The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-11-25

by the coy sittingroom fire 'to rest a
bit" after her hard days work.
just as she was dreaming of n
Thanksgiving long ngo when she and
Jim and her brothers and sisters popped
corn and roasted apples before the
great open fire. loud knock caused her
10 jump To- her feet In alarm.
who ON earth can be coming on such
an evening"" she muttered drowsily,
as she CROPPED her way through the hall
TO the door.
"Why. Mr.. Stantonl what has brought
yen up here In such rain as thisl" she
exclaimed In surprise. Come right In"
The cashier OF the Newton bank
glanced down ut his dripping mRckn-
iosh and muddy boots, then at the inn
maeulate oilcloth on the hall floor
mo, thank you. Miss Sarah" he an
swered. ~ am In "a great hurry.
Haven't you heard the news? The dam
ut Watertown has broken; nearly all
the place IL submerged. especially the
poorest quarters near the factories.
The people are fockinR TO Newton In
drovcs. Every hotel. private house and
public building Is full and yet more are
coming. II IL pitiable to see them
drenehed and shivering after walking
four miles In this dreadful rain. Many
Of them have had nothing 10 eat since
early morning. We are trying TO find
shelter for them in the nearest farm
houses, and thought, as you haven't
much family and considerable room,
you might accommodate a good mum
her"
Aunt sarah'S eyes grew round and
her jaw dropped In dismay. AZ any
other time she would have made the
poor wanderers welcome enough. But
now and. in imagination, she beheld
the groaning pantry shelves. the shin
Ing floors and the beds with their fresh
layender.scented sheets.
''Mr. stanton" she hogan, family. ~
never hated so much to refuse any
thing In all my life. II doesn't hardly
look Christian. and under ordinary cir.
cumstanecs wouldn't think OF retus.
ing; but my cousin. that haven't seen
for years, Ia coming tomorrow. His
children never have had real good
Thanksgiving, aud can't think of hay-
ing everything torn up before they get
here. am dreadful sorry"
MIR, stanton was disappointed, yet he
went away glad that such an unexpect-
ed pleasure was coming into Aunt Sa-
rah's life. lie quite understood her
feelings, though when he thought Of
the miserable unsheltered creatures In
the town, he wished II might have been
otherwise,
Aunt Sarah turned from the door
with heavy heart. The brightness and
warmth ~ the sitting room smote her
with a deep sense of guilt, She tried 20
put the matter from her mind: but
every time she looked into the glowing
flames she saw host of cold. haggard
faces. Unable to bear Il longer. she left
the room on the preteNt of seeing that
all was well upstairs. She passed from
one 10 another Of the neat bedrooms.
Never before had the ald.fashioned.
high. posted beds looked so inviting. She
paused In deep thought Suddenly her
eyes rested upon faded sampler she
had worked when a child. The long.
uneven letters in red, green and purple
silk danced before her eyes. "Inasnueh
as We have done Il unto one of tho least
Of these, Ny brethren. We have done IL
unto Me-"
"Done |, unto Me- the words echoed
In her ears. What II lie were out In
the rain hungry and cold. would she
have treated Him thuss
She sank beside the bed and bur.
led her face in her hands.
Dear Lord" she Sohbed. at IL so
hard, when II il the only pleasure I've
had since mother died, ave Icing years
ago. wasnt expecting IL, and II all
came 80 sudden like. aud now TO have
II spoiled. Bat for Thy sake, Lord.
accept the sacrificed"
~SeSle Belle" said Aunt Sarah a