The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-01
Cretia'S Mission
"Most thera now!"


A girl who had been travelling wear
lily down the road paused as q square.
many-w y-wlndowed building stood reveal
ed in the noon sunlight. She was dusty
and travel-worn. but her dun face
frightened as she caught sight of the
mission school which was her goal.
She shook the dust from her faded
dress. Strengthened the sunbonnet upon
her head. and sat down upon stone
by the wayside to put upon her bare
feet a pair of well-worn shoes. which
she had prudertly carried in her bun
die lest the journey should prove too
much for their endurance.
I'm most there now" she repeated,
as If there were many things in the
past which that comforting assurance
atoned for. Then, her efforts at maxi
ing herself prcsentable being complet-
ed. she hastered forward again.
Her pleasure, unfortunately, was not
shared by those in the building. A
teacher standing at an upper window
watched the approaching figure curl
ously at first, then with a growing rec+
ognition that brought a look of trouble
into her eyes. She hurriedly called to
u lady who was passing through the
hall:
Miss Grey, will you come here n
moment, please" 1 believe that Is
'Cretia."
"Oh, I hope not" was answered earn
estly, but after moments careful
scrutiny the added words came slowly:
"Yes-it is"
The two teachers looked at each
,,I Ia nc 40
first speaker filed with tears.
"She is coming back, poor child! And
we can do nothing for her now. We
are crowded almost beycnd endurance,
and we cannot take another"
'Cretia had been with them the pre-
vious year. painstaking but dull-a
slow, plodding girl, who could not be
considered a very promising pupil. She
was penniless, with no friends to- aid
her, and as it must be all charity, the
teachers had sometimes questioned
anxiously whether they were justified
in using the church's money upon one
from whom they could expect no higher
return of usefulness. Such questions
of economy seem awful when they re-
late to souls, but funds and rooms are
limited, and even mission teachers can
not compass the impossible. SO it had
been in some measure relief that
'Cretia did not return after the sum-
mer vacation.
Three weeks of the term had passed
and she had almost dropped out OF
mind. Now here she was again, bum
die in hand.
Il done-I hev come back, Miss
Mary" she said, making a sudden ef-
fort to correct her language as the
familiar atmosphere of the school
brought back a remembrance of its
teachings-"I didn't git yere at first
cause-because 1 staid to earn some
more money. Laws, but worked hard
all vacation! Yere tits, Miss Mary
twelve dollars"
She was untying a knot in an old
handkerchief to exhibit her little hoard
and her fingers trembled with excite
ment. "'Taint nowadays right to have
all you'ns-you-gimme everything, an
armed this"
The teachers eyes had grown misty
again. Well she knew how few chances
Of employment these girls had and how
small a pittance the most toilsome la
Dor would bring. She knew, too, the
pressing needs of the daily life, ant
all the hardship and self-denial these
savings represented. Her voice trem'
bled as she spoke.
"But, 'Cretia, dear girl, we didn'i
know you were coming, we haVen'
any room for you now. I can't tel
you how sorry am to say it, but W.
have no place left"
,Crotia enoilad pOntpntpdly.
"Oh, 'twont take much room for me
I reckoned you'd be about full. Any
where's ii do"
But, child there is no anywhere
! no place at all where l can put you
We are more than full" urged Mis-
Mary reluctantly. The admission o
the last two pupils had been case .
heart against judgment, and the build
ing had been crowded to its utmos
/ limit.
Still 'Cretia smiled her slow smile
She had learned to look upon Mis-
Mary as a being who could plan wa,
out of any dilemma-one to whom
everything was possible. But, when a
last she understood, the light vanishe
from her eyes She did not cry, no
utter any protest A gray pallor crep
over her face, she nervously tingere
the faded folds of her dress, and the
in a dazed bewildered way tied up tn
earnings that had so failed of thei
purpose, and gathered up her bundle
do not go yet, 'Cretia, stop and res
awhile and have some dinner" urge
the teacher kindly.
But the girl shook her head.
Pears like l aint hungry, Mis-
Mary; kin get back to Ma'am Swan
zys by night. / reckon I'll stay ther
till mornin,' it's nearder home"
She did not say she could not bea
the pain of seeing others in the plac
she thought was hers; that the merr
voices that reached her from the hal
and stairways We're intolerable. Sh
did not even consciously think it, sh
only knew that she wanted to g,
away and be alone.
The teacher dimly comprehendet
and, remorseful for the grief she coul
not prevent. again explained no
powerless she was to do otherwis
and once more expressed her own kee
regret.
II cannot tell you how sorry an
'Cretia, but you see / cannot help it,