Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1900-10-11
MRS NOTIONS KINDNESS.

4
was very kind hearted, and had pas
sion for helping other people--a pas
sion which, as she had no children, she
had ample leisure to indulge.
One bright spring morning, Mrs.
Bolton set out on her daily rounds of
kindness. First on her path came the
cottage OF old Miss Martha Fairchild, "a
gentlewoman in reduced circumstances
whose hereditary tastes had chung TO
her through dark days and biting pow
erty.
Miss Martha's mantle-piece were com
mon, and the fancy work trifies were
faded? To Miss Martha each was in
vested with a radience Of Us own-the
lingering reflection OF happier days.
Collectively, they might have been con-
sidered as representing Miss Martha's
taste-the pictures and statuary which,
had she been wealthy and literally ed
ucated, would have adorned her lux
urious apartments.
Miss Martha had opened the doors
and windows to let In the fresh spring
air, and was moving gently about the
room, busting her art treasures and
grooming some old forgotten love song.
At the sound of Mrs. Bottoms loud,
decided voice, she started like guilty
thing, and nearly dropped the little
gilt china box from which she was so
tenderly removing the dust.
"Tidying up, hey, Miss Martha?
That's right! Now, see here-I haven't
much to do this morning; suppose
give this room thorough cleaning for
you? Wouldn't you like that?-it will
save your poor back, you know"
In vain did Miss Martha protest
that the room was clean, and that she
swept and busted it every day. Mrs.
Bolton merely assured her that she
did not mind it in the least, !" and went
on piling up the fire with Martha's
carefully boarded "kindling." Then
she filled the kettle and put it on,
leaving big splash OF water on the
clean hearth.
"By-the-bye, Miss Martha" she re-
marked as she turned from the fire.
place, lit does sound real cheerful TO
hear people singing at their work; but
don't you think that at your age you
ought TO be singing something differ
ent from those light and trifling songs?
A hymn now, or one OF those psalms,
would be so much more suitable"
Fortunately, there was no need for
her TO answer, for Mrs. Bolton forth
with seized the broom, chased the as
tonished cat out of the cushioned arm
chair, and proceeded to sweep and dust
and beat and bang until Miss Martha's
poor head swan. She made fresh
rents in the prescious old chints cur
tains, and tore off from the carpet a
handful OF tatters which, being far be.
yond the ministrations OF needle and
thread, we're every morning laid deity
back in place by Miss Martha's patient
| fingers. Next, she brought bowl of
hot water, in which TO scrub the host
Of china knicknacks; and Miss Mar
tha's heart sent up silent hymn OF
thanksgiving when she was given the
towel and allowed to dry them herself.
Poor Miss Martha held her breath
when the little china box went down
into the bowl; she shivered as the
Praying Samuel took his plunge; and
she gave a great sigh of relief as she
returned the last china dog in safety
to It's place
Then Mrs. Bolton turned to the arti-
cles hanging on the wall. The sam
pier fortunately for ~ was framed.
but on each side of the chimney hung
a triie or Two made OF perforated pa
per. Miss Martha had never known
what use these were intended for; but
all the same, they were the pride of
her heart-they were so tasty" On
butSt Mrs. DOlLOu ldlu ouuucu HduuSs
II never could see why you keep
these faded things hanging up" she
remarked. They are nothing but
dust traps Don't you think they had
better go into the fire?"
'Oh, don't!" cried Miss Martha,
piteously; "please don't"
But it was too late; they we're al
readp curling up in the flames.
81 think the room looks very nice,
remarked Mrs. Bolton. complacently,
as she tied on her bonnet Nov, be
sure 10 let me know when you want
help again"
Miss Martha thanked her feebly,
while the tears kept dropping on the
package OF choice Hyson tea which
Mrs Rnlton had laid on the tahIa and