not give. Her hus-
bands cough began to trouble him,
too. The woman met it all with q will
sternly keyed to silence. She could
not bear to touch the dress that had
come for her in the box; it seemed to
her as if it was so much life stolen
from her husband aud children; she
could have done SO much with the
money that that costl
One day the minister came in and
began fumbling in the box.
Wasn't there pair Of warm gloves
in here?' he asked
Yes, (" answered his wife, laying
aside her sewing and hurrying to save
something Of the order his nervous
hands were destroying. swat, dear,
III get them. / wanted you to put
them on last week. They are beauti-
full ones" Her sure woman's touch
had gone straight to them through the
chaos; she stood smoothing the fur
tops with satisfaction.
n But the minister was looking at her
pitying tenderness.
'"They are not for me, DEAR" he
answered; ''my older ones will do
we'll"
"Who then?" cried the woman,
quickly
"Jim Cassock.
A silence followed, and in the
silence the name went echoing and
eclsping through the womhn's brain.
IT can't bear it /" she cried: che
hates you so--he has injured you 80: