The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-01-18
: A NEW ENGLAND :
! CONSCIENCE. .

s~~~~~~~~~~~o
Miss Hannah Davis sat in her ac-
customed rocker and began to sway
gently to and fro. Rocking was help
ful to thinking, and just now she was
perplexed.
1t was question of conscience--a
New England conscience Mt that
moreover, it began with capital G.
"Ive got it in the house, and | might
as well make it up" she mused.
'It" was dress-a silk dress-a
relic of days gone by.
''It's been lying there all these
years." she went on, land it seems
real kind of sinful packed away there
and not doing a soul mite of good.
1t isn't right to have things put away
where moth and rust doth corrupt"
She quoted this Bible authority
with satisfaction.
"And twill look awful handsome
made up. / guess 'twould be becom-
ing, too"
She blushed guilty, as if the
thought were too vain for contempla-
ton.
"And it would save me buying, too, :"
she added, hastily. "My old alpaca
isn't very good. I've turned and
washed it till it really amt decent, and
'twould cost considerable to buy n
new one. And this dress all right in
the house and costing nothing. |
s'pose folks would think was terribly
extravagant, but then, / don't care. L
guess il give the money Pd take for
new black dress and give it to the
missionary society, and wear the silk
instead, nobody can find fault; but
then, amt obliged to tell 'em any
way. They don't know how much |
give to church purposes, and they
couldn't say nothing even if / bought
the silk outright. But then | amt
doing that. It's really saving. And
it's awful handsome, too" she added
in an undeatone.
Miss Hannah surveyed herself in
the small mirror. She readiusted the
light, and then moved it from one
side to the other, that she might sec
the image reflected more clearly. 1t
was very neat little figure that she
saw. A somewhat wrinkled face, yet
with touch of youth and a pleased
light in the steel-blue eyes.
81 shall look better than any one
there" she said half aloud.
"As well as any one" she cor
rected.
''And shan't tell any one that it s
an old silk made over. That amt
necessary. You needn't tell all YOU
know, Aunt Jane used to say, and I'm
sure she was very good woman"
She smiled happily as she gave one
parting glance and turned away.
There was perceptible stir when
Miss Hannah Davis, closely followed
by her sister-inlaw, entered the par
sonage.
'Hannah Davis's got new dress, ~
some one whispered loudly as she
passed through little knot of women
on the way to the bedroom to lay aside
her wraps.
"And tia n silk one, too"
The eyes of the entire assembly
were on her as she emerged from the
little room and sank down into the
nearest empty chair without making
the usual round of handshaking.
''5he feels stuck up" one woman
whispered to her neighbor. swell,
guess silk dress don't make her any
better'n the rest of u.s." The speaker
reared her head and spoke across tn,
intervening workers to Miss Hannah
"We were just talking about sub
scription, Miss Hannah" she said il
very audible tones. 'It's for tn,
Leavitt's. You know them. They'v,
had awful luck lately, and there's
lot due on the mortgage, and W,
thought if we could just give them
little lift it would be real Christian
like. q"
II think 'twould be real nice, mis-
Hannah assented warmly. "I'll b,
glad to give something, though / can
give much, you know"
She blushed as she spoke. All eve
were on her in the most uncomfor
table way. Why did they kind O
smile?
They must know she didn't hav
much money.
Could she afford to give fifty cents
she wondered.
'Well, how much will you give?'
The voice came with startling dis
tinctness.